CIVITTA Challengers - Veronika Tikhonchuk

At CIVITTA we challenge the traditional consulting industry, mixing smart people with lean processes and structures. We are not afraid to encourage our clients to think out of the box and challenge their own industries. This means asking difficult questions and bringing bold, new ideas and innovative solutions to the table.

We have asked Veronika Tikhonchuk - a Project Manager from the CIVITTA office in Denmark - to share her thoughts on this.

The idea of CIVITTA is the Challenger Advisory. What does it mean to you to be a challenger consultant and how do you feel this challenger spirit translates to your work?

Challenger mindset is something that keeps me inspired and motivated, and what I admire in CIVITTA. For me being a challenger has a lot to do with honesty and transparency - with the client, with the team, with myself - it is an integral part of making an impact. I strongly believe that there are no unsolvable issues, there are unasked questions or uncomfortable truths. Without trust, cooperation, and commitment to a result, it is impossible to reach truly ambitious goals or make a difference. 

As a challenger consultant, I am also my own biggest competitor. As there will never be two identical solutions for two different projects, I am always looking for ways to learn from my previous experience and grow by being open to opportunities, fresh ideas, and opinions. 

Tell us a bit about life outside of work. Are your hobbies along the same Challenger lines?

I could probably tell about snowboarding, driving, or traveling, but I think my main ‘hobby’ in the recent year has been dealing with so far probably the most challenging decision I have made: relocation to another country, to Denmark. It appeared, it takes more than just packing a few bags, buying plane tickets, and finding a place to live. It is also about building a network and finding new friends, learning a completely new language, finding the right balance between adapting to the new culture and lifestyle, and keeping your own identity. 

The challenge is also to learn to do things the Danish ways, sometimes unexpected ones, like, cycling everywhere, be it grocery shopping, meeting with friends or going to an important business meeting or a fancy party; or not using curtains. Sometimes liberating and enjoyable ones, like embracing ‘hygge’ and danish interiors; different attitude to work-life balance, and freedom of expression.

What would you advise a young consultant starting her or his career in Europe?

Find your passion and strengths and grow there. It will require some time to first identify it, and then to specialize in these areas, but you need to start looking. Consulting is a great industry for trying different experiences out and for learning from the best experts in the field. Use it for embracing as much knowledge and experience as possible. Some opportunities will be more exciting than others, but it is important that you manage to learn something from them all.

Career advancement or management appreciation shouldn’t be the main drivers behind your growth. Your success will only be sustainable and long-term if you find what is meaningful to you personally or what makes you stand out.