If I continue in consulting, my ambition is to be a partner before I am 30.I was wondering whether anyone knew of partners who are younger than 30? Is it possible?Particularly interested in PA!

There was apparently a partner at Deloitte at 28.Nick Chaffey is supposed to be the youngest promotion to partner ever at PA- think he was 31. PA is a very conservative organisation, but I guess its good to have ambition. I have been told that the way to get to ppartner fast is to start selling while a C- not just help on proposals but come back to the cave dragging fresh kill.good luck....

Is PA a very conservative organisation?Is their expertise not more in areas like technology skills, innovative mantra's, new public sector implementations, and so on?

There are many young Partners. As long as you get a good network and are able to sell, you will get there. I am 32 and I am a partner in Bain & Co.

Not sure I understand the question. We implement and design cutting edge assignments (or whatever the advertising burble says- haven't read it in a while...) but we are culturally conservative

Oh- and I think strategy houses move people through faster than the implementation houses (current client says his McKinsey's consultants tend to be more senior faster)

partner at 32? god is wish i had worked harder at school!

I wish my Dad was rich or connected enough for me to pass through private school with my just about good academic attempts. Rather than going to excel (whilst flipping McD's buggers at night and the weekends) in a college in inner London where at least one student is stabbed a year for looking at another student in a disrespectful(?) manner) and then I move on to Oxbridge, IC or LSE (rather than a second tier Ivy League Uni), where my Dad is likely to be an Alumni or probably donated a figure I have never seen but only ever head on TV. The perfect gloss from a Uni like this will give me the leverage I need anytime I work into a a company leading to anything I say being seen as dynamic. Not to talk about the £42,000 MBA from Harvard, Wharton or LBS that I would add on this. Then probably I will be a principal in Consulting now.But I have no doubt some people are very intelligent and probably deserve to be a partner at 32 but I suspect a vast majority with that kind of background are quite privileged and have enough hereditary connections in blue chips to bring business in. A kind of connection I can never have at this young age.I am very proud of my attempts in my academic past despite it not being Gillette (the best a man get). I believe some are lucky to get the headstart a strong financial pot can provide which I never had, instead I paid my way through whilst holding down 2 jobs most of the time and still got into consultancy.

Why are there so many bitter people on this website?

He's not bitter if he's right. And he is, because I've had a very similar experience. Elitism on academic grounds I have no problem with, but when it's on one's financial/ability to pay - it irks me. I had offers at Oxbridge for both MPhil and PhD work but never attended because I couldn't afford the fees. Son't tell me that's bitter. It's just a damn fact.

Bob,You are wrong there. I am absolutely not bitter. Far from that, I am very happy the way I am. I just object to clint's view that working hard is the most likely means of attaining the high status of Rick.Furthermore, I suspect from Rick's post that he is a very nice guy that is just trying to provide information and motivate others. So in no way is my post an attack on him or his capabilities.I doubt if Rick will disagree much with me if he looks around him at the people he works with or for (Bainies and clients).

Fair enough - in some cases it might be a fact, but language is emotive which implies you are bitter.I think we need to face up to life - not everyone has equal chances, and opportunities, but you make do with what you are given and work that to your advantage.

Sorry that reply was aimed at Urban, rather than John P!

What has all this got to do with the original question?A long time ago there were some cave people. They were not very old by our standards (mostly in their early twenties). Every year they had a big feast. One caveman (called Ugg!) found it more difficult to hunt because he was only in his late teens. He often helped out with the hunting. Simple things like walking in front of charging dinosaurs to get their attention, so that the older hunters could spear them.Trouble was they used to take all the meat first. He got back and his cavewoman (called Uggier!) was very angry. ‘Where’s our meat’, she screamed as Ug narrowly escaped being branded with a hot roasting fork.Next year he went out with his spear but the end broke off of on a particularly long hunt. ‘Ugg’ was all he could say that year when he got back after Uggier approached him holding a club.Right thought Ugg. He left early with his bow and arrow the next year. It took him ages but he shot a flying reptile.Uggier was starving when he got back. She simply snatched the meat and roasted it. It was delicious. ‘That tasted wonderful’ said Uggier ‘the others have been complaining for ages about the dinosaurs this year. How on earth did you get that idea?’ ‘Oh said’ Ugg ‘I’d seen them earlier, took one look and decided that they were all well past their shelf life!’

John P, what rubbish. Maybe it's not available in Europe or UK, but have you ever heard of a "bank loan"? I was born to a struggling family in a 3rd-world country, immigrated to the US when I was 18, worked full-time as a waiter (10 hour days) while going to night school to get my university degree, took out a high 5-figure loan to pay for my B-school (a top 10 B-school in the US), and paid it all off within 2 years due to the high salary and bonuses I'm currently making at a top-tier Strat firm. Whenever I hear of an American or European complaining about "not having enough opportunities", I thank God that not all people are not willing to work as hard...otherwise, I really wouldn't have any opportunities!! Sorry to say, hard work really does make a difference.

Homie, sorry to cut your story here. I am not European. I am also a 3rd world immigrant. I also took out loans just like you. But believe me I would have breezed better through university if I did not have to be applying for worrying about loans. It would have been much easier if I could call Daddy for the £15,000 for an MSc in LSE and another £15,000 for the parties (sorry I meant maintenance). For an extrovert like me that hates working 14 hours (PT job and uni work) and is not much academically minded, I could have achieved more with this comforts because I can balance work and play to suit me and enjoy the process rather than just work.

Good for you. Maybe you should just look at the glass half full vs. half empty. Think of your life experience as an investment in your children. They will be the spoiled brats who can use Daddy's connections and money to get into LSE and become a Partner by the time they're 30. That's not such a bad story, is it?

Absolutely not!My kids will have to work their way through life, no matter how rich I am, nothing will be offered on a plate.The will even have to do chores for any pocket money and do at least a year's stint in fast food retail.This is a 'No spoilt brat zone'!

I don't get it. A minute ago you were ranting against those who don't shy from using family connections to achieve their goals, and saying how you wished you didn't have to bust your ass to get where you did. But now you're saying you would wish your children to go through the exact same thing you did? Ehh??

Nope!What I was saying is that I would pay for good education for my kids. But at the same time they would not put their legs up and recieve everything for free and out of ignorance.If I took my car to the car wash, I can get it washed for about £20 but if my kid washed it I would cough out £30 rather than give him £30 for doing absolutely nothing.Weekend job at pizzahut wouldn't kill him/her. I did it 5/6 days a week, but I only expect him/her to do in at the weekend to understand where money comes from or how it is made. If (s)he shows me their payslip I might give a pound or 2 for every pound (s)he make.

Totally agree, my old man made me work all the way through education but now i've done that and set out on a career he is only to glad to help including the offer of financing my MBA down the line.Although you do need to find a new car wash at £20 you're getting fleeced.