Behind the scenes series – Justas Kidykas
Justas Kidykas is a Manager and Team Lead in the Public stream at Civitta Lithuania. Over 5 years, his role has grown from Senior Analyst to leading international projects and mentoring colleagues. Meaningful public policy work and helping others grow is what motivates him the most.
Can you tell us about your journey at Civitta?
Before joining Civitta, I worked at the Ministry of Defense for a year. I’ve always felt close to the public sector, public policy, and politics, that’s where my interests lay. But at some point, I wanted to push myself out of that comfort zone and gain more practical skills. Consulting felt like the right place to do that.
I joined as a Senior Analyst, mainly doing research, reviewing documents, writing recommendations, and preparing slides. Over the years, I grew into a Manager and Team Lead role, where now I design project logic, manage stakeholders, and guide my team. I also support colleagues in Uzbekistan as a Development Advisor.
What makes working at Civitta unique?
I wouldn’t say my role itself is unique, but what makes Civitta stand out is the diversity of work. I’m based in the Public stream, yet I’ve had the chance to work across other streams too. For example, we supported the film industry association to develop an investment plan for a movie pavilion: a project that was more private-sector oriented.
I’ve also worked with the Innovation stream on funding applications that required linking strategies to broader policy documents. This cross-team collaboration gives you exposure to many different contexts, something I don’t think is as common in other consulting firms.
What was your experience like working abroad?
The employee exchange gave me an opportunity I never expected – travelling to Uzbekistan! It wasn’t a country I imagined visiting, but now I’d recommend it to anyone. Working there meant stepping into a very different environment: colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds, and different professional ways of working or communicating with superiors.
The cultural exchange was the most valuable part. You quickly realize you can’t expect everyone to behave the same way you’re used to. Differences shape how we work together, and learning to adapt was eye-opening. I’m still close with many colleagues from Uzbekistan, and I’m grateful for that experience!
How does working internationally influence your perspective?
I had quite a lot of international experience even before Civitta, as I studied abroad. So in that sense, it didn’t completely change me. But what Civitta reinforces, is the idea that we can and should learn from each other.
If you see that Estonians tried something that worked well, you might bring that idea to Lithuania. International collaboration is a source of inspiration – you shouldn’t lock yourself into a national box, but instead keep broadening your perspective.
How has Civitta helped you grow?
Two things stand out. First, adaptability: consulting forces you to dive into new topics quickly – one week you’re working on health policy, the next on financial policy. You need to learn just enough to hold equal conversations with experts and clients, and then build meaningful recommendations.
Second, communication: doing research is one thing, but presenting to a minister in five minutes is another. You need to explain the problem, show the options, and outline next steps in a way that’s clear and actionable. Learning to communicate ideas effectively is something I keep developing.
What skills have you gained from cross-office work?
The main one is adaptability in communication. For example, in Uzbekistan, clients preferred very formal communication in emails, but during calls they expected honesty and informal conversation.
Lithuanian clients, on the other hand, are often fine with informality in emails. Learning to read these expectations and adapt is key.
What do you value most about Civitta’s culture?
I always highlight our flat structure. From day one, you can sit down with a partner to brainstorm work, exchange ideas, or even chat about life or sports. The atmosphere is open, friendly, and never intimidating!
Of course, culture evolves over time, activities and traditions may change, but what truly stands out at Civitta is the consistency of its openness, accessibility, and supportive day-to-day atmosphere. That spirit remains one of the strongest parts of our culture.