E231: Military to Consulting: Pat Curran’s Story

From Army Artillery Officer to Managing Director in Consulting Lauren Kordzik, Principal at Cameron-Brooks, sat down with Cameron-Brooks alum Pat Curran to discuss his leadership journey from the military to consulting. When Pat left the Army in 2013, he had a strong operations background and years of leading teams under pressure. After active duty, Pat started his business career at EMCOR and later continued to grow his career at CBRE and through his MBA at Penn State. Today, he serves as Managing Director at Greencastle Associates, a 100% veteran-owned consulting firm. While Pat relied on his leadership skills from the Army, Pat emphasized the importance of continuous growth and improvement. Below are some key highlights from the conversation as well as Pat’s advice for evolving as a leader. Building a Leadership Style for Business When reflecting on how he adjusted his leadership style, Pat shared a few key tips: Balance confidence and humility. Know what you bring to the table, but stay open to learning. Lead from the trenches. Build trust through what you do, not just your title. Be transparent. Be willing to admit mistakes and work with people, not above them. Evolve how you lead. Command structure works in the military. In business, influence, collaboration, and reading the room matter more. In addition to advice about leadership style, Pat has advice for the aspiring consultant. Advice for Building a Career in Consulting For those looking to one day be a managing director in consulting, Pat has some advice: Work on your people skills. Technical knowledge matters, but relationships are what move your career forward. Listen first, validate what you hear, and show clients you care beyond just getting the deal. Think like an entrepreneur. Especially in smaller firms, be ready to jump in wherever you’re needed and help the company win. Understand what consulting is really about. You’re there to solve client problems and deliver real results. Keep reading. Pat recommends The Go-Giver, Trusted Advisor, Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. Want to hear more from Pat? Check out our full conversation on the podcast. At Cameron-Brooks, we help officers transition from the military into another fulfilling career in business. Whether you are looking to move from the military to consulting or you are looking to explore your options, we’re here to help. Want to learn more about a career in consulting? Check out our career fields page. Want advice about your marketability in the business world? We would be happy to talk.