We’re proud to introduce you to Associate Jacob Pugh.

Jacob joined Sendero’s Dallas office full-time in the summer of 2021, after graduating from Southern Methodist University with a master’s degree in business management. Prior to his master’s, Jacob received his bachelor’s degree in English from SMU. Jacob has experience in the healthcare and utilities industries, with an emphasis on project management, organizational change management, and commercial governance.

We sat down with Jacob to ask about his experience at Sendero.

What led you to Sendero?

I found out about Sendero at a virtual SMU career fair. I had little knowledge about the consulting industry, but that single info session lit a small fire that made me curious and excited about potentially working at Sendero. After learning more about the company, I applied and the rest is history. I’ll always remember how happy I was to accept the offer and how proud my family was. A top five life moment for me so far!

What stands out to you about Sendero?

Sendero is a special place because of the people who make up the company. I feel free to be myself and am surrounded by people who bring their true selves to work every day too! When challenges arise, we’re quick to support each other. As a young and ambitious professional, it means the world to have peers, mentors, and leaders who want to see you succeed.

What has been your favorite part about being a consultant?

My favorite part of being a consultant is the nature of the job. Each day is different, and no two challenges or clients are the same. This gives the opportunity to use different tools in your toolbox, rather than wearing out the same one. To use another analogy, I used to play defensive line in college, and I look at it almost as rushing the passer. There are many ways to get to the quarterback and the fun part is figuring out which move is going to work best!

Tell us about a recent project experience. What were some of your responsibilities?

In one recent project, I started in a project coordinator role, assisting with a change management initiative after an acquisition, and ended my tenure as a full-fledged project manager, running five healthcare technology implementations at sites across the country. As a project manager, I was responsible for making sure the technology was developed and deployed on time and on budget. I learned that a big part of the role is communicating effectively, whether I was meeting with my client, the implementation teams, my Sendero team, the hospital staff, developers, or executives. In my first-ever project, I went from barely understanding meetings to running multiple per day, and this has given me all the confidence and assurance I need to know that I can handle this consulting thing.

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

Since the beginning of 2021, I have been an active member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Sendero, and it has become one of my favorite experiences as a working professional. Everyone on the committee is dedicated and wants to make sure that Sendero is a place that truly supports each employee. DEI has been a perfect chance for me to make an impact at Sendero and help make the place I love working the best it can for all kinds of people – today and in the future.

What are you most passionate about?

A new passion I plan on exploring is teaching! I grew up a teacher’s son, so maybe my mom is rubbing off on me, but I recently discovered how much I enjoy creating a bond with someone and doing my very best to see them succeed. This past year, I had the privilege to help coach a high school football team. Within a few months of getting to know the kids, I found myself moving with a purpose I haven’t really experienced before in my life. One of the best moments of my entire year was after our last game of the season, when one of my players came up to me and embraced me crying, thanking me for believing in him and being his coach. The impact, love, and time I got to spend with some of these young men at this juncture of their life gave me something I’m certain only teaching and coaching can replicate. I don’t have plans to become a full-time coach or teacher soon, but this past year I have found something that unlocked another level of passion for me.

What is your favorite non-profit to support?

My favorite non-profit is a local Dallas foundation called the Brewer’s Future Leaders Program. The program is an after-school enrichment program that gives kids across DISD access to volunteer teachers who give them extra lessons on various subjects that they may not have a chance to learn at their current school. Growing up, my mom, a world-class teacher, would regularly volunteer her time after school to teach with this program.

What is the last book you read?

The last book I read was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I had been wanting to read her autobiography forever, as I grew up learning and reading Angelou’s poetry in school, but recently just got my hands on the book the last time I went to the library. It was a fantastic read and instantly made me revisit all her famous poems. I highly recommend all of Maya Angelou’s work to anyone. She is one of America’s greatest writers, and if you enjoy her poetry, you will fall in love with her long-form writing style as well.

Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?

I would swap places with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for a day for sure. Ideally, I would be able to film a scene in one of the 15 movies he has coming out, which will be easy because all he does is stand next to rubble and look tough. I can do that, one thousand percent! It would be fun to walk around as him too. Basically, I would go full Hollywood for a day and live my best life.