Theo Kunonga joined Akeso for a two-week summer internship during his time at university.
Read on to discover his experience and reflections on healthcare consultancy:
This summer, I spent just over two weeks interning with Akeso, which allowed me to gain first-hand experience of healthcare consultancy. Coming from a Medical Biosciences background, I was curious about how analytical and scientific skills might be applied in a consulting environment, and this internship provided an invaluable opportunity to explore that in a busy consultancy firm.
During my time at Akeso, I engaged in various tasks. I contributed to live bids and shadowed delivery across numerous projects, gaining a broad view of the consultancy lifecycle. Some days involved detailed preparation and internal discussions, while others centred on observing client-facing delivery. A particular highlight was taking part in a win-theme workshop for a tender process, where the team collaborated with the client to refine the key messages of the proposal. It was fascinating to see how ideas developed in real time and how much thought goes into tailoring the approach to meet client needs. Experiencing these different stages emphasised the importance of flexibility and teamwork, and how each project presents its own unique challenges and learning opportunities.
Alongside technical knowledge, the internship helped to strengthen skills that will remain useful far beyond consulting. These include communicating complex ideas clearly; adapting quickly to new situations; and approaching problems with a strategic mindset. It was eye-opening to see how analytical rigour and interpersonal sensitivity come together in consultancy and to understand the balance needed between the two.
What made the experience most rewarding, however, was the people at Akeso. From the first day, the team was welcoming and generous with their time, creating an environment where it was easy to ask questions and contribute. The support and encouragement made the learning process enjoyable and left a lasting impression.
Although it was only a brief placement, it gave me a much deeper understanding of what healthcare consultancy entails and how it can generate real impact; from enhancing health services to supporting more efficient resource use, all with the ultimate aim of helping patients access better care. It also clarified my future direction, reinforcing my interest in pursuing work that combines scientific training with strategy and problem-solving in healthcare. I’m very grateful to the team at Akeso for providing such an engaging and supportive experience. For anyone considering an internship in healthcare consultancy, my advice would be to stay curious, ask questions, and seize every opportunity to get involved. The more you immerse yourself in the process, the more you’ll learn, not only about consulting but also about your own strengths and interests. Akeso offers a fantastic environment to do exactly that.
