Pros
Local leadership (the Managing Director and Managing Principal) is fantastic, and the CEO is pretty cool too. It is hard to fully explain, but I have never worked at a place where leadership is so genuinely supportive, instead of just saying they are. This is true for not just management, but all of my colleagues. Leadership is also very transparent, rather than just claiming to be. It is very refreshing, and I am still surprised that my positive experience has lasted for almost a year with the company. The work is hard, but the support from my direct team and the great teamwork and friendship here really help reduce consulting stress. I also appreciate that management works hard (and usually succeeds) to put consultants on projects that fit their skills and interests: this makes each project much more rewarding.
Cons
The Associate Program is new and still being developed. It can feel a bit messy, and there isn't a clear career path progression yet, which introduces a level of uncertainty. The program was started without a full plan for how to run it long-term (leadership openly shared this with us, which is a great example of the transparency I appreciate). Even so, I can see that leadership is working hard to improve the program. While there is still a long way to go, I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn from experienced consultants; they have all been incredibly welcoming, patient, and supportive. Honestly, these are the only real cons I have experienced so far.