Consultant to Principal in 10 Years: Joline’s Journey

The entry that nearly didn’t happen

Joline’s path into consulting at Inverto didn’t follow a typical route.

While completing her master’s degree, focusing on supply chain management and operations, she applied for an internship. Inverto told her she wasn’t quite ready. Another consultancy offered her a role, which she accepted, gaining hands-on experience while finishing her degree.

After graduating, she continued working there part-time on project-based work. The experience was valuable, but the environment didn’t feel like the right long-term fit. So she reached back out to Inverto.

I said: I have the experience now. Can we talk again? Because I am looking for a fixed position after my master’s.”

This time, they said yes.

Once inside the business, Joline found a culture that felt down-to-earth, ambitious and free from unnecessary hierarchy, and it became one of the reasons she stayed.

Her story reflects something important about career journeys at Inverto: an initial “no” is not necessarily the end of the conversation. As people gain experience and develop, opportunities can open up again when the timing and fit are right.

The year that shaped the decade

Joline began her consulting career in retail, spending her first months learning the fundamentals on projects in Cologne and Hamburg.

At many firms, career paths can feel fixed early on. At Inverto, there’s more flexibility to explore different industries and projects before specializing later in your career. Joline had been exposed to healthcare through her family, so when an opportunity arose to join a healthcare consulting project, she made the move.

That decision shaped the rest of her career.

Early on, she found herself in a position of significant responsibility. With the Project Manager tied up elsewhere, the day-to-day delivery of the project sat largely with Joline and two colleagues. Together, they were effectively running the engagement.

There was a lot of trust. It was a field I already understood, and that’s when I realised I wanted to build my career in this space.”

She has worked in healthcare ever since, later formally specializing in the area as she progressed into Project Manager level, while also delivering projects internationally in London, Barcelona and Mexico.

What changes as a consulting career progresses

Career progression in consulting is often described through job titles, but the real shift is in responsibility, mindset, and leadership. Moving from Consultant to Senior Consultant involves taking greater ownership of core work while beginning to guide others and develop leadership skills. The transition to Project Manager is where the role changes more significantly. The focus shifts from executing tasks to leading delivery.

You have to quickly shift from doing the work to leading it. Thinking strategically, guiding others, and deciding what to delegate.

This is also where many professionals feel pressure most acutely. Without effective delegation and time management, the risk of burnout increases. Joline describes this as a critical learning moment:

Your team might be happy to stop at 7 or 8 PM. But if you’re still working at 2 AM, that’s not helping anyone. You can’t lead well like that. So you delegate. You create space to think and to lead properly.

As a Principal, the shift happens again. The role becomes less about direct delivery and more about direction. From supporting Project Managers and contributing to business development, to shaping how the firm grows.

You have to choose your battles. As a Project Manager, you’re still close to the day-to-day work. As a Principal, it’s about where you focus your time and impact.”

Each step requires a different skill set, and each transition brings a new kind of challenge.

The system underneath the story

Careers like this don’t develop by chance. Joline’s progression reflects a broader system designed to support long-term consulting career growth.

Staffing is structured, with projects aligned not just to current capability, but to future development goals. This ensures consultants gain the right experience at the right stage of their careers.

Training evolves alongside each step. Development programs are tailored to specific career stages, combining practical experience with structured learning.

There are also opportunities for international mobility and exposure through the wider BCG network, including global placements and secondments with senior leadership. This level of access is not common across all consulting firms and plays a role in expanding both experience and perspective.

Together, these elements create an environment where career progression is intentional, not incidental.

Flexibility and long-term consulting careers

Joline’s career didn’t happen in isolation. After the birth of her second child, she returned to work at 30% of her usual hours. She is now increasing her availability and stepping back into project work.

Inverto introduced flexible working and travel options in 2021, alongside initiatives such as Parenting@Inverto, designed to support employees balancing professional and personal responsibilities. This doesn’t remove the demands of consulting, but it does change how those demands can be managed over time.

It’s called flex work for a reason. Everyone has to be flexible to some extent. But it’s also why I stayed. I can balance family and career in a way that works for me. It doesn’t always work perfectly. Some days I’m a better Principal. Some days I’m a better mum. But overall, this works.

She has continued to progress in her career through this model, and she is not the only one. Others across the firm have followed similar paths, demonstrating that long-term consulting careers can evolve without losing momentum.

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