By Antoine Moussa | Campus Reporter
The AUB Consulting Club (AUBCC) has made history by surpassing 540 members, becoming the largest club in AUB’s history in terms of member count. This begs the question, what propelled AUBCC to reach such unprecedented heights?
To start, the interest in consulting careers among students at AUB has seen a remarkable upsurge in recent years, reflecting a broader trend in the Middle East. What was once considered an unconventional career choice, especially for graduates in fields like medicine, mathematics, and engineering, has now become increasingly popular. With the industry’s growth in the Middle East, AUB stands as one of the region’s largest and most trusted recruiting hubs. This is why AUB became a “target school” for top consulting firms, on par with institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT in the USA. Having said all this, the reasons are obvious why students are leaning towards consulting careers. First, AUB provides a great platform to pursue such a career. Second, consulting is a career that allows for great personal and professional growth. Third, consulting offers the opportunity to cultivate a robust network of connections, as consultants often collaborate on the largest projects across the Middle East.
This points to a clear trend: there is a substantial demand for consulting careers at AUB. However, to meet this demand and assist students along the way, a strong supply of consulting resources is crucial, and this is where AUBCC comes into play.
AUBCC is dedicated to a singular mission: to cultivate a pool of exceptional talent for premier management consulting firms, empowering students to embark on successful consulting careers. This club has lived up to its mission by providing students with all the tools necessary to break into the industry. This year AUBCC has implemented numerous workshops and initiatives. To name a few, the club has launched the “Ace the Interview” workshop series which trains students for their consulting interviews. The workshop series was in collaboration with top consulting firms such as Kearney, Strategy&, FTI Delta, and Simon-Kucher & Partners. The workshop was conducted by consultants from these firms, as who could be better to train you on acing interviews than the interviewers themselves?
Beat the case is another initiative which allows students to train cases on a weekly basis and get feedback on their performances, thus allowing them to prepare even further for their interviews. AUBCC also organized 4 case competitions with some of the best firms in the region, namely Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Kearney, Strategy&, and FTI Delta. These competitions gave students the opportunity to train their problem-solving and presentation skills, while being exposed to real-life business cases. In addition, the competition winners earned round 1 interviews with the top-tier firms mentioned earlier. AUBCC’s assistance resulted in 12 students securing these interviews, demonstrating the significant impact that the club has on campus.
The initiatives and events go on, and as noticed AUBCC offers students a plethora of resources.
According to Rhea Abdelhay, a second-year industrial engineering student who is currently applying for consulting internships, “The AUBCC events were my first and main introduction to consulting, and provided me with the chance to get to know like-minded people. I also won a mock interview with a consultant at FTI Delta, a top consulting firm in the GCC, which gave me hands-on experience and helped refine my case-solving skillset”.
AUBCC effectively meets this unprecedented demand by providing valuable resources, a key factor that has enabled the club to achieve a monumental milestone in AUB’s history, with a membership exceeding 540 members. This accomplishment underscores the club’s pivotal role in supporting students’ aspirations for consulting careers and its significant impact on campus.
At the heart of AUB’s vibrant campus lies a unique intersection of drive, ambition, and opportunity, particularly evident in the field of management consulting. The AUB Consulting Club (AUBCC) serves as a catalyst, guiding students along the path to launching successful consulting careers. Through workshops, case competitions, and networking events, AUBCC equips its members with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the consulting industry. This intersection, combined with AUBCC’s unwavering support and resources, has paved the way for the club to achieve a remarkable milestone, boasting a membership exceeding 540 students. It is a testament to the club’s dedication, the university’s commitment to fostering excellence, and the surge in demand for consulting careers.
Reflecting on the immense growth of the AUB Consulting Club (AUBCC), President Michael Torbey emphasizes the club’s transformative impact, stating, “We noticed a growing interest in consulting careers among AUB students so we decided to create a platform where students were free to learn, network, and prepare for challenges in the consulting industry”. This sentiment resonates deeply with the club’s journey, marked by dedication, ambition, and a commitment to excellence. As AUBCC continues to grow and evolve, its legacy as AUB’s largest club stands as a testament to its role as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, shaping the future of the Middle East’s consulting industry. The club nurtures skills, provides a platform to build connections, and fosters a culture of excellence, highlighting that it is not just a club but a pivotal force in students’ development. Through its unwavering support and resources, AUBCC has not only met but exceeded the demands of its members, shaping the future leaders of the consulting industry.