Nadia Kellman was recently promoted to Consultant at L.E.K. In this blog, she shares her journey from starting during the pandemic to aligning with the healthcare sector, and how the culture and people at L.E.K. have shaped her career.

My Journey to L.E.K.
My name is Nadia, and I am a Consultant at L.E.K. Consulting in London. I moved to the UK from Romania in 2015 to study law at Cambridge. My initial plan was to become a lawyer, but I soon realized my heart wasn’t in it. I started exploring other career options, and consulting quickly stood out to me. It seemed like a fun combination of analytical and creative thinking, and it occupied a unique position in the commercial landscape, exploring engaging and intriguing questions.

I had heard about L.E.K. as a leader in strategy, and the company's analytical and detail-oriented approach resonated with my own personality and interests. I knew a few people from university who worked here, and my interview process was a great experience. The people I met were fantastic, so I joined in October 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic.

Starting Out During a Pandemic and Colleague Support
Honestly, my early days as an Associate were challenging; I found it hard to learn the ropes and figure out what made a good Associate. At the time, I felt everyone around me knew so much more than I did, and the isolation of remote work due to the pandemic amplified those feelings. When I now work with Associates, I often think, “Wow, they’re doing so much better than I did at their stage!”

What helped me progress were the people around me. My colleagues provided insightful feedback and a supportive environment, which allowed me to grow. I had fantastic mentors and coaches who really understood areas where I was struggling and gave me actionable advice. In particular, female role models within L.E.K. whom I have had the opportunity to work with offered me inspiring examples of leadership and excellence that I could relate to. The supportive culture at L.E.K. has been instrumental in my professional development.

The London Office Culture
The culture at the L.E.K. London office is one of the highlights of my experience. Even during the pandemic, I felt connected to my colleagues. People here are incredibly friendly, approachable, and open. The office is also highly international, with people from all walks of life. It’s this mix of diverse perspectives and inclusive atmosphere that makes the work environment so enriching.

From Associate to Consultant
Transitioning from Associate to Consultant has been both rewarding and humbling. As an Associate, you’re often focused on specific tasks, but as a Consultant, you’re responsible for driving  outcomes. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my new role is mentoring Associates. I’ve been in their shoes, and I understand the challenges they face. Providing real-time feedback and helping them improve has been incredibly rewarding. I’m also keen to innovate within my role—whether it’s creating dashboards to improve team communication or refining processes to make workflows more efficient.

Aligning to Healthcare
As of November, I’ve officially aligned with the healthcare sector. My journey to this decision was gradual but natural. Early on, I was encouraged to align to gain more predictability in case types, but I found myself naturally drawn to every new sector I encountered - each was interesting in its own way. I spent years gravitating between a few different sectors (including Industrials, my first love), ultimately choosing healthcare because of the people, culture, and interesting work. While some of my toughest projects were in healthcare,  I enjoyed these the most. Teams were collaborative and fun, even during long nights. Cases present compelling aspects of consumer behaviour as well as B2B dynamics, which make for varied and interesting work.

Additionally, my multicultural background has enriched my experience in this sector. Being both Romanian and Middle Eastern, I’ve been able to contribute unique insights on international projects. For instance, I recently worked on a high-profile Romanian case where I was able to leverage my knowledge of the region and language skills. I plan to improve my (sadly quite basic) Arabic, to be able to make the most of opportunities to work on some of the exciting GCC cases the healthcare sector has in the pipeline.

Looking Ahead
In my new role, I’m looking forward to three things: mentoring Associates, innovating how we work, and finding my niche within the healthcare sector. I’m excited to develop my skills and continue to grow within L.E.K. It feels like the start of something really exciting.

Advice for Aspiring Consultants
If you’re an Associate aiming to become a Consultant, here’s my advice: listen to everything. Don’t just focus on your specific task; understand the bigger picture. The more clued up you are about the case, the easier it is to contribute meaningful insights. Also, ask for feedback—and not just at the end of the case. Mid-case feedback is crucial because it gives you time to course-correct. Finally, be confident. Even if you don’t know everything, your input is valuable. The more engaged you are, the more you’ll grow.

Looking back, my journey at L.E.K. has been transformative. From finding my feet as a new Associate to growing into my role as a Consultant, I owe so much to the people and the culture here. I’m excited to see what’s next.