Collaborate with Future Consulting Leaders - Summer 2025
Timeline
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May 30, 2025Program start
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May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
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June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
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June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
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June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
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June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
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July 24, 2025Program end
Timeline
-
May 30, 2025Program start
-
May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project brief outlining the scope, key objectives, available data, and expectations for the competitive analysis and user engagement research.
-
June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched questions to guide their discovery call with UVA’s Office of the Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation (OEDI). These questions should focus on clarifying project goals, current career tool offerings, and stakeholder expectations.
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June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with OEDI representatives to gain insights into UVA's existing career development tools, student and employer engagement, and potential areas for improvement.
-
June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions needed to refine their understanding of the career tools, competitive landscape, and research priorities.
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June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
-
July 11, 2025Draft Presentation Due
Students will submit a structured presentation draft, including key findings, recommendations, and supporting data visualizations. The draft will be reviewed before the final presentation.
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July 24, 2025Project Results Presented to Client
Students will present their findings and strategic recommendations to UVA OEDI. The presentation will highlight insights from competitive analysis, user engagement research, and suggested improvements.
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July 24, 2025Program end
Program scope
Categories
Data analysis Market research Project management Competitive analysis Market expansionSkills
quantitative data analysis data-driven decision making qualitative data analysis data analysis microsoft excel consulting project management teamwork problem solvingThe University of Virginia’s PhD Plus Consulting Program, led by Dr. Brendan Boler, is designed to equip PhD students and Postdocs with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence required for a successful career in consulting. Participants in this course master a hypothesis-driven structured problem-solving approach, and develop proficiency in data analytics using Excel and storytelling using PowerPoint.
Our learners are advanced PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who bring a high level of analytical ability, critical thinking, and academic rigor to their work. They are eager to apply their skills to real-world consulting projects, gaining hands-on experience that will be invaluable for their professional development. The aim of this collaboration is to provide students with practical experience while offering employers fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to their business challenges.
Learners
Deliverables will vary depending on the scope of the project. However, these deliverables must be discussed and agreed upon prior to the start of the project.
Project timeline
-
May 30, 2025Program start
-
May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
-
June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
-
June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
-
June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
-
June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
-
July 24, 2025Program end
Timeline
-
May 30, 2025Program start
-
May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project brief outlining the scope, key objectives, available data, and expectations for the competitive analysis and user engagement research.
-
June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched questions to guide their discovery call with UVA’s Office of the Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation (OEDI). These questions should focus on clarifying project goals, current career tool offerings, and stakeholder expectations.
-
June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with OEDI representatives to gain insights into UVA's existing career development tools, student and employer engagement, and potential areas for improvement.
-
June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions needed to refine their understanding of the career tools, competitive landscape, and research priorities.
-
June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
-
July 11, 2025Draft Presentation Due
Students will submit a structured presentation draft, including key findings, recommendations, and supporting data visualizations. The draft will be reviewed before the final presentation.
-
July 24, 2025Project Results Presented to Client
Students will present their findings and strategic recommendations to UVA OEDI. The presentation will highlight insights from competitive analysis, user engagement research, and suggested improvements.
-
July 24, 2025Program end
Project Examples
Requirements
Ideal projects for this experience should align with the course's focus on hypothesis-driven problem-solving, data analytics, and effective communication. Suitable projects will challenge students to apply their academic skills in a practical consulting context.
Here are some examples:
- Market Entry Strategy: Develop a market entry strategy for a new product line, including competitive analysis, target market identification, and go-to-market plan.
- Operational Efficiency Improvement: Analyze and recommend improvements for a company's operational processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- Customer Segmentation Analysis: Perform a detailed customer segmentation analysis to identify key customer groups and tailor marketing strategies accordingly.
- Product Pricing Strategy: Create a data-driven pricing strategy for a new or existing product, incorporating competitor pricing and consumer behavior analysis.
- Digital Transformation Plan: Design a comprehensive digital transformation plan for a company looking to modernize its operations and improve digital engagement with customers.
Additional company criteria
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this program:
Timeline
-
May 30, 2025Program start
-
May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
-
June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
-
June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
-
June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
-
June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
-
July 24, 2025Program end
Timeline
-
May 30, 2025Program start
-
May 30, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project brief outlining the scope, key objectives, available data, and expectations for the competitive analysis and user engagement research.
-
June 6, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched questions to guide their discovery call with UVA’s Office of the Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation (OEDI). These questions should focus on clarifying project goals, current career tool offerings, and stakeholder expectations.
-
June 10, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with OEDI representatives to gain insights into UVA's existing career development tools, student and employer engagement, and potential areas for improvement.
-
June 13, 2025Client Follow Up Questions & Project Plan Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions needed to refine their understanding of the career tools, competitive landscape, and research priorities.
-
June 27, 2025Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
Mid-Point Check-In Meeting with Project Group
-
July 11, 2025Draft Presentation Due
Students will submit a structured presentation draft, including key findings, recommendations, and supporting data visualizations. The draft will be reviewed before the final presentation.
-
July 24, 2025Project Results Presented to Client
Students will present their findings and strategic recommendations to UVA OEDI. The presentation will highlight insights from competitive analysis, user engagement research, and suggested improvements.
-
July 24, 2025Program end