Sadiq Patel graduated from the University of Illinois in 2005 with a degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology. After teaching science for two years in Miami through Teach For America, Sadiq joined Accenture as a management consultant. He shares his personal experiences below.
Growing up, it was clear to me that there were significant differences in educational opportunity. A key reason I joined Teach for America was to help bridge those discrepancies.
My teaching experience was eye-opening and gave me even more insight into the obstacles that impede greater educational opportunity for all children. I developed a better understanding of the specific challenges facing inner-city youth and became more sensitive to different societal problems. Most importantly, I learned ways to help address these challenges and started an after-school tutoring program for students who were struggling in language arts and mathematics.
When it came time to embark on the next phase of my career, I knew I wanted to work for a company that would recognize the value in hiring civic-minded individuals with a firsthand understanding of our nation's disparities. I also felt that consulting was an ideal field for me to apply my skills, so I researched top consulting firms. I found that Accenture outperformed other firms for many reasons.
Accenture valued my insight as a Teach for America corps member as a unique credibility that would enable me to have a real impact, both personally and professionally. Accenture is a company which realizes the positive societal impact it can have and regularly acts upon it. They encourage their employees to play an active role in improving the communities in which they live and work.
I also learned that Accenture recognizes and rewards hard work in its performance-based culture. Since joining Accenture, I have already seen first-year analysts given Team Lead positions because they demonstrated their ability to outperform their peers.
Finally, Accenture truly is the best at teaching individuals. Just as Teach for America corps member pride themselves in educating students, Accenture takes pride in educating employees. Accenture seeks individuals who are creative, analytical, effective communicators, and leaders – skills all Teach for America corps members possess. Accenture will then provide these individuals with necessary tools and skills needed to successful in this company. The commitment to training lasts throughout your career—Accenture invests over $750 million in training every year for employees across career levels!
I joined Accenture as a management consultant, aligned with Talent & Organization Performance. My first project was with the US Army where Accenture was implementing software to help them track how money was spent by the Army. My role was to create training materials that would teach Army Finance Personnel on how to use this software. After five months, I transferred to another role on this project where I am now developing the software we were implementing for the client.
I’ve found that they skills I developed as a teacher have empowered me to excel at Accenture—public speaking, effective time management, organization, and thinking on my feet. The responsibilities I shouldered in the classroom prepared me for the challenges of consulting, where I identify what a business needs to be successful, and develop technology incorporating those business needs.
Accenture has lived up to its promise for strong corporate citizenship. Accenture employees regularly participate in programs that encourage understanding and tolerance according to race, age, gender, and faith. The company funds the Accenture Junior and Community College Scholarship Program to support higher education. And employees can put their business and technical skills to use in developing nations through Accenture Development Partnerships and our Voluntary Service Overseas Business Partnerships program.
On a local level, I see corporate citizenship in action every day in the Washington, DC offices. Accenture employees on the US Army Project volunteer each week at a children’s hospital, school, or homeless shelter. Accenture hosts regular events that educate individuals on different cultures, faiths, and backgrounds. They even closed the office on Martin Luther King Day so the 3200 Accenture employees from the DC office could volunteer on various projects throughout the city which included participating at a local food pantry, city beautification efforts, painting homes, volunteering at schools, reading to hospital patients, and much more.
When a company is willing to close-down to better their community, I believe that says a lot about the integrity of that company.