Anna Lelashvili

As part of the Graduate Coffee Chats series in collaboration with Foresight Business Group, TBR’s Chief Financial Officer and Foresight President Anna Lelashvili spoke to Anastasiia Potashina, Account Strategist at Google to get insight into life as a graduate at Google.

The Account Strategist Role – What is it?

As an Account Strategist supporting the UK and Ireland market, Anastasiia works with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to develop and implement effective digital marketing solutions. This involves managing a portfolio of clients and acting as a trusted advisor, understanding their unique needs and aligning advertising strategies with their business goals. 

This role, within the Google Customer Solutions (GCS) team, blends client engagement with strategic planning. Offering exposure to diverse industries from travel to technology, the team fosters both industry knowledge and thought leadership. GCS Account Strategists empower SMBs to grow and achieve their objectives by bringing them the best of Google’s resources. The role provides continuous training and mentorship, fostering professional development within a supportive team environment, and offers direct interaction with business leaders to build a strong professional network.

** Anastasiia noted that the entry-level position for this role is now referred to as Customer Growth Associate. 

Career Progression

Career progression is an ongoing process that requires upskilling and demonstrated performance, with Account Strategists evaluated on performance metrics. The company also encourages personal development and exploration of individual interests. As Anastasiia is passionate about inclusion and belonging, her contributions outside of her usual team responsibilities include being an inclusion ambassador, which entails running training sessions for her team, as well as being a ‘buddy’ to three Nooglers (new joiners at Google), helping them settle in.

The Interview Process

The Google interview process for this role involves a series of steps designed to assess your overall fit and qualifications. It begins with an initial call with a recruiter, followed by three video interviews with the hiring manager and Googlers from related teams. The interviews will focus on your alignment with Google’s culture and values, exploring whether you would thrive in the company and team environment. Another interview will assess your understanding of Google Ads and the specifics of the role, determining your ability to successfully perform job duties. This explores your business acumen, stakeholder management skills, and ability to achieve targets.

Work Culture 

Anastasiia described the work culture at Google as ‘helpful and open’ and also culturally diverse, which stood out to her when she first started working. As Google’s Dublin office is the EMEA head office, employees relocate from all over the world to work in Dublin. 

‘It’s a culture of sharing experiences openly. Prioritising growth, not just for yourself but for others as well, which I really appreciate within Google and there aren’t too many companies like this.’

While Anastasiia had some experience with Google Ads during her time at Trinity College Dublin, she was able to fully deepen her knowledge in her role. Luckily, her Noogler cohort included professionals who had gained experience in other technology companies, allowing Anastasiia to ask them for help. When joining Google, Anastasiia went through the onboarding process, where not only did she learn the ins and outs of Google Ads, but also helped her make friends and feel a sense of belonging. Additionally, each Noogler gets a strong layer of internal support – that being their team members and managers with additional access to more senior team member’s inputs to help them settle in and succeed in the new role. 

‘When I just started, imposter syndrome was definitely affecting me quite a bit. However,  that happens to every single person who starts here. It does go away a little bit, but it’s always there in your subconscious, allowing you to strive for continuous learning.’

Advice to Students 

1. Reach out to Googlers! : Reaching out to those who are already in Google will help you understand what the job is about. Anastasiia did this and found it very helpful. It was Trinity that recommended her to do this. They advised her to look at the Trinity College or Trinity Business Alumni LinkedIn page and go through alumni to find who works in Google, specifically on the potential team you are interviewing for, and ask for 15 minutes of their time! 
2. Office Visits: As part of the Masters in Marketing, Trinity Business School organised a variety of office tours to allow students space to understand the roles they have on offer to graduates. Anastasiia recommended attending these visits, if they are offered as part of your course, as it is a good opportunity for networking.  
3. CV & Interview: For your CV, make sure you are very impact-focused, adding quantitative measures of your impact. For interviews, use the STARL method. While many of us are familiar with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action & Result), Anastasiia recommended adding the L (learning) component to discuss what you learned from the situation and how you have implemented the learning experience since.

Kate Lynch 

As part of the Graduate Coffee Chats series in collaboration with Foresight Business Group, Foresight Vice President Kate Lynch spoke to Jane Brazil, Deals Advisory Associate at PwC and former TBR Editor-in-Chief to get insights into her life as a graduate. 

PwC Deals Advisory Associate Role 

Jane, a Trinity Law and Business graduate of the class 2023, is currently working as a Deals Advisory Associate at PwC. In PwC, they have a specific deals programme known as “The Edge Programme”, which lasts 3 and a half years and occurs in Irish offices, across EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and Asia Pacific. In this programme employees get the opportunity to rotate across different business units, which Jane described as “very useful, because you get an insight into different stages of the deal lifecycle”. Jane described it as a global programme, as you get the opportunity to visit Madrid at the start of the 3 years and meet other graduates from many offices across EMEA. 

Jane is currently in her second year of the programme and has done rotations in the Transaction services (TS) and then Capital Projects & Infrastructure (CP&I) department. Her home department is M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) within corporate finance, being situated in this department day-to-day. Jane emphasises that “no two days are the same, one day I could be doing financial modeling, then the next day I could be doing market outreach…it’s so diverse”.

Career Progression 

Jane is currently starting her career as an associate, with career progression then leading to senior associate, manager, senior manager and eventually director or partner. This direct trajectory allows for continuous professional development with a clear vision of what’s next. 

Interview Process at PwC 

Jane came into this role from a summer internship position, so she didn’t go through the interview process for the graduate programme. However, she did experience the process for the internship position, which began with the usual online application involving a CV and academic background. If shortlisted, you’re then invited to participate in an online psychometric assessment and a group interview. If you’re successful after that stage, you’re brought for a private interview with a senior member of the team. Jane described it as a multi-stage process, but pretty similar to many other companies’ interview processes. 

Skills gained from Internships: Are they Still Relevant? 

Jane previously did an internship with KPMG in audit and “found it really beneficial in terms of your general knowledge about the different business functions”. She was able to transfer this knowledge to PwC and it helps her with the “day-to-day work in deals”. She emphasises the importance of “getting exposure to what different roles do, especially in the corporate world as it is all interlinked”. In certain transactions, Jane “would be working with lawyers and tax specialists” so it’s good to have a general understanding. 

In terms of soft skills, Jane says the internships are great for “pushing you out of your comfort zone..during the eight weeks and meeting loads of people”. During the Summer in PwC a lot of the associates go on study leave. These associates are replaced with the summer interns which puts the interns on actual live projects, giving them the opportunity to gain an abundance of hands-on experience, which Jane found so invaluable and an excellent opportunity experience all round. It’s also a great way to become more aware of what the graduate programme is like as it’s a very similar environment to the internship. 

Work Culture 

Jane describes the work culture in PwC as “very dynamic, very collaborative and very supportive, especially in deals, because we’re quite a small team”. Jane, as an associate, works directly with partners and directors where they will ask for her opinions and thoughts on projects, which is “daunting at the start, but they genuinely do want to hear your thoughts and ideas”. Jane expresses that it’s great to work so closely with the partners and directors because “they have so much experience and you learn from that”. Since the team is small, you become so close with everyone and it makes it a lot easier when working on different projects.

Insights into a Current Project 

Although Jane couldn’t give us too many details on a project, she did talk about how she has worked across a lot of different industries over the past 18 months. From “industrial and real estate to consumer goods, you get the opportunity to work in all different sectors”. This structure is very specific to PwC Ireland, getting the ability to work on projects from multiple different industries. In the likes of the UK, you tend to specialise early on, for example specialising in only real estate. Whereas in Ireland you can “bounce between all different industries, which is great. You learn so much”. 

Advice for Students 

When posed with this question, Jane immediately spoke about the importance of reaching out and making the most of your college alumni network. You’ll come across loads of alumni who work in the company you’re interested in, and the best way to get insight into what it’s like (aside from actually doing an internship) is to “just reach out to them and ask them, go for a coffee with them… that’s the best approach” 

Jane also recommended making the most out of all the college talks set up by societies. For example, the SMF: “they bring in amazing speakers…even the most random ones…just go and hear what they have to say…because you will probably hear things you never thought about before or programmes you never knew existed”. Attending these talks and events can help you be more up to date with current affairs as that’s something they really value in the interview process. 

Jane also emphasises the importance of getting involved in more societies and “quality over quantity”. Jane believes that when it comes to societies, “just get involved in one or two, because you can learn a lot of the soft skills that you need in the professional world” such as communication, leadership and time-management. And of course, “it does look really impressive on your CV!”. It shows that you’re not just about the academics, that you can also get on with people and work effectively in teams.

Rhea Singhal 

As part of the Graduate Coffee Chats series in collaboration with Foresight Business Group, TBR Correspondent and Foresight Chief Strategic and Financial Officer Rhea Singhal spoke with Anoushka Qazi, a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, to gain insight into life as a graduate in the consulting industry.

Management Consulting Senior Analyst – What Does It Involve?

Accenture, a global professional services leader, helps businesses, governments and organisations streamline operations, integrate digital solutions, and drive large-scale transformations. Anoushka specialises in change management within the consumer products industry, working closely with clients to ensure business transformations happen smoothly and seamlessly.

One of her projects involves a UK-based client undergoing major shifts in supply chain planning, HR and data management. Effective change, she explains, hinges on securing employee buy-in. “You can’t implement change without bringing people on the journey with you,” she says. Her role bridges the gap between strategy and execution—assessing how employees currently work, gauging their openness to change and guiding them through the transition.

She compares her work to persona mapping, stepping into the shoes of employees to understand their needs and concerns. One of her biggest challenges is shifting mindsets, as resistance to change is natural. “I totally understand the resistance to change. It’s about getting people to think about the long-term,” she shares. This highlights a core aspect of change management: overcoming short-term discomfort to achieve lasting improvements.

Finding the Right Fit in Consulting

For graduates entering Accenture, the first year offers exposure to different areas—Financial Services, Software & Platforms, Talent & Organisation, Strategy, Tech Consulting and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Enterprise Value (EV). This flexibility allows new hires to explore different areas of interests before specialising.

“I knew I was very people-oriented. I like working with people and the human resources element,” Anoushka explains. Initially, she explored financial services but realized it wasn’t the right fit. Still, she values that experience, as it gave her a broader perspective and an edge in understanding different industries.

 “Even though I didn’t love it, what I learned there still gives me an edge—it’s not time wasted. The one thing common across every industry is dealing with change, and you build skills that transfer everywhere.”

This adaptability is crucial in consulting. Some graduates enter with a fixed idea of their career path, but Anoushka emphasizes the value of starting broad and flexible. 

“The nice and scary thing about consulting is that you start as a generalist. You pave your own way. I studied BESS in college, which was quite broad, so I said, ‘Let me go in as a generalist,’ and two years later, I found my passion for change management.”

Why Consulting?

For Anoushka, the appeal of consulting lies in teamwork and variety. She enjoyed group projects in college, which naturally translated to her work at Accenture. “Consulting is all about teamwork—there are layers of support from analysts to consultants to managers.” The dynamic nature of consulting also keeps things engaging, with new challenges and projects keeping the work fresh.

Her involvement in student groups like ISCG and DUCG helped her pinpoint her passion early on. “Only after working on projects with these societies did I realize I enjoyed it.” This further underscores the importance of extracurricular experiences in shaping career interests.

What I Wish I Knew in College

While many students prioritise academics, Anouskha emphasises the importance of being involved on campus to develop your soft skills.

“The leadership, teamwork, public speaking and time management skills I developed as President of DUCG really stand out in my job today. Don’t underestimate those skills!”

She also highlights the relevance of everyday academic tasks. “Say you’re writing an essay—think about the skills you’re using: critical thinking, simplifying information, getting feedback, rewriting. That’s exactly what you do in consulting.” While technical expertise can be learned on the job, adaptability and communication skills are what truly set candidates apart.

Her advice? Take on opportunities that push you beyond your comfort zone. 

“Any opportunity to step outside your comfort zone—like public speaking—go for it! It will stand to you.”

For students worried about a lack of experience, Anoushka reassures them that it’s not about having the perfect resume. 

“Don’t feel pressured. We know you’re coming straight out of college. Extracurriculars are differentiators! They make your application stand out. Even part-time jobs show skills like time management. Focus on what you learned from your experiences—it’s all about self-awareness.”

The Intern-to-Grad Process

Anoushka transitioned from an intern to a full-time graduate role at Accenture. Following her remote internship during COVID, she underwent a review process that included self-reflection and a discussion with a senior manager before receiving a graduate role offer.

For those applying directly, the process involves:

1. Online application
2. Online assessment centre (problem-solving exercises)
3. Second assessment centre (collaborative tasks)
4. Final interview with a senior manager – “This is where you show your personal flair and ask questions. It’s more about problem-solving approaches than technical knowledge.”

Work Culture: College 2.0

Accenture fosters a highly social work environment, easing the transition from college to corporate life. “They bring in new grads every few months, so there are always events happening. There are clubs for everyone—book clubs, film clubs and more.” This community-driven culture helps new joiners feel at home.

She also appreciates Accenture’s inclusivity. “I organised Accenture’s first-ever Eid event! I’m passionate about women’s leadership and organizing panels. If you care about something, you can make it happen here.”

Beyond project work, Accenture encourages employees to explore additional interests through “plus ones,” which allow them to work with different teams. “You can tailor your experience based on what interests you.”

Travel is also a major perk. Accenture recently reintroduced a four-day trip to Madrid for global collaboration. Additionally, Anoushka frequently visits the UK for client site visits, reinforcing the firm’s global network.

Advice for Students 

Finally, Anouska concludes the coffee chat by offering the advice below:

1. Mentorship: Anoushka emphasises the value of mentorship, both in college and at work. She encourages students to seek guidance, even informally. “In Accenture, if I liked a manager I worked with, I’d ask to catch up—even if we weren’t on the same team anymore. You’d be surprised—people genuinely want to help!”
2. Asking questions: Consulting thrives on curiosity, but Anoushka advises structuring questions thoughtfully. “No question is a stupid question, but don’t rush into it! Take time to reflect and structure your thoughts. If you’re stuck, frame it like: ‘I’ve done this, but I have a question about X.’ That way, it’s clear and productive.”
3. Put yourself out there:  “The best thing you can do is put yourself out there. Whether it’s public speaking, leadership roles, or networking—every experience will help you in ways you don’t even realize yet.”

For students considering consulting, Anoushka’s journey highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning and stepping outside one’s comfort zone.