Stephanie

Analyst, University of Virginia

Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree (with distinction) in Finance and Marketing from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where she was part of a team that represented the school at a Citibank case competition in Hong Kong. Since joining Pace Harmon in 2009, she has worked on projects that include helping a healthcare products manufacturer understand its telecom spending, and working with a defense contractor to help source and optimize its wireless and wireline services. In addition to playing a variety of sports, Stephanie holds a black belt in karate.

A Typical Day at Pace Harmon

“A typical day at Pace Harmon is challenging to describe, as nothing about consulting is ‘typical.’  I have had days in which I get in my car, drive to a client site, and give the client’s CIO a presentation, and I’ve had others where I hop in a cab to the airport and catch a flight to San Diego.  I may spend one day engrossed in Excel working on the latest tool to optimize wireless plans and spend the next working side-by-side with the client to understand various processes.  I’ll spend a few hours working with a fellow analyst to develop a strategy for firm recruiting and spend the next with a partner to develop a strategy for a client’s contract negotiation.  The greatest thing about this job is that it’s never the same, and it’s never ‘typical’.”

About My Colleagues

“My Pace Harmon colleagues are among some of the most intelligent, accomplished, approachable, and entertaining people I know.  What makes working at Pace Harmon so unique is that not only are the people you work with incredibly impressive, but they are also great people to work with.  They are grounded, modest people who are willing to work hard, and they make working hard an even more enjoyable experience.”

What I Have Learned

“Including numerous travel tricks, I’ve learned more in one year at Pace Harmon than I ever could have imagined.  I came into the firm with more business than technical knowledge, but am now learning the ins and outs of the telecommunications industry.  I also have learned invaluable Excel shortcuts and PowerPoint tricks.  Most importantly, however, I’ve learned about client relationships.  Because Pace Harmon is a smaller firm, it is easy to see the entire client relationship lifecycle – from selling the contract to wrapping up a year-long project.  Pace Harmon’s leadership is invested in teaching the younger employees how this process works and encouraging us to get involved.”