Employee Spotlight: Alex Hebert

What is something that you learned during Associate training that has stuck with you?

The Sendero approach is Best People, Best Delivery. People always come first. One of the trainings that I think back to often is the importance of self-management when first starting your career. Life is less of a balancing act and much more of a juggling one. It is okay for your priorities to shift in importance as time passes. The key is finding a healthy way to flex between setting goals, working hard to achieve them, and self-regulating to preserve your health. This personal autonomy is super important and something Sendero does not take lightly. It has been great to work for a company that has its employees’ best interests at the forefront of its operational strategy.

What was your first project role at Sendero like? What were some of your responsibilities?

In my first project experience, I had the opportunity to support one of the largest electric utility companies in the nation as a quality assurance analyst, working primarily in the supply chain space. I worked on multiple different IT initiatives, including database migrations, Open-Shift/Cloud implementations, and mobile software testing. Through these technology solutions, our team provided automated processes and mobile upgrades to help ease day-to-day operational responsibilities for employees.

Tell us about your favorite project role thus far. Why was it your favorite?

My current project role has been my favorite. I was fortunate enough that my first role naturally evolved into a new one at our client, and I now have the opportunity to provide organizational change and sustainment support to the IT team I was once a part of. In the beginning, the project was exciting for me because I had no previous experience in the utilities industry, software development, or the IT infrastructure space. The first few months were fast-paced and the knowledge and hands-on experience I was exposed to will be invaluable for the remainder of my career. As time has gone on, I have been able to support multiple workstreams and gain confidence in my ability to lead. Consulting is all about continually learning and Sendero provides tons of opportunities to develop your expertise in all industries and areas of business.

What new management consulting skills have you learned in your first year of management consulting?

Data visualization is something I was always very interested in learning more about during business school, but never had the opportunity to try. With the help of one of Sendero’s Special Interest Groups, I was able to enhance my analytics and data visualization prowess and get some hands-on experience working in both Power BI and Tableau. It has been awesome to see how more experienced Senderoans will take the time to share their expertise, industry knowledge, and help others learn new skills.

Tell us about any internal roles (Community rocks, Committees, etc.) that you have been involved in that stand out to you.

I have had an amazing opportunity to work on the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Community Rock as a Microsoft Teams implementation specialist and collaboration tools workstream lead. Our team is currently implementing multiple IT collaboration tools, as we work alongside BBBS stakeholders to try to increase virtual cross-market collaboration within the agency. It has been very rewarding to support an organization within the non-profit sector while expanding my consulting skillset and leadership style. The fact that Sendero provides multiple opportunities for entry-level employees to help make a difference in the community through volunteerism and non-profit client work was a huge reason why I wanted to work here. It has been great growing a passion of mine firsthand through our work with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

If you could tell yourself in college one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would tell college Alex that although it is important to set goals and plan for your future, oftentimes the most critical and valuable lessons learned in life come out of sudden and unexpected change. Entering college as a kinesiology major, I never would have expected my first career would be in management consulting. Once my “perfect” life plan slowly became less and less linear, I had to embrace the unknown and learn to be flexible and enthusiastic about the potential new opportunities change can bring. At times it was a challenging lesson to learn, but I am very grateful that my new path led me to Sendero.

What is the last book you read?

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It was suggested to me by another Senderoan and I really enjoyed it. It is one of those contemporary classic novels I think everyone should read at some point in their life. A very easy read with a simple, yet powerful message about the lifelong pursuit of following your ever-changing dreams.

What is your favorite non-profit to support?

My favorite non-profit to support is Camp Kesem. Camp Kesem is a nationwide organization that supports children by operating free summer camps for those who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer. The counselors and kids who attend camp have the best spirits and most heartwarming stories, and the mission of the organization is very inspiring to me. In college, I had the opportunity to visit and financially support this amazing non-profit and hope to find ways to continue to do so during my time at Sendero and beyond.

“I had to embrace the unknown and learn to be flexible and enthusiastic about the potential new opportunities change can bring. At times it was a challenging lesson to learn, but I am very grateful that my new path led me to Sendero.” – Alex Hebert