| Topic Name: |
Practice Lead |
| Message Name: |
My reply |
| Date Posted: |
03/19/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
First, CEB for Life is an HR plant--so ignore the falsely rosey picture he/she has been planting on this board for months.
Second, I'm a top 5 MBA who has been with the firm several years, and will try to give you a more accurate picture.
Third, the real picture. I assume when you say "Practice Lead" you mean Practice Manager. Here's the strategic research hierarchy:
- Analyst
- Sr. Analyst
- Consultant (where most top-tier MBAs enter fresh from b-school)
- Project Manager (typically MBA + 2-3 yrs)
- Practice Manager (if external, typically someone within striking range of partner at a top 10 consulting firm, or with very deep subject matter expertise relevant to a particular program)
- Managing Director (if external, typically a partner from a top 5 consulting firm)
- Executive Director (if external, a tenured partner from a top consulting firm)
Comp: the company pays badly--get used to it; it is also VERY stingy with options; no one in the last 3 years has received options below the practice manager level; base salary range for practice manager is banded around 130-150K; bonus max is 30% of base, but typically is about half that.
Practice managers run strategic research teams for any given "core" program, but do not have P&L responsibility--that is reserved for MDs--unless there IS NO MD, which is often the case. The company has an unwritten rule that you must prove (sometimes for several years) that you can do the next role before they will promote you. I know plenty of great PMs who have given the company the "best years of their lives" and been overlooked time and again for promotion, the company is very happy to accept their pro-bono MD-level work. CEB is cheap get used to it--doesn't matter if it's receipts for a .35 toll, plastic glasses and cheap boos at formal events, or concentrating the firm's significant wealth in the hands of about 20 people. Even though you're a post-mba career person, the value proposition is the same for someone fresh out of college, except your base is greater. No options, slow promotions (above the consultant level), no stock, 1% 401K match, and crappy health care.
Helpful? |
| Message: |
Noreg. There are a number of inaccuracies in your post that I feel I must address.
First, there is no such thing as a top 5 MBA program. I have several friends at MBA schools, so I know. There is HBS. Then there is Stanford. Then there is Wharton. Only Wharton grads use the term top 3. HBS and Stanford grads let you know they went to HBS or Stanford. Once past H/S/W, it does not really matter where you went to get your MBA.
Second, I am not an 'HR plant' and take offense to this.
Third, at the Firm we refer to HR as TM.
Fourth, the compensation is excellent at the Firm as evidenced by out low turnover at senior positions. When is the last time a Practice Manager left the Firm?
Fifth, your salary range for Practice Manager is incorrect.
Sixth, to say the Firm provides 'crappy health care' is misleading. The Firm is not a hospital and therefore provides no health care per se.
Seventh, the Firm operates under a strict meritocracy. If you are talented and driven, promotions will come very, very, very, very, very, very, very quickly.
Eigth, most Practice Managers I have seen are responsible for a budget and hitting NBB and renewal numbers. This is in effect managing a P&L.
Ninth, you say that the value proposition is the same post-MBA versus right out of college expept for the level of responsibility and pay. ???????
Tenth, you say that the Firm's wealth is concentrated in the 20 staff. Did you not realize we are a public company. If you had taken advantage of the ESPP you would probably be able to retire at this point.
Eleventh, you say that no one under Practice Manager has received options for the past 3 years. The original poster was asking about a Practice Manager position, so this may be good news. Second, how do you know this to be a factual statement. Do you know every employee below Practice Manager in the Firm and have you confirmed that they did not receive options.
CEB for Life
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