Mastering the Expertise to Thrive as a Consultant

Enriq de Asis (MS 2023) entered the UW Foster School of Business Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program with ambition, intelligence, and an eagerness to learn but minimal technical skills. Just over a year later, he secured a position as a Data and AI Consulting Analyst at Accenture, a major international professional services firm.

de Asis’s successful rapid transition to a career in technology was made possible by his hard work and an innovative program from the MSIS department. The MSIS Accelerate program is designed to equip individuals without a technology background with the foundational skills needed for a graduate-level computer science program. Held on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus, the program runs during the 11-week spring quarter, offering coursework in Python, SQL, and data networking to strengthen technical proficiency. Students benefit from small classes and instruction from experienced information systems faculty and industry professionals.

“The MSIS Accelerate program was invaluable,” de Asis says. “It gave me the extra time I needed to acclimate to the technical concepts and coursework before diving into the full program. I felt confident and well-prepared, making the transition into the core curriculum much smoother.”

A non-traditional path to technology

As an undergraduate, de Asis studied at the University of Oklahoma.

“I started as a pre-med student,” he says. His extracurricular activities, including a president’s leadership class, helped him realize he was more interested in the business world. “That was a formative experience. It made me want to pursue a career in business, to be able to interact with people in that environment.”

de Asis knew he would need postgraduate training to pursue a different career path. He had a family member in Seattle and came out for a visit that included touring the University of Washington campus.

“I absolutely loved the place,” he says. “It felt vibrant, and it had a sense of community. I knew I wanted to be here.”

Building technical proficiency through MSIS

de Asis identified the Master of Science in Information Systems program as the most direct route to accelerating his career. The MSIS curriculum encompasses cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity, and teaches executive leadership skills. Evening and weekend classes enable students to work while enrolled, which was important to him.

Once enrolled in the main MSIS program, de Asis cites Professor Ming Fan’s classes as particularly valuable.

“The MSIS program struck a balance between deep technical learning and broader strategic concepts,” he says. “While we explored highly technical subjects, my goal was always to understand these topics at a high level and connect them to business value—something that is essential in my role as a tech strategy consultant.”

Unexpected networking opportunities

Seattle is, at times, both a big city and a small town. One of the benefits of going to graduate school in the area is that you never know who you will meet or where.

While enrolled in the MSIS program, de Asis worked at Lululemon in University Village near campus to pay the bills. One of his Lululemon co-worker’s partners had a role at Accenture, the exact type of company that would provide de Asis with the opportunity to apply the technological expertise he was learning at Foster in the workplace. Introductions were made, and connections were established. The training he was receiving in the program made de Asis an excellent candidate for Accenture, which actively recruits talented young technology professionals. Not long after completing the program, he received a job offer.

At Accenture, de Asis is assigned to one of the firm’s clients to partner with their internal IT team on how AI can improve their operations. He’s currently working with a major convenience store, though because the nature of his work is proprietary, he is not able to disclose the details of his projects. Suffice to say, he is in a project management role, facilitating the client’s data strategy and AI deployment.

“My goal entering the program is akin to what I’m doing now as a strategy consultant,” he says. “There were times in the program when we dove deep into technical subjects, but we always considered the business value of what we were learning and viewed the technology through that lens. So it was very connected to what I’m doing now.”

Communication: A critical skill in consulting

de Asis is in an advisory position to business leaders many years his senior. He’s utilizing his training and communication skills to convey his subject matter expertise and establish credibility with his clients.

For this, de Asis relies as much on his people skills as his technical abilities. “In consulting, credibility comes from expertise and the ability to connect with people,” he says. “Often, success isn’t just about offering advice—it’s about facilitating conversations, breaking down silos, and ensuring collaboration. The people aspect of my role is just as critical as the technical knowledge.”

For that communication, de Asis sometimes relies on software —  but not necessarily the advanced AI his team is deploying.

“Never underestimate the power of a good PowerPoint presentation,” he says with a grin. “A lot of the success and fulfillment I find in my work comes from the human element. Understanding how people fit within the larger technology landscape. Even with AI evolving rapidly around us, the ability to communicate effectively remains critical. It’s not just about constant communication but about knowing when and how to engage with different individuals to drive meaningful collaboration. That, to me, is just as important as the technology itself.”

Learn more about the Master of Science in Information Systems program.