Friso, Management Consultant, Strategy&

I work in small, close-knit teams on complex public sector challenges. Day to day, I help structure problems, analyse data, conduct stakeholder interviews, and translate insights into clear client presentations and reports. Depending on the project, this also includes facilitating workshops and supporting implementation.

Through consulting, I’m able to engage early with senior civil servants, and on several engagements I’ve taken on project leadership responsibilities; coordinating workstreams, guiding junior team members, and acting as a key point of contact for client leadership. One project that particularly shaped me involved supporting an island government in transforming its overall government structure while navigating a highly complex political environment.

What matters most in my role is structured thinking, strong communication, and collaboration under pressure; combined with empathy and curiosity when working with public leaders.

I chose Sciences Po and the International Economic Policy master at Sciences Po School of International Affairs (PSIA) because of its unique ability to combine academic rigor with professors who bring real senior experience from both the public and private sectors.

Beyond coursework, I actively spoke with alumni and pursued internships. Those alumni conversations were especially valuable in helping me understand the reality of the job and prepare for recruitment, while faculty and the info from career services helped bridge theory and practice.

What I enjoy most is working on problems that genuinely matter, where strategy connects directly to public impact. Every project brings a new topic and a steep learning curve, and it’s rewarding to see analytical work translate into concrete improvements for public institutions.

PSIA gave me a strong foundation in policy analysis, economics, and governance, but just as importantly, it trained me to think critically, write clearly, and synthesise complex information quickly; skills I use daily in consulting.

Learning from practitioners like Sir Howard Davies provided hands-on insights into how governments, central banks, and financial markets interact. A course on sovereign debt, supported by Sciences Po’s close links with Paris-based advisors, offered particularly powerful practical exposure. Group projects strengthened my teamwork and presentation skills. My third semester helped connect academic learning with real-world application at the political consultancy start-up Electica which was founded by Professor Valerio Riavez.

After four years in consulting, returning to academia at Oxford felt like a natural next step: a chance to reflect on practice, deepen my policy toolkit, and learn alongside peers with diverse public sector experiences.

Be proactive: explore internships early, talk to alumni, and actively use Sciences Po’s career resources. Invest in transferable skills like structured thinking, writing, and presenting; they matter in almost any career.

I’d also encourage students to develop themselves broadly, not just academically. For me, interests like classical singing, politics, football, and world affairs helped shape who I am. That broader development has made it much easier to connect authentically with client leadership and colleagues.

Finally, stay open-minded. Your career doesn’t have to be linear. Use your time at Sciences Po to experiment, learn, and build relationships; it’s a unique platform, and what you make of it truly matters.