Meet Associate Director Kesli Shepherd, who joined Gartner Consulting more than five years ago. Read on to learn more about Kesli’s journey at Gartner and discover her advice for candidates.
Kesli’s career journey at Gartner
Kesli joined Gartner in 2019 after learning about the company from a recruiter who visited her campus while she was pursuing her MBA. She knew she wanted a career in consulting and was immediately drawn to Gartner because of her background in technology. “It seemed like a great fit for my skills and interests,” said Kesli.
After joining Gartner as a consultant, Kesli supported various projects from sourcing to independent verification and validation (IV&V) within the state and local government sector, which is where she discovered her passion. Over the course of her Gartner career, Kesli has worked on a variety of projects — both client-facing and internal — and has been promoted from consultant to senior consultant and now associate director.
Our culture of learning
Throughout her time at Gartner, Kesli has always felt safe and supported in trying new things and growing her career. Our focus on continuous learning and our collection of vast education and development resources empower our associates with the knowledge, skills and experiences to help them be successful in their careers. “It’s been great to be challenged, continuously learn and have opportunities to grow. I don’t feel stagnant here, and I feel truly valued as an associate,” said Kesli.
A strong support system
As Kesli has continued to grow her career with Gartner, she’s grateful for the support she’s received along the way. Our Professional Development team offers tools and guidance associates need to make their career experiences exciting and fulfilling. One of those tools that has proved especially helpful to Kesli is career counseling and mentorship. “Having a counselor that I talk to regularly has been key in growing my career,” Kesli said. “My counselor guided me in reaching my goals with a plan in mind.” In addition to her career counselor, Kesli also credits the support of her colleagues to her continued success. “There are so many people that have been unofficial mentors to me,” she said. “They weren’t assigned to help me. They’re just willing to give back.”
Kesli’s advice for colleagues and candidates
For those early in their careers, as well as candidates looking to start their consulting journeys, Kesli emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships: “Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to build your own relationships, both with colleagues and clients. And for anyone wanting to get started in consulting, get to know people in the field.”
Outside of work
When she’s not delivering impact on clients’ mission-critical priorities, Kesli enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs. She also has a passion for travel and loves trying new things and experiencing other cultures.