Consultant for a Day, Experience of a Lifetime

Her Stevens School of Business training has immersed her in technology and taught the necessary skills to adapt to the fast pace of today’s business world, but sophomore business and technology major Andrea Marquez’s idea on how to represent leadership is most definitely old school.

During the recently completed CGI Consultant for a Day program in the company’s Pittsburgh office, Andrea used a sand timer to demonstrate how effective leaders take their time and make sure everyone has a voice.

“We each had to bring a certain item that would show what leadership is to us,” she recalled. “It could be any item, and I brought one of those timers with sand in them. The sand in it represents two things. First, how everyone is a monumental in a team where everyone has their input. Second, the timer shows how everything takes time and how leaders have to be patient.”

Despite the sand, getting to that opportunity was no day at the beach. CGI, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2026, is one of world’s largest technology and professional services companies. The West Orange, New Jersey native became exposed to the company through a case-study project with the Stevens Consulting Club, and after hearing about the Consultant for a Day program, she decided to apply. The process included submitting an essay and letters of recommendation.

The day moved quickly through a series of structured activities. First up was the leadership icebreaker, followed by a tour of the firm and a networking session with CGI's president and vice president that focused on the people skills and client relationships at the heart of consulting work. As intimidating as meeting C-suite executives on the top floor of a skyscraper sounds, Andrea was struck by the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.

“I went in, and they were really kind,” she recalled. “No one looked extremely stressed. In other finance or business environments I've been in, I usually see that. Everyone there actually seemed like they liked their positions and were into their work."

The main event was a one-hour case competition in which teams were assigned a campus problem, built a solution and a presentation, and then defended their thinking before the firm's board members.

Andrea’s team chose to tackle challenges associated with academic advising. To minimize friction around graduation requirements, getting time with an advisor and course scheduling, the team conceptualized an AI-powered chatbot that could answer questions on demand, generate personalized study plans and help students map out their path to graduation.

"You're a busy student and you think, 'I have to do my study plan,' but your advisor is in a meeting or at lunch," she explained. "This chatbot would solve that. You could ask your questions whenever you'd like."

After impressing the judges with the initial idea and its ability to answer questions about data security and student privacy, Andrea’s team was named the top group.

“We gave solutions we thought best suited that situation based on what we know," she said. “The reason we won was because we efficiently executed an idea, a plan and a solution, and we were able to answer the questions about what the problems would be and how they'd be solved."

Not a bad result for someone who had never heard of consulting before enrolling at Stevens.

“Before getting into Stevens, I always thought finance was going to be my route,” she said. “What really got me into consulting was the Stevens Consulting Club, which is a pretty new club. I really liked the idea of working with clients. I'm able to talk to people, but I'm also a part of the technical side. I like having the best of both worlds. I think consulting gives me that medium where I'm able to be doing the work, actually crunching the numbers and working behind the scenes, but I'm also able to speak with clients.”

Through the club, Andrea landed a virtual internship with Encouraging Women Across Borders, a nonprofit that helps women in STEM, tech and finance find jobs after graduation. Her team was handed the organization's donor data and tasked with finding ways to grow and retain its base of supporters.

"My ability to help a cause that actually affects my peers and people in my age group felt like I was contributing to something real,” she said.

It's that kind of real-world engagement that Andrea says defines her Stevens experience.

"Everyone here is always doing more and more and more, and that motivates me to continuously strive,” she said, “The biggest thing I always heard about Stevens was the return on investment. Everyone who comes to Stevens ends up doing something really great in their career, and I wanted to be part of a school that wants to help its students become the best they can be."

While Andrea was already well-versed in the value of a Stevens School of Business education, her time at CGI was an opportunity to spread the word.

“A lot of the employees were really surprised,” she said. “They knew of Stevens as a tech school, and I was really able to show that I have the education and the support of my peers and my teachers to be able to efficiently speak to people and persuade them about an idea and the solution of what I'm being asked.”