Meet Maria Kastman

Here we meet and discover what makes Maria Kastman a strong part of our team. She also shares her views on the future of management consulting.

Maria, what inspired you to choose a career in management consulting, and what attracted you to Anchor?

It is exciting to be asked that very question. After careful consideration, I chose Anchor Management Consulting. I love the challenges, independence and variety that the consulting role provides. Working with different businesses at a strategic level and constantly striving to be at the forefront of my field is extremely rewarding. At Anchor, I do this together with fantastic colleagues who are driven to make a difference!

Can you share an experience from a project that really challenged you and what you learned from it?

Every project has its challenges, so it is difficult to pick a specific example. However, I have realized the importance of not getting stuck in a static mindset as a project manager. The focus should not be on slavishly following an activity plan, but on creating real value in what we do. Today, the project manager role is more about understanding the customer's business and being able to adapt to changes in requirements. It's a balancing act, as you are also expected to meet resource, time and cost constraints on behalf of the steering group.

Which project or initiative has had the greatest impact on your professional development and why?

I had to choose a project early in my career. I was a few years into my working life but new to consulting when I was asked to lead a major development project for a client in London. The project had been running for over a year, but relationships and deliveries were fraying. No one was happy and no one really understood why. I spent my early days meeting with different stakeholders and listening to their perspectives. Soon I had a clear picture of what needed to change, both in structure and working methods, as well as communication. It was then that I realized my passion for the interpersonal side of missions - that it's not just about what you do, but how you do it that affects the end result. That realization led me to start studying psychology and psychosynthesis a few years later to broaden my toolbox. Something that I am extremely grateful for today!

How do you think technological advances will change management consulting in the coming years?

There is currently a revolution in all 'knowledge jobs', including management consulting. Take change management, for example: this often involves creating buy-in through workshops. Just five years ago, it could take a long time to prepare a workshop depending on previous experience and available resources. Today, I can use AI as a sparring partner to come up with different exercises by describing the purpose and context - giving me a whole new toolbox. The analytics side has also changed enormously in a short time. The challenge for many today is to keep up with the development - it goes so incredibly fast now!

What is your secret superpower outside of work, something that might surprise or inspire others?

Wow, that was a tough one! I usually joke that my superpower is that I see what is not being said in a conversation. Of course, this is a truth with modification, but as a trained speech therapist, I have been given tools to read both situations and people. If you ask my family, they would probably say that my real superpower is my laugh. I laugh often and loudly. I don't know if it inspires, but it certainly surprises!