#BE – Consulting

Tag: #BE – Consulting

Insights from Santosh Kutty: From Lawrence to Leadership at Deloitte

Santosh Kutty’s journey from being an international student at Lawrence University to a Partner at Deloitte exemplifies how a liberal arts education, strategic career moves, and adaptability can lead to remarkable professional success. Here are the key takeaways from his reflections on his journey.

As an international student, Santosh initially faced challenges adjusting to a new environment but soon thrived. Lawrence’s liberal arts education played a pivotal role in his development. By designing his own major that blended computer science, communication, and teamwork skills, he gained both technical expertise and the soft skills critical for professional growth. This unique combination of analytical thinking and interpersonal abilities has been instrumental throughout his career.

During Santosh’s time at Lawrence, computer science wasn’t a fully established major. Undeterred, he collaborated with professors to curate a personalized course load tailored to his long-term goals in technology. His initiative in designing a CS-centric curriculum reflects the

As Vice President of Lawrence International Club, Santosh developed leadership and networking skills that would prove invaluable in his career. This role taught him the importance of building connections and fostering inclusive communities—lessons he carried into his professional life.

Santosh’s path to Deloitte was shaped by his rich educational background and professional experiences. After completing a master’s in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MBA from Northwestern University, he amassed a decade of experience before applying to Deloitte. A key moment in his journey was leveraging his Lawrence connections; a friend from his college days recommended him for a position at Deloitte, showcasing the enduring value of networking.

As a Partner and the US L&A/Group Insurance Technology Practice Leader at Deloitte, Santosh has spearheaded groundbreaking projects in insurance technology. His leadership highlights include:

  • Developing Deloitte’s LifeTech 3S Modernization Method to help insurance carriers drive growth and efficiency through agile technology investments.
  • Leading large-scale transformation projects for global clients, including implementing systems like PEGA, SAPIENS, and FINEOS across multiple countries.
  • Collaborating with diverse teams across geographies to deliver tailored solutions for complex challenges in the insurance and financial sectors.

Santosh’s passion for his role at Deloitte stems from its dynamic nature. No two projects are the same, and interacting with diverse clients keeps the work engaging and fulfilling. For Santosh, the constant evolution of challenges and opportunities makes every day exciting.

Santosh emphasized that finance and insurance companies value adaptability, communication, and networking skills in addition to technical expertise. For undergraduates, particularly international students, networking is crucial. Santosh advises actively attending events, building genuine relationships, and maintaining connections over time. These efforts can open doors to unexpected opportunities, as they did for him.

Career Highlight: Consulting

Interested in pursuing a career in consulting? What is it exactly and why is it so important? Read more to find out!

Job Duties

Consultants are professionals who provide expert advice to other businesses. There are several forms of consulting, including strategy, operations, management, and financial consulting. Consultants can also be found in a variety of industries, including consumer goods, education, hospitality, government, and healthcare, among others. Each industry can be further subdivided. For example, the healthcare business is separated into Life Sciences, Health Systems, Digital Technology, HR, IT, Private Equity, and more.

A consultant’s job is to be an expert in their subject and provide counsel to businesses. A strategy consultant assists businesses in developing a strategy for how to proceed. After developing a plan, consultants must assist the organization in implementing that strategy and determining how to do so. Other types of consultants are function specialists, who specialize in a certain function, such as finance.

Where they work

Prior to the pandemic, consultants’ jobs required them to travel across the country to meet with clients. COVID-19, however, changed this industry by requiring everyone to work from home. Consultants typically work in groups of 4 to 6 persons on a given project. There is usually a manager who oversees the day-to-day operations, a few analysts who report to them, and a consulting partner who provides recommendations based on their knowledge in a specific industry or function.

Education and training

Although each organization is different, candidates for business consultants often need a bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing, economics, engineering, or a related field. When employed, employees often go through a training period that can take anywhere from 5/6 months to 1 or 2 years. While some students go straight into consulting, it is more common for students to start as business analysts and then become consultants after a few years of experience. Other abilities necessary for a consultant include:

  • a love of problem-solving
  • flexibility
  • understanding the client’s demands
  • demonstrating obvious value

Pay and benefits

Pursuing a career in consulting can be profitable in terms of both money and networking prospects. Being a consultant entails being able to communicate with a company’s CEO and board members, as well as spending a significant amount of time with them in order to assist their company’s success. A consultant’s compensation normally varies between $80,000 and $100,000 on average.

If you would like to have more information, please don’t hesitate to email me oliver.decroock@lawrence.edu or schedule an appointment on Handshake.

Oliver De Croock ’24, Student-Athlete at Lawrence University majoring in Economics and Career Peer Educator. Connect with me on LinkedIn.