The Graduate Associate Programme spans across 2 years and helps associates develop the skills they 

need to master their role, take on more responsibility, and work towards a management position. 

Associates focus on understanding the knowledge our clients need and identifying the industry 

professionals with the expertise to meet those needs. 

Tommy Ferguson joined AlphaSights in January 2021 and just started his second year in the 

Associate Programme. Learn more about how Tommy is enjoying the programme and gaining 

new responsibilities.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your time at university?

I grew up in Framfield, a small village in East Sussex and then went on to graduate with a degree

in Economics and Politics at the University of Leeds in 2019. University was a continuation

of my sports-obsessed childhood days where I was involved with the rugby society and played

lots of social football.

How did you find out about AlphaSights and what made you want to apply?

I came across AlphaSights on LinkedIn and was immediately intrigued by the role and company.

The combination of responsibility early on in a client-facing role, and a clear career progression

compelled me to apply. The interview process consisted of three stages, which included a project

and a motivation/strength-based session which not only gave me a better understanding of the role,

but gave me the opportunity to spend time with my interviewers, who were very impressive!

What was the highlight of your first year?

AlphaSights champions an inclusive and celebratory culture in which we’re given the resources to 

celebrate our wins together and get to know our colleagues off the desk. In a year full of many 

enjoyable moments, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one! However, if I have to choose, some of

my colleagues and I organised a Christmas dinner for our team (there are 25 of us within this

team). The dinner was a great success and served as a recognition of our division’s many

achievements over the year.

                                    

What’s your biggest learning from your first year in the role?

I quickly recognised the impact that adopting a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and focussing on 

micro-improvements can have. Learning, growing, and adopting this mindset has had a substantial 

impact on my long-term personal development with my key improvement areas becoming real

strengths. For example, my ability to effectively manage multiple work streams simultaneously in an

effective and efficient way has improved tremendously from my first few months in the role.

How does your second year as an associate (A2) differ from the first?

Essentially as an A2, I’ve evolved from serving as an individual contributor to taking on more

people-focused responsibilities. In addition to my core role (sourcing and connecting experts to

clients), I also train both my new joiners and manage client accounts and relationships. 

The additional responsibilities are challenging, but a great source of motivation as I continue to

see my impact within AlphaSights grow.

Tell us about a typical day on the desk for you.

I am currently taking part in a negotiation initiative with different teams where we are trialing

various negotiation tactics and comparing results.

What do you enjoy most about working at AlphaSights?

The culture. I have loved how friendly and driven each of my colleagues are, and I enjoy meeting

people from a wide range of backgrounds. I enjoy the high-performance energy — it’s great to

feel part of something bigger than yourself, where everyone pushes toward the same goal.

What types of development opportunities have you experienced during your time here?

I have developed relationship and project management skills since taking over end-to-end project

responsibilities. Managing the entire process for receiving the client brief, communicating with the

client, and delivering on the project itself has been a great learning process. By working closely

with and learning from more tenured employees early on, it’s rewarding when you develop

these skills for yourself and see your personal progress from where you began.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?