The Art of Problem-Solving: Connections, Liberal Arts Create Paths to Success in Consulting

Alum expert: 'Soft skills,' communication especially vital in age of AI

by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

Last year, Jason Cutshall ’96 hired two Dickinson students to join his growing team at SteelBridge Consulting. This spring, all three of those Dickinsonians returned to campus to connect with current students and share what it's like to work in consulting as well as what it takes to be a success in that field. And, during a presentation open to students in any major, Cutshall announced an upcoming job opening on his team.

The multigenerational presentation was part of the college’s Career Communities program, connecting students with alumni, parents and friends of the college who work in fields they’re interested in exploring. After speaking about soft skills and problem-solving with students in Assistant Professor of Philosophy Emily Kelahan’s Philosophy of Work class, Cutshall led a Careers 101 session to a packed house in the John M. Paz '78 Alumni & Family Center.

After working within several large, international consulting firms, advising national and international clients on how to solve complex problems, Cutshall is now a partner at the boutique firm SteelBridge, where he leads human-capital services. During his presentation, he provided an overview of his project-based profession, with its opportunities for travel and accelerated professional growth. He also detailed his own path from economics major to recruit for Anderson Consulting (now Accenture) and beyond, including examples of past projects, such as a challenging implementation of a global system for Nissan Motors and Renault.

"A liberal-arts education really translates well to consulting, especially in the age of AI,” said Cutshall, emphasizing that excellent communication and problem-solving skills—along with a willingness to learn, comfort with data and openness to new experiences—are far more important than majoring in a particular subject. “You need to understand people, and you need to be able to really listen to what they tell you their problems are and determine if there are other problems underlying it.”

Payton Hull ’24 and Daniel Vasquez ’24, both human capital consulting analysts on Cutshall’s team, also shared their perspectives as new hires and answered students' questions about their academic experiences and their day-to-day work.

Hull, a former English major with an earth sciences (now geosciences) minor, echoed Cutshall’s message that a liberal-arts background can lead to success in consulting. “Jason impressed upon me that you learn 95% of the job on the job, so you have to be comfortable asking questions. It’s the soft skills and the analytical skills that you come in with that allow you to do that,” she said.

That's true for recruits from more business-oriented majors as well, added Vasquez, a former international business & management major who honed excellent time management and leadership skills as a student-athlete and intern. “No school can completely prepare you with everything you'll need to know on the job, so you need to be confident in yourself and keep learning," he said with a smile, comparing his first months on the job to his senior seminar, which introduced students to a new case study every week.

A casual lunch followed the presentation, providing a chance to ask more questions and connect with the alumni. Students could also sign up for a networking “coffee chat,” held the following day.

Noelle Artinian '28 (undeclared) appreciated Cutshall's general career advice, which she believed to be applicable to any field. Bella Gallace '25 (international business & management, quantitative economics), shared that Hull and Vasquez helped make a consulting career seem more attainable to current students by providing a clear view of the first steps toward success. Caroline Krauth '26 (international studies) agreed.

"I’ve been considering a career in consulting, and all three of them made it sound even more appealing while also filling in some of the gaps—such as what the workload is like, what kind of projects they get to do,” said Krauth, who signed up for the coffee chat, eager to continue to learn about possibilities ahead. “It was a great opportunity.”

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Published February 5, 2025

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