Tram Nguyen Weller

After seven years in the investment funds practice at an international law firm in London, then 11 years in head of legal roles with large asset managers, I had a young family and wanted a bit more control over my time. I had hired contractors in the past and was curious about whether consulting might help me achieve more balance.

I reached out to Peerpoint post-Covid and secured several contracting roles in the UK: with the asset management division of an international investment bank, with a global insurance and wealth management group, and with a UK corporate with a significant investments programme.

Then my mother became very ill in Australia and I had to relocate quickly. I packed my bags and my kids and turned up in Queensland two weeks later. Peerpoint was amazing and I was very well supported – within weeks they had found me a role with the private capital division of an Australian bank. Originally a three-month contract, it was extended to 12 and then 18 months: the business is dynamic, exciting and growing.

My role is fully remote, because I’m living a long way from the head office in Sydney. But I’m used to building networks and getting to know people without being in the same room, having worked in plenty of internationally-distributed teams. And I have been to Sydney twice to meet people and spend time with them.

What I’m really enjoying is the fact the bank was only founded in 2020 and has grown organically and entrepreneurially. They like to do things a bit differently and are more nimble than some of the process-driven places I have worked at. They also give me quite a lot of latitude, so it is an interesting and challenging role.

When I look at potential assignments I’m always looking for opportunities to develop my skills, because as a consultant you are not progressing along a career path in the same way. So I look for different types of employers, different sectors and different ways of doing things, typically in businesses that have clear strategies for change or growth that add an additional layer of complexity.

Peerpoint really makes an effort to keep in touch and to do that often. I genuinely feel like the team works in partnership with me and I’m not just another number in their book of consultants looking for roles.

You have to be clear what you want from consulting. Your role is all about delivery and impact – achieving a certain outcome in a certain time frame. If you are not good with focusing 100% on a specific mandate, you are going to struggle. For me, it has worked out just as I had hoped.