Palladium empowers next-generation consultants from King Saud University

Global advisory firm Palladium hosted a consulting workshop in Riyadh aimed at empowering students from Kind Saud University, with a special focus on encouraging women.

The workshop sought to provide tools to the students to work together on a hypothetical consulting case, with a specific focus on empowering women in the consulting industry. The event was led by the firm’s Saudi Arabia office, educating the next generation of professionals on what the firm does.

“This wasn’t meant to be an HR or recruiting initiative,” said Ayesha Khan, HR Business Partner at Palladium for the Gulf Coast region. “It’s part of our social commitment to providing the next generation with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to navigate the dynamic landscape of the consulting world.”

The workshop was help over the course of one day and aimed at giving students insight into the depth of a typical consulting case, offering firsthand interactions with Palladium team members.

One student participant noted that the workshop “provided a valuable opportunity to develop problem-solving skills and introduce new initiatives.”

“I had the privilege of meeting industry professionals whose expertise and guidance were instrumental in helping us crack the case. The team played a crucial role in providing us with structured frameworks and approaches. Overall, it was an enriching experience that allowed for personal and professional growth.”

The students were exposed to a variety of problem-solving frameworks that the team members use in their various projects. This set of distinct methodologies included different ways of conducting analyses and models like Kepner-Tregoe and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.

Women’s labor participation

As Saudi Arabia continues to strive for the ambitious goals set out in their Saudi Vision 2030 program, increasing women’s involvement in professional positions is a key driver of goals. Indeed, female representation in prestigious career positions has in recent years been increasing.

The Palladium workshop aimed at engaging female students with an interest in entering the world of consulting. “For men in Saudi Arabia, consulting is a status symbol, but most women don’t know what it is,” asserted Khan.

“With an ambitious goal of 50/50 women and men in the workforce, programs and workshops like those that Palladium is hosting are a critical part of ensuring that Saudi women know of all the opportunities open to them.”

The workshop was part of a program at the university that helps to train and prepare students for job interviews and CV writing for positions in the consulting industry. Palladium aims to help these students to better understand what consulting firms look for in prospective employees.

“As we reflect on this event, we are reminded that our commitment to social responsibility is not just a duty; it is a privilege to contribute to the growth and development of the next generation of leaders,” added Khan.