Hannah Honzel, Bain & Company, worked with Challenge Partners over a three month period to develop Challenge Partners growth strategy. This involved reviewing and making recommendations to their pricing structure and then developing an approach to prioritising and connecting with target schools.

My highlight was working with the Challenge Partners team so closely throughout the duration of the three month period.  We developed a close partnership and I really enjoyed working with such a talented and impact-driven team. Another highlight was talking to the Challenge Partner customers – it was very inspiring to hear how passionate they are about Challenge Partners and the value of the Network of Excellence.

How did you find the working environment of a charity in comparison to the sector you work in?

Although the organisation was much smaller than other companies that I’ve worked with, I don’t think there were many other noticeable differences between working for a for-profit company and a not-for-profit company.

What is the most important thing you learnt?

In a lot of corporate strategy cases we tend to look at drivers of commercial growth, and I found it very interesting to learn about growth from a social business perspective – for example, ensuring that CP was growing inclusively and thoughtfully taking into account the broad range of schools they serve.

What would you say to someone else thinking of volunteering with SBT?

Do it!  It was a very fulfilling experience that allowed me to contribute to the growth of a meaningful business while learning about the nuances of a new sector and business model.

How did it feel to win an SBT Unsung Hero award?

It was surprising and unexpected, but I felt very grateful to have been given this opportunity.