Building a Career at West Monroe: Stories from Former Interns

For some West Monroe employees, their first experience at the firm came with a different title: intern. What started as a summer opportunity became the beginning of a career. For some, that journey has now spanned decades.

Our internship program has grown quite a bit along the way. West Monroe welcomed its first intern class of just five people in 2006; this summer, 117 interns joined us across the firm. And while a lot has changed in those 20 years, interns continue to bring fresh perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and get a firsthand look at what a career at West Monroe can offer.

We caught up with five former interns whose stories span the history of the program: from our very first intern class to those who have only recently made the transition to full-time employees.

They shared what they remember from their intern days, how their experiences shaped what came next, and what it’s been like to grow their careers at West Monroe.

Ben Baenen, Partner, Healthcare

Part of West Monroe’s first intern class in 2006

1. What stood out most about being part of West Monroe's first intern class?

Maybe a cheesy answer, but pride? I am outrageously proud of our firm and the role I’ve played in supporting the growth engine. It’s special to look back 20 years later and see all the project work I’ve done, the clients I’ve helped, and the friendships I’ve made. I love telling people I was part of the first intern class. It’s really important. It shows that West Monroe is a place you can build a career.  

2. What has changed the most about the intern program? What has stayed the same?

I’m not exaggerating, but everything has changed except one thing: the people. The quality of the internship has increased probably 10x: I barely got a laptop, and my first project was at a potato chip manufacturer on the south side of Chicago. The programming, the structure, and overall project quality has increased immensely. I think our campus team and internship is world-class, and we’ve really evolved and built something that is sought after. But our pride and focus on making you feel welcome, teaching and mentoring, and creating a learning environment is still there.

3. Did you think your internship would turn into a 20-year career at the same place?

Of course not! As I’m sure most people do, I wonder about the deliberate decisions that I made along the way (my transition to Healthcare, my first project in dental, the DDMI opportunity, collaboration with our M&A team, etc.) and am incredibly proud of the path and the relationships along the way.

4. Tell us about one moment that stood where you thought "West Monroe is the right place to build my career."

When you’re new to consulting (or any career for that matter), it’s only natural to keep your eyes out for other opportunities or career shifts. I was not immune to that. But my career really started to come into focus when I removed those distractions and made the deliberate decision to learn as much as humanly possible about my domain. I started to see the dividends when clients were seeking our perspective, relationships started to expand, and our funnel really built. It was such a fun time, especially as other parts of our business were growing, too. West Monroe was a rocket ship and I wanted to stick with it.

Kelsey Sullivan, Senior Consultant, Banking

Part of West Monroe’s 2020 COVID intern class

1. You interned during one of the most unusual summers in the program's history. What surprised you most about building connections in a virtual environment?

It was much easier to build connections virtually than I expected. I made the most of my month-long internship by scheduling one or two coffee chats almost every day. Since consulting teams already work across offices and locations, connecting virtually didn’t feel all that different from how we collaborate today.

2. Looking back, what did the 2020 internship teach you about adaptability that still helps you today?

It taught me that no matter how short or unconventional an experience may be, it’s worth fully diving in. I learned to treat every day as an opportunity to meet someone new, learn something, and take another step in building my career.

3. What's one misconception people have about the 2020 intern experience?

A misconception is that the 2020 internship wasn’t a “real” internship. While some firms shortened their programs to a week or two of onboarding with no project staffing, West Monroe gave us a full month and staffed us on client work. We got a genuine glimpse into what a full summer—and ultimately a career in consulting—would look like.

4. Tell us about one moment that stood out where you thought, “West Monroe is the right place to build my career.”

During the last week of my internship, the Chicago banking team organized a backyard happy hour. About 15 people came out and spent hours together, despite how unusual everything was at the time. Seeing people make that effort to connect with an intern made a lasting impression on me. That was the moment my commitment to building my career at West Monroe really clicked.

Ben Snyder, Managing Director/Partner, Technology & Experience

Intern-to-partner career path, 2011 intern class

1. What's one lesson you learned as an intern that you still use to lead today?

I learned the importance of resourcefulness, curiosity, and follow-through. As a consultant, saying “I don’t know” is OK. It can even build trust. What matters is what you do next. Are you curious and energized to go find the answer? Can you think differently, be resourceful, and then follow back up?

I learned that mindset right out of the gate at West Monroe. It speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit of the firm: being curious, taking initiative, and finding a way forward rather than waiting for someone to give you the answer. It's something I've carried with me throughout my career and try to instill in my teams today.

2. What's one experience early in your career that had a significant impact on your journey to partner that you didn't realize at the time?

I had the opportunity to lead a workstream on a large, two-year project for Kansas City Water. I learned how to lead a team, engage and influence clients, and understand how my work fit into a bigger program.

Looking back, I realize I had leaders who trusted me, put me in a role that stretched me, and supported me along the way. I grew immensely from that experience, and it shaped both my career and how I try to lead others today.

3. What's one aspect of West Monroe's internship program that has stayed the same throughout the years?

The relationships and camaraderie among the interns. My intern class regularly went to lunch together, socialized after work, and spent weekends exploring Chicago. I still keep in touch with people from that group 15 years later.

I see that same energy today. I recently talked to an intern who was hosting 20 or 30 other interns at his apartment in the Loop. It's a special part of the program that has stayed remarkably consistent.

4. Tell us about one moment that stood out where you thought, "West Monroe is the right place to build my career."

Before West Monroe, I interned at a large company where I was given an "intern project." If I hadn't been there and the work hadn't gotten done, it probably wouldn't have mattered much to the company.

West Monroe immediately felt different. As an intern, I was doing real client work that mattered. In fact, the client I supported asked me to continue working with them while I finished my senior year at Purdue.

That continued when I joined full time. I kept getting opportunities that felt a little ahead of where I was in my career, with leaders who trusted me to figure things out and were there when I needed them. I was doing work that mattered and learning quickly…because I had to! It was fun, I loved the people, and I recognized early on that I was quickly building the “consulting toolbelt” that would serve me well in any career…and of course, I’m still here!

Sheamin Kim, Consultant, Technology & Experience

West Monroe’s newest intern-to-full-time hire, 2025 class

1. During the 2025 Summer Intern Conference, you asked a question in front of West Monroe’s executive team (pictured). What was it like getting direct access to leadership?

Kind of surreal! We had done plenty of panels earlier in the summer but obviously not with anyone as high up the ladder as the C-Suite. It felt strangely normal to be able to just ask them about their work like they were just another coworker in the office. It was a great opportunity to see the firm from their point of view!

2. What part of your West Monroe internship stood out as feeling different than a run-of-the-mill internship?

From Day 1, I had an almost overwhelming amount of support. I was assigned what felt like an entire team of mentors, from my career advisor to my project leaders to my office intern committee. While they didn’t hold my hand through anything, they were always available and encouraging. I don’t think you can get that kind of community just anywhere!

3. Now that you’re returning as a full-time employee, what are you most excited to experience from a new perspective?

When you’re an intern, you have a lot on your mind about making the most out of a temporary experience and what your future might look like. As I’m returning full-time, I’m feeling more grounded and ready to invest more time in my engagements and personal development. I’m excited to experience a project from start to finish.

4. Tell us about one moment that stood where you thought "West Monroe is the right place to build my career."

During my internship, I had many small projects with my client. While none of them were strictly pure product management (what I specialized in in school), through my managers’ guidance, I realized how they were all product-centric. There’s so much opportunity to apply concepts in novel, creative ways at a firm like West Monroe, which makes it a great foundation to start my career.

Mike Patelski, Senior Partner, Energy & Utilities

Intern-to-partner career path, 2009 intern class

1. What’s one lesson you learned as an intern that you still use to lead today?

Be the person others can always count on. Reliability begins with doing the small things well and can start as simply as proofreading emails, building impactful deliverables, and following through. Over time, that consistency builds trust (internally and externally), strengthens client relationships, and creates real opportunities to lead people and projects.

2. What’s one experience early in your career that had a significant impact on your career that you didn’t realize at the time?

Early on, I was trusted with stretch roles and project leadership opportunities before I felt fully ready. The day-to-day partnership of teammates, leaders, and friends helped me learn, grow, and develop leadership skills—all while having a lot of fun along the way.

3. What’s one aspect of West Monroe’s internship program that has stayed the same throughout the years?

From the beginning, West Monroe interns have been trusted to help solve real client challenges and are given every opportunity to make a meaningful impact!

4. Tell us about one moment when you thought, “West Monroe is the right place to build my career.”

It’s often repeated, but the people at West Monroe have always set us apart. I’ve been fortunate to develop real, lifelong friendships at West Monroe, including my wonderful wife who spent more than a decade at the firm. The combination of incredible people, teammates, and stimulating work have made West Monroe a wonderful place to build a career.