October — the Month of Opportunity
November 1st, 2019 — October was a busy month for Flames Consulting Group. The Accenture Case Competition, in partnership with the Undergraduate Women’s Network, went underway last week. Out of all the teams that competed, three of them have been selected to present in front of Accenture professionals later in November. Along with the case competition, executive board members have been working hard to host meaningful events for members.

On October 17th, FCG hosted “Consulting in Forensic Accounting. Brad Sargent from Sargent Consulting to share his experiences and how he ended up creating and owning his own forensic accounting firm. Sargent’s energy throughout the event was contagious and students enjoyed hearing his personal story. Sargent reinforced the idea of having a growth mindset and continuous learning.

The following week, FCG hosted “Meet the Recruiter,” featuring Roland Berger, a leading global strategy consulting firm. Students gained an insight into the consulting recruiting process and tips on how to approach a case study. FCG will also be hosting a more in-depth case-study workshop in mid-November for members.

Along with hosting Roland Berger, FCG held a virtual “Strategy Consulting Deep Dive” session, with Ben Einersen from ZS Consulting. Einersen discussed his background in strategy consulting and even his involvement at UIC. Einersen also explained how his firm differs from others in the industry, and how crucial it is to find a firm that fits your interests and future goals.

The last event that FCG hosted this month was a panel discussion, featuring Mel Diaz, a VP at Gallagher. He discussed the various opportunities offered at Gallagher and how there are so many ways to learn with every opportunity.
“You don’t have to be the smartest person. You just need to take any and every opportunity that you can and continue to go for it. Take risks, strive for what you want, and learn from your mistakes.” said Diaz.
This past month, FCG heard a lot of personal stories from consultants across the country. Each professional FCG hosted this month all started out at UIC, yet all of their stories were vastly different. They all pursued different niches within business and consulting and created their own paths. They all had higher goals, and even though they started out unsure about where they were headed, they kept trying pushing themselves until they found what they loved.
Thank you to all the professionals that shared their stories with us this month, and thank you to everybody who came out to our events! Over the next few months, we will be hosting exclusive member-only events so be sure to officially become a member for Flames Consulting Group. Our team is working hard to prepare curriculum for potential technical courses next semester as well as providing valuable case information. You don’t want to miss this.
