Zac
Why koralli?
I’m here for two main reasons—to contribute what I can to an exciting new business and to learn and improve my own skillset. As an undergraduate, I worked for student-led consultancies and undertook internships at bigger companies (eg Freshfields) and also smaller-scale charities and NGOs (eg Generation Medics). I’ve always found it more exciting to be in an environment where I feel like my voice can be heard and I can make a tangible difference both to individual projects and to the mission of a business. Koralli’s novelty and fresh approach (see more below) was an instant draw for me; so too the fact that we push away from the more boiler-plate approaches of traditional consultancies. I’m excited to be amongst talented, driven and creative colleagues with a variety of backgrounds who want to pool their ideas to offer fresh perspectives.
This reasoning also feeds into thinking that working at Koralli will enable me to enhance and grow my skillset. Being in such a small but intellectually diverse team is challenging but also exciting and provides the kind of steep learning curve and responsibility that I’m looking for to improve my own skills. Moreover, the team’s approach to technology and specifically AI appeals to me as I’m interested in ultimately ending up in these sectors.
In short, Koralli is such a good thing because it provides fresh perspectives and insights which are centred around multi-disciplinary thinking. Traditional consultancies seem to offer the same ideas and concepts dressed up in different frameworks. This often bottoms out as expensive, vague and mediocre advice. Koralli’s approach is different. Because of our diversity of intellectual background and preparedness to listen to clients, question deeply and not offer obvious solutions we appeal to clients who want to explore fundamental re-evaluation and are interested in long-term relationships.
My Skills
I’ve honed my teamwork skills by being part of a number of multi-disciplinary teams (eg Varsity Committee, Generation Medics, Freshfields). For instance, I worked on the Oxford Strategy Challenge with a team of four others on behalf of a start-up tech company. The experience taught me the importance constant communication and clear direction when working in a team.
My degree developed my determination and drive when I have a clear goal in mind. I worked consistently over the course of four years, constantly striving to improve myself and graduated 1st in my year at Oxford. My degree also allowed me to improve my communication skills: I have learnt to assess when to concede and when to defend my thesis. I have honed my sharpness of analysis, fluency of expression and clarity of thought.
Finally, my enterprising outlook also allows me to tackle challenging issues. Outside my studies, I try to promote discussion of issues I believe deserve greater attention. As the grandchild of Jewish and Palestinian refugees, I am aware of the value of free speech; in academic and familial contexts I have seen dialogue generate understanding, empathy and solutions. At Oxford, I co-founded a society to explore political and social ideology—the ‘Oxford Forum for Questioning ‘Extremism’’. I’ve been delighted to see the society grow and make rigorous and respectful conversations more accessible and given a platform outside of the (perhaps) prohibitively expensive Oxford Union.
My Expertise
I have experience working in consultancy having worked on the Oxford Strategy Challenge on behalf of a tech company. I’m used to working in lean, efficient teams, having been part of a number of multi-disciplinary teams working towards large-scale projects (eg., Varsity Trip, Freshfields Intern, Generation Medics Intern).
Studying for the BPhil in philosophy has honed my research skills making me apt at processing a large volume of complex information, and presenting it to a non-specialist audience.
My Experience
I’ve undertaken mini-pupillages at a variety of top commercial and public-law chambers in London. I was often set an advocacy task which honed my ability to process a large amount of complex information in a short period of time and present it in a clear and persuasive manner.
Undertaking an internship at the Magic Circle Law Firm, Freshfields, where I sat in a global transactions seat gave me experience working on some of the most complex cases in the country. I learnt how to liaise and work with a large team across multiple specialisms and deliver a compelling client experience.
Running the Varsity Ski Trip gave me experience adapting to problems and thinking on my feet to overcome adversity. A problem with the supplier of the merchandise due to a COVID outbreak in the factory meant I had to find replacements only a month out from the trip—after searching, I found a range of UK-based sustainable suppliers.