"A strong consultant must be able to engage just as comfortably with senior executives as with operators on the shop floor."
Hortense Chancerelle – Consultant – CentraleSupélec (2023)
What do you think makes a good consultant?
A strong consultant combines interpersonal agility with intellectual rigor. We must be able to engage just as comfortably with senior executives as with operators on the shop floor, adapting our approach while building genuine trust. Credibility is essential. But so is the ability to make collaboration constructive and, at times, lightly human.
Rapid learning is equally critical. In the first days of a project, asking the right questions is a strength; shortly thereafter, mastering the subject becomes a responsibility. While the client remains the expert, our role is to structure the problem, challenge assumptions when needed, and ensure the right questions are consistently brought to the table.
Finally, a true appetite for industry and problem-solving makes the difference. Curiosity, perseverance, and a certain degree of optimism are indispensable, particularly when tackling complex operational challenges that rarely yield their answers immediately.
What do you like most about your job as a consultant and work at Avencore?
In just two years, I have contributed to projects spanning nuclear energy, transportation, defense, decarbonization, and advanced materials, each requiring a different lens and level of rigor.
My assignments have included for example analyzing and optimizing indirect cost structures for a materials producer, and developing should-costing models for critical equipment within a new nuclear construction program. I have also supported the cost structuring of a CO₂ capture facility by leveraging engineering and procurement levers, and challenged the business plan of a train maintenance center.
I value the opportunity to work both with executive leadership and operational teams, always on highly tangible topics. At Avencore, we do not remain at a theoretical level; we engage directly with complex industrial sites, where strategy meets execution and where impact is tangible.
How did you progress at Avencore?
From the outset, I was entrusted with significant responsibility — working directly with clients, conducting site visits, and contributing autonomously to demanding assignments. This early exposure to the field accelerated both my learning curve and my sense of accountability.
At the same time, I was never left to navigate challenges alone. Each project team is structured to combine experience levels, allowing us to work closely with managers and partners. Learning happens side by side, through high standards, constructive feedback, and the daily transmission of experience that cannot be found in textbooks.
How is the relationship to your colleagues and your work environment?
The quality of the work environment was a key criterion in my choice to join Avencore. From my very first days, I felt genuinely welcomed and integrated. Not only among fellow consultants, but also in my interactions with managers and partners.
Collaboration is both demanding and supportive. Teams work closely across seniority levels, and regular team-building events foster strong professional and personal connections. This balance between high standards and team cohesion creates an environment where performance and trust naturally go hand in hand
What was useful in your engineering studies to work at Avencore?
My engineering studies at CentraleSupélec provided me with a strong foundation in structured problem-solving and analytical thinking. These skills are essential when addressing complex industrial challenges. They trained me to break down intricate issues methodically and to approach them with both rigor and curiosity.
They also instilled the ability to engage confidently with technical experts. On our projects, we frequently interact with highly specialized engineers; being able to understand their constraints, challenge assumptions constructively, and build meaningful dialogue is key.
Finally, engineering studies cultivate the habit of learning quickly and independently. It is an indispensable asset in consulting, where mastering new subjects within a short timeframe is not the exception, but the norm.