Play hard

The best consultant is somebody who is well-rounded and satisfied as a person first and foremost. After all, a hands-on, no-nonsense style of working doesn’t necessarily imply a “live to work” attitude.

A.T. Kearney has therefore purposely created a work environment that – while challenging and demanding – doesn’t take over the lives of our consultants. We regularly organize social activities for ourselves as a group, and our mentors actively promote and encourage a balance between business imperatives within our firm and personal interests that lie outside the company’s doors.

So whether we are racing a Dragon Boat against our peers from other firms, taking over the ski slopes in Davos, or filling up the neighborhood squash courts for an intra-office tournament, you can be sure that we bring to these activities all of the enthusiasm we have for our work, giving meaning to the saying “work hard, play hard”.

Friday in the Office
As consultants, we spend a lot of time working at client sites. That’s why we make a point of having a Friday in the Office (FIO) on a regular basis. On this day, consultants and support staff come together to share new experiences, have a drink and catch up on all the latest news.

A typical Friday in the Office might include a presentation on crowd sourcing from a old university class mate, followed by drinks, a beach party featuring a BBQ, Mojito’s and beach volleyball during the hot summer months, or a guided tour of the Corus steel mill in IJmuiden followed by drinks and fish at IJmuiden harbor.

"Fridays in the Office are a mix of content, news and fun, and more importantly, a way to connect to my colleagues. The content part is covered by presentations on hot industry topics, often concerning recent projects. The business update gives me the latest news on our unit. But for me, the most important part of the afternoon is the opportunity to socialize and have fun with my colleagues.” - René Heller, Principal

Annual Party
The A.T. Kearney Benelux Annual Party is a well-established tradition, and what was once a relatively ‘simple evening’ with staff and their partners has been transformed into fully-fledged four-day trip abroad to resorts such as Davos, Switzerland, Sestrière, Italy or more recently our trip to Marrakech, Morocco.