Four years back, we started working with an Indian client that was facing intense competitive pressure from large MNC players and extremely unfavorable market conditions. This had led to years of huge losses. BCG looked at all aspects of the business, including sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, new product development, marketing, and sales. We worked shoulder to shoulder with the client to develop an innovative turnaround plan to win against the big players.

After months of hard work the results began to yield substantial results, not only in terms of improved numbers but also higher motivation and self-belief within the operating team. One of the high points of my career was when the client CEO told me, "We have travelled a long way together, and this journey would not have been possible without BCG".

For me, strategy consulting is about working with the client to change that client's future. It is not only about generating insights but also about creating practical solutions that bring tangible results.

One of the clients I worked with was a large telecommunications operator in Indonesia. At the beginning of the project, the overall market was relatively stagnant despite the fact that the industry enjoyed the highest tariffs in the world. We challenged the conventional wisdom of the client's senior management and convinced them that the market should change—with their firm leading that change. Our recommendation was bold, as it required them to adopt an approach that had never before been tested in the market. The execution of the new strategy came quickly, and we witnessed a significant impact to the client. Revenue went up by approximately 50 percent, and the client became the trend-setter in the market.

At BCG, we show how to play a better game—and change the rules! In another project, we helped a client develop a strategy for entering Indonesia's microfinance market. There were only a handful of successful microfinance institutions in the market at that time, so we had to come in with a "blank sheet" approach. We analyzed the feasibility of entering the market, concluded that it was an attractive opportunity, and developed an entry plan. We also acted as the extra pair of hands to help execute that plan, and created a detailed operating model to keep the business running. At the project's end, the new institution was operating successfully and the results exceeded the client's expectations.

A business professor taught me that a consultant's holy grail is that moment when he or she becomes a client's "trusted advisor;" it wasn't until I started at BCG that I realized how much of a daily endeavor, rather than a long-term goal, that would actually be.

My team was helping a specialty insurance company undergo an organizational transformation, the kind of big change that tests the skills and willpower of every client team member every single day.

From day one, each of us on the team rolled up our sleeves and helped individual clients at all levels to develop customized tools, find new ways to analyze data, facilitate difficult meetings, and make the decisions that would see them through to a successful end.

On that project, I learned very quickly that our job at BCG is far more than coming up with the right answer for our clients. We help them to own those answers, and then we ensure that the answers translate into real change and impact.

Elizabeth joined BCG in 2007.

She graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 2007 with a BS in Commerce (concentrations in Management and Marketing) and a Minor in History

What I love most about my work at BCG is the collaborative, team approach we follow with our clients, and we are constantly working together to discuss issues, gather insights, and brainstorm solutions. This dynamic relationship combines the client's experience with our external perspective, both of which are required to create actionable, enduring value.

And we follow this principle every day, on every case. In a recent project for example we were able to generate major efficiencies for our client by working with them to identify and pursue opportunities to optimize their cost structure. The success of the project relied primarily on our cooperative approach with our client.

This method and the exceptional quality of the people I work with make me very happy to be part of BCG.

Prior to joining BCG, Giuseppe was a project manager for an automotive design company.

Giuseppe holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and he also graduated magna cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino.

BCG has a big impact on clients because it knows how to work with clients, not for clients. As a part of the BCG team, I've always looked to integrate as well as possible with the client so that the conclusions and results of my work can't be seen as an outsider's analysis and get relegated to the cabinet in the hallway. Nothing could be further from the truth.

BCG recommendations have always been fully shared with the clients, debated and enriched with numerous meetings, ending up in realist conclusions that can go into actions from day one. This focus has not only helped me get results that the clients wanted when they hired BCG but also to develop relationships of trust at all levels.

My goal is to use my career to impact society. This has been my objective since I was at university. After I graduated, I joined the government and worked in transportation planning. This was an area that was a part of our daily lives, and it had social significance.

However, I was also faced with a dilemma, as the macro approach to making changes takes time, and it is hard to see that you are having any impact. BCG proved to be the answer when I was most looking to make real impact in a shorter period of time. BCG's clients are at the forefront of business. The company not only devises strategies, it also supports the implementation of these strategies. BCG is able to offer unique perspectives and objective solutions to CEOs who know everything there is to know about their industry.

We feel pressure, but we also experience a great sense of achievement as professionals. My husband and son support me and can be proud that I am doing work to bring real change. Ask yourself, where is the best place to realize your dreams? For me it is BCG.

Josh earned an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

At BCG, Josh's work focuses on driving strategic change in global consumer goods and retail companies (expertise: food and beverage, organizational and operational transformation, go-to-market strategy).

Prior to BCG, Josh co-founded a health services company. He is an avid tennis player, an aspiring writer, and a Wharton Business Plan Competition judge.

Josh earned an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to BCG, Josh co-founded a health services company.

He is an avid tennis player, an aspiring writer, and a Wharton Business Plan Competition judge.

My BCG career started immediately after graduating from MIT, and BCG's ability to help leading clients win in the marketplace keeps me here today. These attributes have stayed hallmarks of my BCG experience, but not without the flexbility to discover my interests and shape my career on my own terms.

I later transferred to BCG in Auckland to learn consulting "down under style"—working and playing hard. Companies in Australia and New Zealand strive for business models that win locally and withstand global competition. After I completed my MBA at Harvard, I transferred to BCG in New York where I expanded my knowledge to pharmaceuticals and manufacturing strategy. I had the opportunity to help establish BCG in Houston, TX where I led our local Women's and Diversity Initiatives. There I was able to help attract more talented thinkers which contributed to a doubling of our TX presence in five years!

I'm delighted to have come full circle in my career, now leading our undergraduate recruiting efforts for the New York area. My BCG experiences have been diverse, exciting, tailored and truly exceeded my expectations. The opportunity for professional and personal growth at BCG is truly significant and unique.

Pappudu received her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BS in mechanical engineering with a concentration in Russian language from MIT.

In her spare time, Pappudu enjoys international travel, cooking, and wine tasting.