Coffee and Consulting: Interviewing the New Director of Consulting, Jayme Baumgardner
Jayme Baumgardner, newly appointed Director of Consulting at Corner Alliance, joined Conroy Stout, MacKenna Hornyak, and Bonnie Callahan for an interview discussing what it takes to be a consultant and, more specifically, what it takes to be a consultant at Corner Alliance. Jayme brings a genuine and insightful perspective on what success looks like in the industry with nearly two decades of government consulting experience. The interview covered a wide range of topics, from Jayme’s personal experience as a consultant and executive leader, to qualities she believes make a good consultant, her stance on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and why she loves to show up to work every day.
Why become a consultant and why come to Corner Alliance?
As Jayme described what makes Corner Alliance special as a government consulting firm, and how it aims to provide its consultants with more than just contracts and experience, it was clear that she brings passion to her new leadership role. “Normally, as a contractor, you’re on a contract and you do 8 hours every day for that client – you really don’t interface much with your company other than to receive a paycheck and benefits. We really value our identity as a consulting firm because we believe in and prioritize Corner Alliance supporting our collective experiences and relationships while also being a place that supports your professional development and growth as a human.”
Discussing what makes a good consultant and why they should want to come to Corner Alliance, Jayme said, “Consulting is an incredibly fast-paced and intense industry and the best of the best thrive in navigating ambiguity and solving complex problems for their clients. It’s really appealing to people who answer that question ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ or ‘Who do you want to be?’ and the response is ‘I don’t really know, but I know that I want to be challenged,’ or ‘I want to work with great people’. ‘I want to make a difference. Whatever that looks like, then I’m happy.’” Corner Alliance really aims to provide its employees as much stability and variability as they want. There are some consultants who have been on the same contract for years, and others who work on several different projects every year. “The goal here is to support one client mission for a few years, stay in touch with your Performance Manager, and switch it up to continue growing and challenging yourself and it’s all possible at Corner Alliance vs. leaving for another company. That’s the real appeal of consulting.”
Jayme recalled when she even felt that way herself. “I remember when I was a sociology major, people said ‘Are you going to be a social worker? What else would you do with that degree?’ I think there’s a place in consulting for people that may not have a business or political science degree but are go-getters with a more social science-oriented approach in the world. We are not a firm where you need to have one specific educational background, the diversity of experiences makes us better.”
Corner Alliance recruits new employees based on professional skills mapping to client needs and core values rather than drawing employees from a specific industry or educational background. Corner Alliance employees have studied a wide range of topics as part of their educational background, from math and science to art history and music. Candidates who study a wide breadth of topics can be equally successful in consulting at Corner Alliance; these differing viewpoints make our teams stronger.
There are still commonalities among those that not only enjoy, but thrive, in consulting. The best consultants do not shy away from, but are drawn to, problem-solving and the need to create a high-impact solution. In support of helping clients achieve their mission, this “can-do” attitude is essential to affecting change.
What makes a good consultant?
Corner Alliance has three commitments that are the foundation of how we operate: Deliver, Grow, and Thrive. The people who can deliver excellent work, grow professionally, help develop business, and thrive despite challenges in a variety of conditions are the ones who will succeed as consultants.
“A good consultant is not deterred by a complex challenge. When they approach a problem, instead of being discouraged, they are motivated to act. For example, I thought I wanted to be an FBI agent when I was in graduate school focused on Criminology. I love to theoretically collect evidence (or data) and plan out scenarios of what may occur. While our clients at Corner Alliance are focused on wicked problems like getting broadband to underserved communities, spurring semiconductor innovation and manufacturing, and equipping first responders and receivers with better tools - a common theme arises for all of our best consultants - they truly love to push on the status quo and solve problems. Every challenge is seen as an opportunity.”
A good consultant knows how to take feedback and seeks out continuous improvement, which is a focus of both Corner Alliance’s internal commitments and leadership objectives. “Having that growth mindset and being excited by growth, I think, is another important skill.” One of the benefits of working at Corner Alliance and working on new contracts is growing and expanding professional skill sets. Corner Alliance provides opportunities to hone existing skill sets and develop new ones with internal training, resources such as access to LinkedIn Learning, and opportunities for reimbursement for relevant external training.
The ability to build trust is also a crucial skill to be successful at Corner Alliance. “The ability to build trust is huge. Trust is currency in this business, and it is a true differentiator for Corner Alliance as voiced by our clients.” The best consultants build trust by applying the trust equation (credibility + reliability + intimacy while managing self-orientation) and are always respectful and professional. Jayme continued, “Strong consultants demonstrate credibility through their spoken word and professional interpersonal demeanor. They don’t need to be extroverts, but they’re able to ask really good questions and trust their gut on when to speak up. And when they have an opinion or question, they’re really thinking about how they’re going to frame it and show up in a credible way.”
Consultants should also have the ability to write well. It is a cross-disciplinary skill that Jayme notes is not as prevalent as it once was; “I think we are facing an interesting skill gap related to writing across sectors today. The emphasis on writing isn’t where it used to be in our educational system. Being an effective and concise writer [for] deliverables, reports, and proposals is a crucial skill.”
Writing, however, is not the only tool a consultant should have at their disposal; another important quality is an aptitude to explore new tools. “You don’t need to be a software developer to be a great consultant, but you should be someone who’s excited about incorporating new technology and tools to get things done in a smarter and more efficient way.”
What does the future look like at Corner Alliance?
Corner Alliance leadership prioritizes company growth alongside the professional development of its employees. These opportunities are not just important for consultants but for the future of the company. “At Corner Alliance, we have some very aggressive growth goals that we formally rolled out this fall at our in-person All Hands meeting. We know full well that what got us here is not necessarily what will get us to the next level. We have relied on hiring smart people with solid skills who have really strong relationships and that ‘get it done’ attitude. Focusing on more technical offerings will be essential as we grow.”
Corner Alliance is incorporating automation and AI, or Artificial Intelligence, into our tools and offerings to clients. “This is an exciting time at Corner Alliance. I think there’s going to be a lot of force multiplying capabilities and even cost savings to our clients in the near future in the process automation and writing sphere directly applicable to current service delivery.”
Corner Alliance’s growth and positive reputation are a direct result of its tremendous employees. “We [the leadership team] really want Corner Alliance to be an awesome place to work.” One of the reasons the leadership team is always proactively planning for the future is to enable Corner Alliance consultants an array of opportunities to choose from, allowing them to work on contracts that align with their goals as they grow. “We really want people to have a clear career path as they grow WITH Corner Alliance. Our people are the lifeblood of this organization. Supporting our people with their professional goals and to figure out more and more who they want to be when they grow up is essential now and as we grow.”
**Responses and conversations have been edited for length and clarity.
Authors
Bonnie Callahan, Associate Consultant supporting the Internet for All Initiative under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), is passionate about using her skills to help both her colleagues and government clients improve processes, expand their reach, and create change in communities facing social and economic hardship. Her expertise in meeting facilitation, technical and creative writing, grants management, and creative problem solving paired with her passion for storytelling, activism, and helping others fuel her drive to be a skilled consultant and reliable team member.
Conroy Stout, Senior Consultant primarily supporting the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG), is focused on providing excellence for every project and client. He has expertise in strategic communication, content writing, process improvement, and project management. Most recently, he successfully led a team from inception through data collection, drafting, and delivery of a congressional report. Conroy previously worked in the United States Senate as a Legislative Assistant, providing advice on various policy areas, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology, and broadband.
MacKenna Hornyak, Consultant I supporting the Internet for All Initiative under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), is committed to working with the government to improve efficiency and create solutions to maximize their reach. She has expertise in stakeholder engagement, meeting facilitation, process efficiency, and leading stakeholder engagement initiatives for NTIA, most recently with the U.S. Virgin Islands Local Coordination Workshop. She is passionate about expanding high-speed internet access and closing the digital divide so all communities can participate in the digital economy.