Behind the scenes – Anette Gertrud Pello
Anette Gertrud Pello is a Manager at Civitta, recently promoted after demonstrating strong analytical and leadership skills across a variety of client engagements. With a background in business and economics, she has built her consulting career around complex problem-solving, structured thinking, and a genuine curiosity for how businesses work. Anette is known for combining rigorous analysis with clear, thoughtful communication – and for the care she brings to developing the people around her.
Your promotion to Manager is fresh – how does the new role feel so far?
Overall, this new role feels like a natural next step – almost a scale-up of what I was already doing. Before, I was leading smaller workstreams while still being very involved in the content itself. Now I’m gradually moving toward larger projects and taking more of a helicopter view to manage things end to end.
I definitely feel the added responsibility, but at the same time I’m genuinely excited to be in a position where I can support and mentor other team members – and offer them the same kind of guidance I received during my own journey here. For me, this step keeps the challenger mindset alive and opens a lot of room for further growth.
What made consulting feel like the right path for you?
My background is in business and economics, and I’ve always been curious about different industries and how businesses work in different contexts. A strategy course at university – where we worked on case studies across various industries – was one of the first things that sparked my interest in consulting. That problem-solving format really resonated with me.
What attracted me most was the diversity of the role: the variety of projects, industries, and the chance to collaborate with colleagues from different countries and backgrounds. It’s this non-routine nature of consulting that makes it feel right – the constant challenge and problem-solving that keeps me engaged and curious.
Which part of consulting feels most like you?
The part that feels most like me is the combination of variety and structure. I really enjoy the dynamic side of the work – projects, industries, and topics keep changing, which keeps me sharp and gives me the chance to constantly learn. At the same time, I naturally bring structure and organization into the work, because even when things move quickly, quality should stay high.
I also enjoy the visual side of consulting work. I like when materials are not only informative, but also clear and visually pleasing – because that makes them easier for clients to follow. For me, good consulting is not only about solving the problem, but also about presenting the solution in a way that is thoughtful and easy to grasp.
What kind of challenge usually brings out your best at work?
The challenge that brings out my best is solving complex problems from scratch – especially when there isn’t an obvious answer. I really enjoy the thinking process behind building the right logic or framework, particularly in areas like modelling, forecasting, or analytical problem-solving. It often starts with a blank page, and you have to figure out how to structure the problem and what solution will actually work in practice.
One example that stands out is a complex modelling solution we built for a retail logistics company – starting from zero, understanding the business, and building a model the client could use for decision-making. What made it especially rewarding was seeing the model continue to be used and improved over several years. That is one of the best parts – when something you build becomes a practical tool that creates real value over time.
Outside of work, what says a lot about who you are?
Something people might not notice right away is how much I value structure and organization in my personal life too. I track my finances carefully, take notes while reading, make to-do lists for almost everything, and plan trips well in advance. My calendar covers nearly everything – from tennis training to meeting friends. I think that reflects how I naturally approach life.
At the same time, I try to leave some room for spontaneity, so that everything doesn’t become too predictable. And maybe what surprises people is that even though I like planning and staying in control, I also sometimes challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone – just to try something new and see what happens.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining Civitta?
I would definitely say that curiosity and open-mindedness are very important. In consulting, you grow the most when you are ready to learn, challenge ideas, and ask the extra question – the “so what?” – to make sure the work leads to meaningful impact. I also think it helps to develop a sense of responsibility early on. Even with smaller tasks, showing that you care and want to contribute to the bigger picture makes a real difference.
And finally, being open to collaboration is just as important. Civitta is full of smart, ambitious, and supportive people, and a big part of growth here comes from being willing to learn from others, work together, and try out different things. That combination of challenge, learning, and community is what makes the experience special.
