Benjamin Dawes
Transformation Consultant
"Capgemini Consulting is one big learning experience."
What's your current role within the team?
I work as a managing consultant within the transformation consulting business. Before I came to Capgemini Consulting,
I worked for the financial division of Procter & Gamble, first in the Netherlands, later in the Belgian headquarters.
If I wanted to move up within P&G, I first had to go through a number of very internally focused roles that didn't
match with my personal interests. I was also very keen on exploring different industries and I wanted to act as a
consultant. Therefore, I choose to join the 'Finance and Performance Management Business' of Capgemini Consulting.
Which I did in September 2001."
Why did you choose for Capgemini Consulting?
"Because it's a European company where people can make the difference, not only for themselves but also for the business.
One of our core values is the value of freedom. People at Capgemini Consulting get a lot of freedom; not only in the way
you evolve professionally but also in the way you handle your own job. And I really like that. There's also a huge
difference between the consultancy business and the main industrial landscape: within consultancy, people are much
more progressive and focused on change. It's that entrepreneurial spirit you find at Capgemini Consulting."
What kind of projects are you doing right now?
"Right now, me and my colleagues are reengineering the financial framework of a leading Belgian service company.
It's a project that came to us via our colleagues of Technology Services. We see more and more cross selling
exercises and internal collaboration between the three business divisions of Capgemini (Consulting Services,
Technology Services and Outsourcing Services), and I can only support that way of thinking. We do not only subscribe
this collaborative attitude towards our clients, but also amongst the colleagues of the different business units."
What does your track record at Capgemini Consulting looks like?
"I am with the company since 2001 and I have been able to work on a number of large accounts. I worked on projects
for Banksys, Atlas Copco, Agfa Gevaert, Sibelga and TUC RAIL, just to name a few. We, business consultants, can handle
these different types of clients because we are trained to approach projects in a very methodological way. We have a
very structured consulting framework and a process-oriented way of working. That makes it possible to add enormous
value in a short timeframe. I also had the chance to work with colleagues from the Netherlands, what was very interesting
from a benchmark point of view. As a consultant you learn quite a lot very quickly."
What will be your next career steps?
"I have reached a level in which I can do some active counselling and people development. I will support three new
colleagues in their professional development. Helping people develop themselves is really important for Capgemini
Consulting and we have all the facilities and infrastructure to do so. As an average, people receive five to seven
days of training each year. We also see a lot of effort on a group level to help people increase their competencies.
Capgemini, for instance, has developed a program called 'Emerging Leadership'. It will help young managers to further
develop their (people) management skills. And we also join our Consulting University (Les Fontaines, France) twice a
year. There we can exchange experiences with other 'transformation' colleagues from all over the world. It's good fun."
How would you 'sell' Capgemini Consulting to future colleagues?
"I think that Capgemini Consulting offers you - even if you are young - the possibility to work on a very high level
right from the start. If we develop a business case, we work directly with the Chief Financial Officer or other top
executives at the client's side. If you start in a regular company you will never work with top management from the
beginning. This gives you a quick start and makes Capgemini Consulting a company where you can learn a lot and develop
your personal skills at high speed."