One of the ‘signals’ we live by at Deloitte is ‘celebrate and have fun’. On Thursday my project team went for a dinner to celebrate the successful completion of a large and intense project.

The food was good, the wine excellent, and the sommelier’s knowledge was impressive but it was a lot more than that which made this such an enjoyable occasion.

While working on an intense project you are put into a situation where you have to deal with complex problems and find a solution as a team. Working with a team of people who are dedicated, hard working, and all focused on providing the same solution makes the job so much easier.

We all enjoy each other’s company at work which brings no surprise that we have a great time together when we go out. This is really what made the dinner so enjoyable.

Working from home

Last year funds usually spent on employee Christmas gifts were donated to charity. In Wellington that donation went to Ronald McDonald House. The House provides free accommodation to out-of-town families that have an under 21 family member in hospital. As a member of the Corporate Responsibility team I was invited to attend a tour of the House and a discussion with the CEO.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect beforehand but was very impressed with both the House itself and the organisation. There was a very homely atmosphere and design throughout the building. A foosball table, several Play Stations, modern kitchen, pictures on the walls, kids toys, an electric piano, and a lounge for parents. Sophie (from Tax) and I got a bit carried away when we saw the Rock Band kit (see picture).

Lesley, the CEO, explained that they are building a new House to replace the existing one in Wellington. It will allow the organisation to double the families it can house. The costs in this exercise are huge so it helps that they have support from the whole community.

Some quick facts about the House:

• Wellington House currently provides for 12 families at any one time
• 400 families use the house each year
• There are 9 permanent staff plus volunteers
• The Trust is independently run – McDonalds provides a sponsorship role

As part of our monthly social events in Consulting, I will be arranging for an evening where we cook for the guests. If you wish to volunteer in anyway then please contact your local House.

Living and breathing Wellington

The nature of Consulting means that we are always commuting throughout the CBD (or country) to visit clients and client offices. On a nice day walking through Wellington is such a pleasure for the sights and the people. It’s guaranteed that when you walk out the office and down the street you’ll bump into a colleague, former client, friend, or New Zealand B-grade celebrity.

The pictures attached in this post were taken today on my walk back from a client and represent some of the great sights that Wellington has to offer.

Attending Wellington Phoenix game thanks to tickets from Deloitte!!! Good times.

Hey there,

Today begins the start of our Consulting blog. Ollie and I will start posting to this site with action happening around the office and in our day-to-day consulting lives. You’ll get genuine insights into what we experience as consulting graduates and you can ask us any questions you like.

Ollie and I are both graduates from this year’s intake. We have both grown and experienced a lot in the little time that we’ve been with Deloitte. We look forward to sharing some of these experiences with you!

Stuart