In “8 Questions With…,” we share a brief Q&A with a staff member. In this edition, we hear from Ariel Platt, who joined Rosov Consulting in 2017 with a background in program development, grant writing, project management, and Jewish education.
My background is in project management and program development, and both of these skill sets lend themselves in valuable ways to my work at Rosov. One of the best parts about working here is the diversity of clients we serve, each with specific needs, circumstances and desired outcomes. Accordingly, at any moment there is a wide variety of responsibilities on my plate and so my experience in managing timetables, communications, and overall project excellence is crucial. Though I don’t engage in program development directly in my current capacity, my past experience gives me the foundational understanding to add value to our project teams and for our clients as we work to evaluate their processes, specific programs, and longer-term goals.
I am fortunate to have a variety of professional interests and my work experience has followed closely. I began working in the non-profit world, writing grants and designing educational programs for Kevah, a Bay-Area based Jewish educational organization. Then, during three years working for the United States Department of Justice, I honed my ability to coordinate and lead a project team and ultimately decided to pursue work in the private sector. Though I was leaving public service, I knew then as I have always known that I want my professional life to contribute to improving this country and this planet. Working at Rosov Consulting lets me continue to develop my project management skills while gaining client-facing experience in a fun and professional environment, all the while helping support a multiplicity of causes and organizations in and out of the Jewish world.
Without question, I love learning about what our clients do and how they do it. There are so many different foundations, organizations, and governing bodies that orchestrate and implement such a diversity of programs. It is fascinating for me to learn about each client in their own socio-political context and how they accomplish their mission. Each new project brings its own unique set of challenges, excitements, and opportunities for learning.
My favorite part about working at Rosov Consulting is the people. Though the work is both engaging and meaningful, the office is beautiful, and the snacks are tasty, this is a fantastic job because of my colleagues. This company has done a remarkable job hiring and training employees who are incredibly driven, reliable, organized, and dedicated, yet simultaneously friendly, trusting, caring, and fun! Above all, we treat each other with a deep sense of respect and it is that same respect which underlies all of the work we do and all of the relationships we build both internally and externally.
BIG QUESTIONS. We regularly wrestle with large and complex questions about identity, social engagement, nuanced outcomes, and vast social networks. Though we can philosophize all day about how best to conceptualize these bodies and answer these questions, transitioning from theoretical approaches to practical, tangible evaluation solutions can be challenging. Then again, that’s where it gets fun.
As I have gained experience at Rosov Consulting I have also taken on more and more projects. This has been fantastic for me because I am both happiest and most productive when I am busy. On any given day you might find me designing or testing a survey, conducting an interview, planning a focus group or writing a report – or all of the above. I have enjoyed this growth in my role here and hope to continue on this path.
As this field continues to grow and become more accessible for a broader array of organizations, I think it is only fair to expect that there will be more competition for business as well. This is an exciting prospect because it will push us further to maintain our commitment to excellence while giving us valuable thought partners and potential for future collaborations.
How will our various clients use our deliverables to inform or implement change?
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