Nikki Walter MPP 1997

Opening an Unexpected Door

Nikki Walter, a senior manager at Deloitte Services LP in New York, always thought she would have a career in the public sector, not a private consulting firm. In fact, early on she worked as a staffer in the Montana State Senate and then as part of a U.S. Senate campaign.

But as time passed, Walter said, “To get to the next level in my career, I wanted more rigorous tools and methodologies for approaching challenges in the public sector. I also wanted to do something more purely policy oriented.”

With a reputation for exceptional programs and an association with the University of Chicago’s strong economics program, the Harris School appealed to Walter. And after graduating she accepted a job with Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of the global professional services firm Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, which also offers audit, tax, and financial advisory services.

“I thought I would go to a think tank or a similar type of policy group, but then I had this opportunity at Deloitte,” she explained. “I thought I’d only be here for a few years, learn as much as I could, and move on—and now I’ve been here for ten years.”

Deloitte Consulting LLP provides strategy, operations, and technology solutions to many of the largest national and global organizations. During her first eight and a half years as a consultant, Walter helped clients improve their organizational performance and solve business problems.

When asked why she decided to change career paths, Walter said she views her work as “a natural progression, building on what I’d already done. Management consulting is a good fit for problem solving and analytical assessment.”

A year and a half ago, Walter moved into a national role where she works on internal strategy and planning, and helps to drive strategic initiatives across the organization. She currently leads an initiative to strengthen staff industry knowledge and skills, impacting nearly all major components of professional development for practitioners.

Looking back on her time at Deloitte, Walter reflected on the range of her clients. “I’ve been able to work with a variety of companies across all industries all over the country. I have literally done something within all the major industries we cater to, including several organizations in the public sector,” she said.

This variety of work is the reason Walter has stayed at Deloitte for so long. She said, “I love learning and, without a doubt, it’s been my ability to grow, learn, and have new challenges that has kept me here.”