Students and recent graduates have limited opportunity to gain work experience and to develop the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Millions of young adults transitioning into the workforce struggle to break the cycle of ’no experience, no job — no job, no experience'.
Learn about our causeThis is an alarming issue and we offer a solution. Many ambitious young people join our team to work with us on consulting projects. During this process, they gain hands-on experience and build transferable skills. This experience has proven to enhance their employment prospects.
Hear from our volunteersTeam
Advisor
Breandan Ward is a former Executive Director of Morgan Stanley New York and worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years. Most recently, he served as the Global Head of Margin Financing and Risk Support. Breandan subsequently left the banking sector to establish a leadership coaching and well-being practice and also teaches as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU on the topics of leadership and disability.
LinkedInAdvisor
Steve Wayman is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. For more than a decade he was the CEO of Wood Group Kenny — a 3,000 employee global consultancy. Steve recently led the strategic acquisition and integration of Amec Foster Wheeler with Wood Group to create a multi-billion dollar conglomerate “Wood”, operating in 60+ countries. He is an alumnus of Imperial College London.
LinkedInManaging Director
Javad Golzari is the managing director of First Step Consulting and responsible for the day-to-day execution of most projects. Over the last 5 years, he delivered above 40 major consultancy projects and trained more than 300 volunteers. Javad received a Master of Science in Management and Strategy from the London School of Economics and studied entrepreneurship at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
LinkedInAdvisor
As an experienced entrepreneur, Jonathan Silver worked with several early stage ventures and led strategic projects for about a decade in the first half of his career. He also served a range of clients as a business consultant both in the UK and abroad. In the second half of his career, Jonathan became a qualified healthcare professional. Currently he is supporting First Step Consulting and starting a healthcare start-up.
LinkedInAdvisor
Christopher Kerr has worked in the legal industry since 2011 at two national law firms. He also holds consultancy roles in the health and fitness industry, and supports numerous nonprofits in the capacity of a pro bono management consultant and trustee. Christopher initially joined our team to work on a strategy consulting project two years ago and decided to stay with us to share his expertise with First Step Consulting.
LinkedInProject Manager
Gaia Franzetti is an engineer who has specialised in applying fundamental concepts to model physiological systems. She has a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and is currently finishing her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at University College London under a prestigious BHF grant. She speaks English, Italian, French and Spanish. Gaia takes an active role in managing our consulting projects.
LinkedInAdvisor
Sebastian Greulich is currently a Vice President at J.P. Morgan specialising in fixed income structuring. Having worked in the financial services industry for more than five years, he has successfully served a wide range of clients. A graduate of the University of St. Gallen, Sebastian has recently joined our team and brings a spectrum of skills and experience to support First Step Consulting. He speaks English, Spanish and German.
LinkedInCommunications Associate
Yasmin Ibrahim works closely with our team to develop the communications strategy of First Step Consulting and actively provides creative input to refine our business identity. Yasmin has completed her MSt in English at the University of Oxford, specialising in late medieval scripts and palaeography. Previously she studied English Language and Literature at King’s College London and graduated with First Class Honours.
LinkedInAdvisor
An experienced professional in the financial services industry, Christoph Greulich worked at Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas in London and Paris and, more recently, as part of the equity research team at Berenberg Bank UK that covers listed European mid-cap companies from various sectors. Christoph holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Mannheim and speaks English, French and German.
LinkedInBusiness Development Associate
Sean Gumbrell began his career in the insurance industry and recently joined our team to facilitate the growth of First Step Consulting. Sean works closely with the company’s leadership team and performs a broad variety of tasks. Most specifically, his support is instrumental in identifying opportunities to expand our partnership network and in cultivating trusting relationships with clients.
LinkedInCommunications Associate
Andrea Pinza is a journalist with experience in the editorial business. She works with our team to help improve and execute the communications efforts of First Step Consulting and to build positive relationships with media. Andrea is also an Editorial Operations Associate at Condé Nast International, overseeing syndication, collaboration and communication among leading brands, such as Vogue, GQ and Glamour. She speaks English, Spanish and French.
LinkedInBusiness Development Associate
Guy Levy helps our team promote First Step Consulting in an effective way. After completing his undergraduate studies with First Class Honours, he is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Economics and Social History at the University of Cambridge. He previously had the chance to gain experience at Goldman Sachs and Lloyds Banking Group and co-led the apprenticeship scheme of an established political think tank.
LinkedInMeet our former pro bono consultants
Our work would not be possible without your support.
First Step Consulting® is a nonprofit social enterprise.
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Martyna Szyrle
King’s College London |
LinkedInMcKinsey & Company
Anne Templer
London School of Economics |
LinkedInPwC Switzerland
Dr. Ryan McCully
Harvard Medical School |
LinkedInIQVIA
Hector Bunce
London School of Economics |
LinkedInJ.P. Morgan
Gabriel Gage
Miami University |
LinkedInNielsen
Dr. Radhika Patel
University College London |
LinkedInCapco
Olamide Aderinokun
Queen Mary University |
LinkedInCapgemini
Max Happel
University College London |
LinkedInBNP Paribas
Dr. Raymond Ka Hou Lao
Imperial College London |
LinkedInCambridge Healthcare Research
Krishali Patel
University College London |
LinkedInAccenture
Amelia Lim
London School of Economics |
LinkedInOliver Wyman
Tom Vandeputte
London Business School |
LinkedInBain & Company
Maria Sofia Barata
University College London |
LinkedInBlackRock
Taran Singh Hothi
University of Warwick |
LinkedInGrant Thornton
Salik Shadab
Indian Institute of Management |
LinkedInShell
Kai Wang
London School of Economics |
LinkedInHSBC
Nikoleta Csandova
University of Cambridge |
LinkedInGoldman Sachs
Cédric Zidjou
Cass Business School |
LinkedInDeloitte
Serena Chaiban
American University of Beirut |
LinkedInIpsos
Mehak Kapur
King's College London |
LinkedInErnst & Young