A pivotal moment

While doing his master’s dissertation, which analysed his university’s carbon emissions and made recommendations on how it could be more sustainable, VJ became interested in consulting.

“That was quite a pivotal moment,” he says. “That project had a very consultant-like style, and that’s where my initial interest stemmed from.”

VJ saw that consulting would allow him to use his problem-solving skills from his engineering training – and work with a plethora of clients.

After graduating in 2023, VJ joined the EY graduate scheme in technology consulting and almost immediately began the process of becoming an Associate Chartered Management Consultant.

Management consultancy is a broad church, involving complex problems across disciplines and sectors. As a result, there are several professional accreditations available. VJ chose to pursue Associate Chartered Management Consultant status because of its holistic and practical framework. He considers it a foundational baseline for any well-rounded consultant.

“Chartered Management Consultant is the best accreditation available for management consultants,” he says, “so I felt like, from a foundational perspective, Associate Chartered Management Consultant was the most apt status available for young people entering the industry.”

Going outside his comfort zone

VJ, who gained his Associate Chartered Management Consultant accreditation in autumn 2025, says it has given him a breadth of knowledge. He adds that the framework for the accreditation aligns well with the daily activities he is completing at work.

However, it has also pushed him to try more things that are outside his comfort zone. For example, he put on cultural events for one client off the back of the framework’s encouragement to think about corporate social responsibility. In the sessions, they discussed celebrations such as South Asian Heritage Month and what they mean to different people.

“Organising that session helped us connect with the client on a deeper level and talk about difficult but exciting topics. And it helped with that trust element as well, which helped in the day-to-day planning and engagement.”