Strategy Consultant at Ørsted

When did you get the job?

In 2017 – about a year before I graduated with my Master’s in Economics – I got a student job at Ørsted. I wrote my thesis on the green transition in Denmark, and my manager at the time asked me if I would be interested in Ørsted’s graduate programme once I had graduated. I was, and luckily, I got the position. I really enjoyed my time as a graduate because you get to experience different parts of Ørsted and build a strong network across the company. 

What are you doing today?

When I came to the Offshore Strategy team, I felt like I had found my niche, and I was offered a permanent position in the team. It’s an extremely interesting area to work with as it’s both our core business and a growth area. My department has three functions. We’re internal consultants working with strategic projects across the offshore wind business unit. We’re also in charge of the annual strategy process, and we provide executive support to the management team.

Why did you choose to work at Ørsted?

Our vision of a world that runs entirely on green energy is what makes Ørsted stand out. It’s very exciting to be part of the huge transformation from fossil to renewable energy at Ørsted and the transformation of society at large. You feel a sense of purpose and pride throughout the organisation because we’re making a real and tangible difference. 

At the same time, we’re the industry leader in offshore wind. That means you’re working with people who are world-class within their areas. It’s inspirational to work with driven and skilled colleagues, and at the same time, it’s a great opportunity to learn from their experiences. 

What does a typical working day look like for you?

The work I do is very project-driven, so a typical day depends on what stage of the project I’m at. At the beginning of a project, we hold meetings with stakeholders and clarify what problem we need to solve. In the middle of the project, we analyse the problem. And then near the end, we typically prepare the materials that management needs to base their decisions on. You also get a lot of responsibility from day one, for example, if you prepared an analysis, you also get to be the one to present it, even to top management. 

What do you think Ørsted can offer someone with a Master’s in Economics?

Ørsted is a growing company, locally as well as globally. Just a few years ago, we were only active in the North Sea region. Today, we’re a global leader in offshore wind with activities in areas such as Taiwan and United States, and 90% of our earnings come from international markets. Growing a global renewable business is capital-intensive. We therefore announced an investment programme of DKK 200 billion in green growth towards 2025 at our latest Capital Markets Day. Managing such a significant investment programme requires a lot of sharp minds and a great deal of analytical brain power. Economics students and graduates have a great skill set for that.

What skills from your studies do you most often use in your work?

When studying, you’re presented with complex issues that are hard to solve. That teaches you to get an overview and solve complex problems in a logically manner. For many of the issues we’re dealing with, you can’t get a complete overview straight away. So, being able to structure your thoughts and problems logically is a big part of the job. In that context, I’ve benefitted greatly from the analytical approach taught in Economics.

How is the social life at work?

It’s excellent. I’ve developed good relationships with others from the graduate programme. The programme includes several activities with the highlight being a field trip to Silicon Valley. Going to Silicon Valley was of course interesting, and we had a lot of fun. The other graduates are a great group to hang out with, whether it’s meeting for lunch or going out on a Friday evening. I’m also part of a young team in Offshore Strategy where we have a lot of fun together – also outside of work. Most recently, we started playing paddle tennis in the weekends. 

If you were to give some advice to students/recent graduates, what would that be?

As a student, you have many exciting opportunities to try out different things before graduation; student jobs, internships, studying abroad and student association work just to name a few. Take those opportunities, as it will allow you to build useful competencies and help you find the most interesting job for you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who work within a field you’re interested in. If you’re well-prepared, people are often happy to talk about their work when others show interest.  

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If you want to explore more about working at Ørsted you can find information on orsted.com/careers.