Empowering Women to Build Careers in Strategy and M&A Consulting

Learn from Josefine how the EY-Parthenon Accelerate program nurtures future talent through mentorship and career development opportunities in Strategy and M&A consulting.

Hi! I’m Josefine, and I work in Strategy & Execution at EY-Parthenon in Copenhagen. I joined EY-Parthenon back in September 2023 as a Junior Consultant while studying for my master's degree, and today I am a full-time consultant working on a wide range of operational and strategy-focused pre- and post-deal engagements for large Private Equity and corporate clients.

I love the fast-paced nature of M&A work and find it highly motivating to help more women discover the world of Strategy and M&A consulting — and just how exciting and rewarding it can be to build a career in this space. Internally, I help drive several female-focused initiatives, including EY-Parthenon Accelerate, our female mentorship program designed to support skilled talent exploring careers in Strategy and M&A consulting.

What makes EY-Parthenon Accelerate special?

EY-Parthenon Accelerate creates a space where ambitious female students can connect and ask the questions they might not feel comfortable asking elsewhere or because they simply don’t have anyone in their network who could answer them.

Beyond professional guidance, EY-Parthenon Accelerate provides insights into the day-to-day life of a consultant and offers hands-on tips for navigating towards a career in Strategy and M&A consulting, including how to prepare for case interviews and how to build relevant skills such as oral and written communication.

EY-Parthenon Accelerate is also about connection. Through workshops, mentorship sessions and the final dinner, participants gain valuable networking opportunities to build meaningful relationships with like-minded peers who share the same ambition and curiosity and consultants who have personal experience establishing a career in Strategy and M&A consulting.

As a mentor, I’ve had the chance to meet passionate, driven talent who are ready to kickstart their careers. I’ve seen how a short conversation can spark clarity, confidence and direction.

To me, EY-Parthenon Accelerate is more than mentoring; it’s about empowerment. It’s a space to grow, reflect and build. Achieving your goals requires daring to ask the questions that you need clarity on, so you can take your development into your own hands and start building your career. EY-Parthenon Accelerate helps you take ownership of your growth and gives you the tools to shape your path.

I highly encourage you to join the EY-Parthenon Accelerate program to start building meaningful connections. I still keep in touch with peers I met during case competitions and mentorship programs during my studies. Now, we meet to talk about life in consulting, career development and how we can continue to grow.

Being a mentor in EY-Parthenon Accelerate allows me to contribute to something bigger, encouraging more women to step into the world of Strategy and M&A consulting and showing them the steep learning curve and a space full of opportunity.

Why should you consider joining EY-Parthenon Strategy & Execution?

In my opinion, EY-Parthenon Strategy & Execution offers one of the steepest learning curves and the biggest opportunities to grow and jump-start your career while being surrounded by a team of great and talented colleagues. The internal focus on career development, structured career plans and the career counselor setup all contribute to that.

I also enjoy the dynamic nature of my everyday work. It changes multiple times a year depending on the project I’m working on. I thrive in fast-paced environments, and I enjoy the variety and challenge that comes with each new engagement. Working in Strategy and M&A consulting also means collaborating with incredibly smart and competent colleagues and clients, which serves as a great learning opportunity as a young professional.