Why Consulting? - interview with Nicolas Delporte ( Li 201)

Details: Published: 24 July 2025

AFAM: Hello Nicolas, and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. You are a Senior Principal Data Science Business Leader at Genentech. Could you please tell us a few words about your current company and your role and responsibilities in it?

Nicolas: At Genentech, a biotechnology leader in drug development, I am part of the data science function in the late-stage drug development business unit. Our function handles all data analysis for clinical studies to ensure the efficacy and safety of drugs before they can be approved for market release. My role involves leading operational AI initiatives, particularly around leveraging cutting-edge technologies like large language models (LLMs). My primary focus is on "no-code analytics," which aims to democratize AI and analytics by leveraging advanced data science platforms and enabling business domain experts to independently prepare and analyze data without deep coding expertise. This empowers them to generate valuable insights more quickly and effectively. Other projects involve accelerating information access and utilizing AI to automate workflows throughout the organization.

AFAM: You began your career as a management consultant at Unilog Management, which later became part of CGI, then you were a Software Consultant for Planisware, a software vendor in the project portfolio management space. Can we say that in your career you switched from a Consulting role to an Internal role? Or was it a switch from an External Consultant position to an Internal Consultant one? Why did you choose to make this career path change?

Nicolas: Starting my career in consulting provided me with rich and diverse experiences, exposing me to multiple business environments, cultures, and priorities. This experience significantly improved my productivity, adaptability, and capacity to swiftly understand client needs and efficiently solve problems across various contexts by identifying general patterns. Consulting's structured approach, particularly when guided by a clearly negotiated statement of work, often made project execution straightforward and enjoyable. However, consulting engagements often end abruptly once the initial problem is solved, leaving potential for further improvements unexplored. Transitioning to an internal role allowed me to focus more consistently on long-term solutions rather than short-term projects, ensuring ongoing progress and deeper impact. Today, my role can indeed be described as an internal consultant, leveraging my extensive business analysis and consulting experience to deliver ongoing value within the organization.

AFAM: What do you enjoy the most in your work? What is the most challenging part of your job?

Nicolas: What I enjoy most is the opportunity to engage with experts across various domains within the organization, continuously learning from their knowledge and experience. My role also keeps me closely connected to emerging technologies, providing constant opportunities for growth and skill development. The challenging part would be effective communication especially in a large organization. Understand the need of your stakeholders and always formulate your answer according to their need to maximize the impact. So in a way be consistent in the variation of your messaging depending on your audience. This is even more challenging as the content of the message evolves as you make progress.

AFAM: You also worked as a Research Assistant at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory just after your graduation from Arts et Métiers. Was this your internship experience in the US?

Nicolas: This research position at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was actually my final-year project for my degree at Arts et Métiers. I was fortunate enough to extend my research work after, allowing me to further experience life in the Bay Area. This time made a lasting impression on me and ultimately influenced my decision to return to the United States, specifically to San Francisco.

AFAM: How does being a Gadzarts help you in your career and professional life?

Nicolas: The Gadzarts network is indeed extensive, and although it hasn't directly influenced my professional advancement, it provides a valuable sense of community. It's always great to connect with fellow Gadzarts around the world. Professionally, the key skill I developed as a Gadzarts was effectively bridging communication between technical experts and executive leadership—understanding complex business challenges and clearly articulating the technical solutions needed to address them.

AFAM: It has been more than 15 years since you arrived in the US. You live in California (San Francisco bay area). How do you like your life in California? How do you spend your free time?

Nicolas: I genuinely enjoy living in San Francisco. Over the years, I’ve built a great community here, including many friends and connections within the Gadzarts network. My lifestyle has definitely evolved over time; when I first moved back to San Francisco, I spent a lot of time sailing around the bay sharing a sailboat with a friend. Now, my activities are more family-oriented—we enjoy camping by rivers, lakes, or the ocean. I enjoy water sports like open-water swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Additionally, I get the chance of getting involved in my kids’ lives by coaching their school soccer teams, which has been incredibly rewarding.

AFAM: Thank you, Nicolas!

Nicolas: My pleasure. Thank you for the opportunity to share my experiences!