Meet Point B'er Alan Erickson
Get to know Alan, a consultant based in our Phoenix location.
With just over a year under his belt at Point B, Alan brings a unique perspective as our first Skillbridge Intern (a program that supports the transition of military service members into the civilian sector). He enjoys cooking at home, but still tries to dine out about once a week. In fact, dining out with fellow Point B’ers during a Watering Hole event (a guided discussion about company happenings over a meal) is one of his most memorable experiences – in part because of the “fantastic food” but largely because of the in-person connection and ability to take part in meaningful conversations with colleagues. Learn more about Alan’s Point B experience, perspective on our culture, and how his focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion comes to life in his work.
What makes you proud to work at Point B?
I love that we are focusing on work that makes a difference not only for our customers but also for the world. In particular, I think about our work in ESG, healthcare, and my current role in retail that’s focused on improving working conditions in offshore factories. On a more personal note, I have felt a sense of belonging at Point B from the beginning. Whether it’s been the support of my 1:1 partner, my account leader, or the Point Bravo Business Resource Group (BRG), I have been taken care of and supported throughout my transition from the US Air Force.
Describe the work you do and your areas of expertise. What do you love most about your work?
I’m a part of our Management Consulting Services (MCS) team and have been focused on managing DEI projects for a large retail company. I’ve spent most of my career in the HR space, including several years as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. These experiences have made me more empathetic and honed my management and leadership abilities. I love the variety of projects that I’ve been able to work on with my customers and that I have become a trusted partner for them on a range of topics.
Let’s dive into a memorable project.
A global retailer needed to confirm that their offshore factory partners were on track to complete their 2025 target requirements for gender equity. This presents some inherent challenges as the criteria for gender equity is more qualitative than quantitative. The retailer was looking to establish a repeatable process to evaluate their partners’ gender equity maturity to ensure they met targets and were making improvements to working conditions. Communications between our customer’s headquarters and the field teams were a crucial boundary to overcome. There was a lot of confusion about the right information the field teams needed to relay, and the current process of time-intensive, back-and-forth conference calls didn’t always provide the clarity needed. We partnered with the teams to create a standardized reporting tool that clearly listed focus areas to help the field teams collect pertinent information. This tool reduced the back-and-forth communications and freed up time for both teams to take bigger strides forward.
How is Point B helping you grow your career?
I have regular touchpoints with my 1:1 partner and account leader to discuss my overall development and career plan. Recently, I completed a skills tracker and reviewed it with them to help me hone in on a few specific areas I need to grow. I’ve also benefited from our access to the LinkedIn Learning platform and have used it for on-the-spot training and skills development.
Describe Point B’s culture in 1 word. Why that word?
Engaging. Between our BRGs, DEI and community impact teams, industry communities, and more there is something for everyone within Point B’s culture. Each of these groups works together to create a place where everyone can make connections across our company and thrive.
What are you excited about for the future – both for yourself and for Point B?
Furthering my formal program management skills and learning more about the ESG space. I’m also looking forward to how Point B is evolving to meet our customers’ needs and what that means about the meaningful impact we can make for our communities and the end consumer.
