Important communication and storytelling skills, you get a strategic manager

Accenture’s Sophie Rowe discusses her career in the consultancy and how she stays motivated.

While doing her master’s degree at University College Dublin, Sophie Rowe, customer strategy manager at Accenture Song realized that she still didn’t have a clear idea of ​​what she wanted her career to be like.

He told SiliconRepublic.com, “When I got consulting, it was the variety that immediately appealed to me. The opportunity to work in all industries, roles and different projects and have an unstructured day-to-day for a long time, really stood out. I liked the idea of ​​continuing to learn and evolve rather than following a single, pre-defined path.”

What educational and work experiences led you to your current role?

I graduated with a BSc in neuroscience followed by a master in Business and biotechnology. I knew I wanted to go into the commercial side of science, and the master’s provided a solid bridge between those two worlds. At that time, I applied to Accenture’s graduate program, which marked the beginning of my doctoral career. Those decisions led me to my current role as Account Strategy Manager, working with Life Sciences clients at Accenture Song.

What were the biggest surprises or challenges you encountered along the way?

When I started my career, fresh out of college, I found it challenging to support myself and my work, especially when dealing with large or difficult stakeholders. Not everyone will agree with you and there is not always a clear right answer. Early on, I learned the importance of doing your research, creating a clear point of view, and supporting it with evidence. Whether you’re proposing a new strategy, changing a process, or introducing a new tool, you need to explain your rationale clearly and confidently. That confidence comes from solid preparation, using data and evidence points to support your ideas so you can challenge them constructively and stand by your recommendations. Learning to replace that uncertainty with evidence-based confidence was a key turning point in my career.

Was anyone particularly influential in developing your career?

I was fortunate to have some amazing female managers early in my career at Accenture, who had a huge impact on my career development. They taught me not only how to deliver quality work and navigate a consulting environment, but also how to lead with empathy and self-advocacy. They helped me see the importance of clearly stating my achievements and contributions, something that doesn’t always come naturally, especially for women. That lesson was important to my development.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The variety that first drew me to consulting is still one of the things I enjoy most. I like to deal with different types of problems for clients, especially now in the context of rapid AI and technology development. Throughout my career, I’ve worked on everything from customer marketing strategy changes to national marketing campaigns designed to change customer behavior. And then there are the people. I’m a people person and working with talented, supportive teams makes all the difference, especially in high-pressure times.

What personality traits make you a good fit for this role?

My communication and storytelling skills are ones I use every day in my role. In an environment increasingly shaped by AI, the ability to tell a clear and compelling story is more important than ever, whether that’s engaging challenging stakeholders, guiding diverse teams, or helping bring strategy to life.

How has Accenture supported your career growth?

Accenture provided a great opportunity for growth and expansion. There’s a strong culture of raising your hand, whether that’s contributing to thought leadership, running customer or community events, or taking on more project responsibility. That encouragement to step up has been key to my progress. I was also supported in studying abroad, such as completing a Mini MBA in Marketing, which was successful in ensuring that I continued to learn.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Focus as much as you can, not just on the job itself, but on how senior leaders work, collaborate and solve problems. You can learn a lot from the people around you, especially at the beginning of your career. Be curious, ask questions and don’t be afraid to seek advice. Taking that time to study and learn will be of great benefit to your career.

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