380 likes | 613 Views
The Unauthorized Guide. TORONTO EDITION. Moving to Toronto. Working at Oliver Wyman. Living in Toronto. Welcome to Oliver Wyman!.
E N D
The Unauthorized Guide TORONTO EDITION Moving to Toronto Working at Oliver Wyman Living in Toronto
Welcome to Oliver Wyman! Congratulations! The interviews are over, contracts are signed (sign-on bonuses deposited), and you can now sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself – kind of. As former new hires, we all know how stressful it can be to start a new job and move to a new city. So we’ve tried to take a little bit of that edge off for you in assembling this Unauthorized Guide for Consultants. In this guide, you will find three sections: Moving to Toronto, Working at Oliver Wyman, and Living in Toronto. We’ve tried to address some of the basic categories of questions that we all had prior to working at Oliver Wyman like: • Where should I live? • What should I wear? • How should I prepare for my first day? • What is this beach time I keep hearing about? (hint: it involves no swimsuits or sunscreen) • I’m freaking out about the real world and badly need a cocktail, where should I go? Hopefully this guide will address some of your main concerns, but there will obviously be unanswered questions. Go ahead and reach out to contacts you’ve made through the recruiting process, or ask someone in recruiting to put you in touch with someone to get those questions answered. Above all, RELAX. Yes it’s scary, yes there are a lot of unknowns, but we all survived one way or another and you will too! Congratulations again. We can’t wait to have you join the Oliver Wyman family! - Oliver Wyman Consultants Past & Present
The Unauthorized Guide TORONTO EDITION Moving to Toronto Working at Oliver Wyman Living in Toronto
- Oliver Wyman Office Moving to Toronto The city of Toronto and its surrounding area (The Greater Toronto Area, better known as “The GTA” – Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughn, Oshawa, etc.) are organized by neighbourhoods, each with a unique feel, providing a wide variety of choices when looking for a place to live. Typically, the closer to the centre of the city (and the office) you live, the more expensive rent will be. As you venture further from the city centre, living space grows and rent falls, giving you a spectrum depending on what you're looking for and willing to pay. In this guide, we’ve tried to give you some insight into some of the more popular neighbourhoods amongst the General Consulting Group (GCG - non-partner consultants), along with the advantages and disadvantages to whatever real estate decision you make. Your official “Welcome to Toronto” package has information on a variety of neighbourhoods. In this guide, we focus on a few central Toronto neighbourhoods where our GCG live and recommend, and that are all walking distance to the office. The Village King East / St. Lawrence Market Downtown Yonge Kensington King West Liberty Village Harbourfront / Lakeshore
The Feel: Busy, multi-cultural, lots of students around due to proximity to Ryerson and U of T Pros: More reasonable rent than some areas, tons of restaurants and shopping so you can find anything you want, and if you can’t find it there, the subway runs along Yonge! Cons: Lots of traffic, street often blocked for parades and other gatherings in the summer (loud, but can be fun) Good to Know: Yonge Street actually ISN’T the longest street in the world – check it out on Wikipedia! D.T. YONGE The Feel: A tight-knit neighbourhood where you can buy anything you need within two blocks Pros: Convenient access to Bay St. office life, Bloor/College high life and Eaton Centre Cons: Not as extensive restaurant choices as other neighbourhoods Good to Know: Best coffee and latte art in the city is at the Bulldog Café just south of Church and Yonge THE VILLAGE The Feel: Hippies, hipsters and crazies call this place home Pros: Strong neighbourhood feel, close to high-service Spadina streetcar, best food in the city Cons: Busy, dirty and chaotic – expect homes with creaky floorboards and kooky neighbours Good to know: In the last Sundays of summer, all roads close to traffic for a street festival KENSINGTON Downtown “walking distance” neighbourhoods LAKESHORE The Feel: New condo after new condo, clean, touristy Pros: Very close to the office and Union Station, great in the summer, no shortage of new condos (ensuite laundry!) available for rent Cons: Expensive, cold and windy in the winter, not much of “neighbourhood” feel, streetcar not as frequent/reliable as subway Good to know: Easy access to rollerblading/jogging on pathways along the lake
The Feel: Up and coming, full of young professionals Pros: Far enough to escape the downtown core, still walking distance to some of the best bars and restaurants in the city Cons: Lots of new families live here – all the strollers will either give you baby fever or drive you crazy Good to Know: Very quick access to the highway for morning cabs to the airport The Feel: Young, upbeat, in the middle of everything Pros: As close as you can get to the Entertainment District, great restaurants, nice apartments and condos Cons: No big grocery stores, streetcars can get congested in traffic Good to Know: Depending on how far west you are, you can get to the office inside via Toronto’s underground walkway, “The PATH” LIBERTY VILLAGE KING WEST Downtown “walking distance” neighbourhoods • The Feel: Cool neighbourhood, but not “in your face” about it • Pros: Fresh food at St. Lawrence Market, young crowd, fantastic tucked away small bars and restaurants • Cons: We don’t recommend walking alone at night in the east end (near Parliament) • Good to know: You should be able to find a place with a view of one of the many large parks, a rare treat in downtown KING EAST/MKT
The Apartment Hunt • Questions to think about when deciding on an apartment: • Affordable- Is the rent affordable? Are the stores, shops, gyms, movie theatres and bars in the area affordable? (No matter what they say ahead of time, most people spend their money in nearby establishments – higher rent in nicer areas (i.e., Yorkville) adds up in many ways). • Management Company – Does the building appear to be well maintained? What do neighbours say about how long it takes to get something fixed? Are they helpful/responsive to your questions? • Transportation - How close is the subway or streetcar? • Conveniences – Are there supermarkets nearby? Some Toronto neighbourhoods are charming but have only cute or expensive local shops for day-to-day needs (e.g. Yorkville’s only supermarket is a Whole Foods). • Parking - What’s the parking situation like? Does the apartment include parking? Do I really need a car? Most Consultants would say no. • Utilities - Who pays for utilities? And how are they powered? Gas is cheaper than electric, and oil fluctuates along with OPEC. What is the average winter utility bill for the unit? Who controls your heat? (Some apartments become saunas in the winter.) • Neighbours – Does your building rent to students? Though frat boys can be adorable, when they’re breaking things in your hallway at 3am they become increasingly less cute. • Crime - What is the crime rate like? Call the local police office to double check as your landlord could be less than honest on this one. Brokers are legally not allowed to comment on the safety of a neighbourhood. Ask residents or passers-by if they feel safe there.
The Unauthorized Guide TORONTO EDITION Moving to Toronto Working at Oliver Wyman Living in Toronto
Attire The Oliver Wyman office is business casual and most clients are business casual as well. Day One should give you a pretty good feel for the general dress code of the office. Look to other GCG and base your decisions on what you observe. • Business Casual- In general both men and women tend to stick to some combination of the following for business casual: • Dress pants/skirts • Button-down shirt/ blouse • Sweater, twin set • Suits – We follow the dress code of the client, so if your client is business formal, you’ll be expected to wear the same (always a good thing to ask before starting a case). Nevertheless, this is definitely rare and the number of suits you have already from recruiting is probably enough. • Casual Friday – On Fridays that don’t involve a recruiting event (they’ll be very clear when those days are), you’re allowed to wear jeans and casual shoes. You’re still expected to look neat (no flip flops and t-shirts – no ripped jeans even if you overpaid a designer to fashionably tear them for you…). A collared shirt and/or sweater with jeans is generally fine. • In general, just use common sense. You don’t want to be noticed inappropriately for something you’re wearing. Don’t be that new Consultant! • …and always remember, no Leafs hats!
Those First Day Jitters… • First Day: • You will receive an email 1-2 weeks before starting that lays out your initial schedule, so don’t worry if it’s a few weeks away and haven’t heard anything. It will come! • Where Will I Be? • You will be in your home office for the first day regardless of whether your are a summer or full-time Consultant. The remainder of that week you may head to a different office for 1 or 2 weeks for training and social events. • What Do I Bring? • Just yourself and the identification materials needed for some paperwork along with any paperwork you didn’t mail in beforehand. • What Do You Need: • Will Need: • Luggage - A small rolling suitcase that fits into the overhead compartments is the main piece of luggage you’ll need. If you go on longer assignments, you may need something bigger, but a good small suitcase is a worthwhile investment. You will use it! Good brands are: Travelpro, Briggs & Riley and Tumi. (Be sure to check airline websites to be sure your bag will fit in the overhead compartment.) • Cell Phone – The firm will provide you with a Blackberry, but it has a US phone number, and you are expected to use the ‘voice’ part for client calls and emergencies only (data is unlimited and paid for). Therefore, it is recommended that new hires also have their own cell phone for personal use. • Won’t Need/Will be provided: • Laptop • Laptop case – you’ll end up having more than you’ll know what to do with. • Blackberry • Wireless Card – free internet anywhere – it’s pretty great. • Office supplies Pre-Arrival Work: • We have provided some training & development materials for you to work through before you start at OW. These courses are available on the New Hire Portal. They will be particularly helpful to those with less experience in Finance & Accounting or Microsoft Excel; however, we strongly encourage everyone to review these materials. We will spend more time on these topics once you start work, but this should give you a great start. • In addition, you should review Oliver Wyman intellectual capital through the publications listed on our recommended reading list on the portal. You will not be quizzed on the material, but it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the topics and industry jargon.
Staffing • Staffing can be one of the more stressful parts of your job, but the most important thing is to RELAX. You will get staffed. It may not be your dream assignment, and you may not go to your dream location right away, but be patient. • Do well on your cases! The best way to have some say in your staffing assignments is to make others want you on their team. Build a skill set and a good reputation, and the good cases will come. • That being said, do not lie or exaggerate your skill set – especially in the beginning. Interviews are over and you’re already hired. It will only hurt you to say you’re an expert in SQL if in reality you saw your lab partner work in it twice. Some of the worst experiences by new Consultants are when they claim to know more about a topic or software program than they actually do. i.e. if you’ve never opened an Excel spreadsheet, tell staffing! No one will judge you and you’ll be much happier in the long run. • On the other side, tell staffing what you’re good at and what skills you may have. If you are a whiz in Excel, don’t hide that – it can definitely help you get staffed faster. Similarly, if you are fluent in a language, make that known also (however, being able to ask where’s the bathroom in Italian will not necessarily get you sent to Florence for a case – trust us, we’ve tried). • Be upfront about your concerns. You’ll probably be scared of most assignments when you first arrive (we were), but if you’re particularly concerned about, say, a quant-heavy case, interviewing, or a particular location (e.g., the Middle East) make that known. While staffing can’t always accommodate your concerns, they can do the best they can to place you in an environment where you feel as comfortable as possible. • However, beflexible and willing! Staffing will like you a lot more with a “can do” attitude rather than a long list of “no’s” and demands. And remember, many cases that don’t sound as glamorous end up being the best experiences for their case team members, so don’t blindly write-off assignments based on how they sound. Remember, every case is a learning experience, good or bad. • Fill out the staffing pages and bios as soon as possible (once you start working that is). Skills & Preferences profile, PowerPoint bio, and uploaded resume all help staffing gain better insight into your strengths and background. Especially in the beginning, this will definitely help you get staffed faster. • Be nice to the Staffing Team! Ann Laaff and Jen Thomas are the dynamic duo that will ultimately decide what you (and all other North American GCG) get staffed on, so being obnoxious and/or difficult is not going to help matters. A lot of times assignments are based on luck of your timing, such as when you roll-off another case, etc. They try to make fairness a top priority. They know you are there and are pleased that you’re willing and eager to get staffed, but be patient. That being said, an inside source tipped us that Jen, who is based in Toronto, has a sweet tooth and loves baked goods and chocolate of any shape or kind – not a bad way to lead into a casual conversation about your staffing situation – come with gifts…
Beach Time • The “beach” is the consulting term for unstaffed time between cases (sorry if you had higher expectations for the term). It’s a great time to catch up on appointments, catch up on sleep, and generally just catch up on life. But be aware that you are expected to be available to re-staffed at a moment’s notice. • Different people approach the beach in different ways, especially depending on how long you’ve been at the firm. Be mindful of what people tell you about how to act on the beach because everyone’s situation is different. • While you may spend very little time in your career on the beach (especially summer Consultants), it is definitely the area where new hires have a lot of questions. Here are some classic Do’s and Don’ts for your time on the beach: DO’s • Enjoy yourself! - The beach is a great time to take it easy and de-stress. You’ll be looking fondly back on that time once you get staffed on a busy case. • Check in with Jen – It is good to occasionally check-in with Jen and make sure she knows you’re available. Staffing contracts may change, so it’s good to make sure everyone’s on the same page. • Ask around and see what’s out there (from Jen, Ann and other partners). You are expected to be doing “things” while on the beach – helping out with proposals, firm initiatives, office events, writing this guide, etc. A lot of staffing happens from working on a proposal that eventually gets sold. And yes, you can learn from business development (biz dev) as well. Just because nobody’s seeking you out, doesn’t mean you can’t be of use… • Still ask for vacation time. Beach ≠ Vacation. If you’re leaving the immediate area, let Jen and Ann know! But be careful – you may be staffed and need to get to a client site quickly – so don’t go too far without your laptop. • Use the time to contribute to the firm. Firm contribution is an important part of the Oliver Wyman culture; people will notice! DON’Ts • Not come into the office. Especially when you’re first starting, it’s important that people know who you are and recognize your face. This doesn’t mean you need to work long hours, but even checking in for a few hours each day is valuable (10am - 4pm is a good benchmark if you have nothing to do). While everyone does a full “work from home” day here and there (especially after ending a hard case), be mindful of completely falling off the planet. • Neglect your email and voicemail. Keep your Blackberry with you. You never know when you’ll get that infamous staffing email. • Blow off your biz dev work. Even if it’s as short as a few days, you can get reviewed on this work. Good and Bad. Initial reputations are often built outside of actual casework and people talk.
Traveling & Expenses Travel for case work can range from 4 days a week, every week to completely office based depending on the assignment and needs of the client. Company policy is to have everyone in his/her home office on Fridays, except for long haul staffing overseas. • BCD Travel – BCD Travel is the travel agency used by OW staff for all business-related trips. Don’t worry, you will be given a detailed explanation about the system when you arrive. • BCD travel profile - This contains credit card information, frequent traveler numbers, and travel preferences (e.g. window or aisle) and they will use that every time you call (booking a week’s worth of travel can take less than a minute). Utilized through Cliqbook, an online booking program, you will create your profile during your first week. • Change of plans - The advantage to using BCD travel is that if you ever have a problem or need to change plans after booking with them, they can help you do it instantly. • Service Fee – BCD charges fees for booking transport online ($11) or with an agent ($37), and no fees for accommodations. All fees can be expensed, so staff are encouraged to use BCD for all bookings for better data collections and negotiating power with travel/accommodation providers. • Non-Office Hours – BCD has a 24-hour number you can call outside of business hours if you need to change plans. You will receive more info on BCD travel during Orientation. • Reward Programs – Sign up for them!!! Points and miles add up, and all rewards earned you can use for personal use. Continually check sites like www.webflyer.com for promotions for different point bonuses that always take place. Also make sure to keep these numbers in your profile, so they are actually used when booking. The most common ones are Aeroplan, Starwood, Hilton Honours, Marriott, Delta Airlines and Porter, which can all be signed up for online. • Credit Card – The American Express Aeroplan Plus Platinum is definitely the credit card of choice amongst GCG as it helps you quickly accumulate Aeroplan miles and includes access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. You can sign up for one on the AMEX Canada website (www.americanexpress.com/canada). The fee is $499, but you can expense up to US$450 annually for airline club memberships. You can also get this card as a corporate card (if your credit history does not afford you a high enough credit limit on your own) and still keep the points. Other popular cards are the RBC Avion VISA, CIBC Aerogold VISA and CIBC Aventura VISA. In addition, AMEX will be coming out with a Starwood card in the near future, which consultants love because we always stay at Starwood hotels. Tip: if you’re given a low credit limit to start, you can usually just call and ask to have it raised. • Expenses – Different managers have different ways they like to handle expenses, but the most important thing is to ask. Better to clarify upfront than risk a problem later on. • Company policy for expenses can be found online, but generally, most things you purchase while traveling can be expensed down to a simple cup of coffee. • Receipts are required for any purchase of $25 or more. Put them in a good place because losing them will only make your life more difficult (if you do lose a receipt, there are ways to verify the purchase like credit card statement, etc so don’t freak out that you’ll have to pocket the expense). • Keep good track of your expenses and file them sooner rather than later. The longer you wait the more of a headache it is for you and your Partner!
Office Seating and Titles for General Management Consulting (GMC) Toronto Office Buddies & Advisors WINDOW Outside Office Two Partners / Associate Partners / Senior Associates Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate HALLWAY Outside Office Two Partners / Associate Partners / Senior Associates Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate Inside Desk Consultant / Sr. Consultant / Associate • You will be assigned a buddy and advisor upon starting at Oliver Wyman. • Buddy: • A GCG member who has been at the firm for at least a year • Great for informal questions that you may be afraid to ask more senior people • Resource for advice, concerns, and just a buddy! • Office sponsors a lunch with your buddy so be sure to take advantage • Advisor: • An Associate Partner or Senior Associate • Presents your file during career reviews • Relationship can take many forms, but tends to be a more senior source to ask questions about staffing, reviews, and general career advice
Holidays & Vacation • Corporate Statutory Holidays • 10 holidays and 2 personal days each year • New Year's Day • Family Day • Good Friday • Victoria Day • Canada Day • August Civic Holiday • Labour Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day • Boxing Day • Vacation Time • 15 vacation days a year (accrued at 1.25 days/month) – you’ll get more days once you’re here longer (after 5 years is the next jump, so you have a little while…) • Vacation accrual year begins September 1 and ends August 31 • Maximum unused vacation carry-over is 5 days. Benefits • Most Consultants don’t even know where to begin with benefits, so if you’re completely lost, you’re not alone. You will receive a thorough presentation on your first day and in general have 30 days to comprehend and decide on what plans work for you. • MMC PeopleLink is a comprehensive website for all your benefits, payroll, etc. You will gain access to the site once you receive an employee number. In the meantime, check out www.mmcbenefits-canada.com (The password is “benefits”) for benefits information. • Your benefits will start on your first day of employment, not the first of the month. • You will receive the full range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and many other types of insurance you didn’t even realize existed. Different people have opinions on the different plans, so it may be best to survey people in person once you get here. Keep in mind that you should select a plan based upon what works best for YOUR situation and life style. • MMC discounts – once you start with Oliver Wyman and are a real “full-time employee”, you’ll have access to discounts such as: • Cell phone plans: MMC has negotiated plans with Bell Mobility and Rogers Wireless • Insurance: Discounts for home and auto insurance
ACRONYM Central In case you haven’t figured out already, consultants like to use acronyms. Here are some of the more common acronyms used at Oliver Wyman. Warning: Don’t get too comfortable with this list, they’re constantly changing… FS: Financial Services GMC: General Management Consulting BU: Business Unit HLS: Health & Life Sciences CMT: Communications, Media & Technology MTE: Manufacturing, Transportation & Energy CIVT: Consumer & Industrial Value Transformation GCG: General Consulting Group (non-Partners) AC: Affiliated Consultants (non-Partners) Partnership: Partners and Associate Partners Other Acronyms / Useful Terms OWOK Oliver Wyman Open Knowledge (mailing list) MoF Ministry of Fun IRC Internal Research Center FS/(FMS) Friday (Morning) Session BD (Biz Dev) Business Development IS Information Services And of course, who could forget POW!? “People of Oliver Wyman” is our internal online community and face-book. Join POW! to access local office and OW-wide updates, join employee groups and stay connected with your fellow OW staffers.
The Pyramid • As you’re learning the names of our various Business Units and resources, you should also familiarize yourself with the company hierarchy. • Each level plays a different role during a project, with Consultants, Senior Consultants and Associates doing varying degrees of the analytics and research. As you become more senior, you will also interact more with clients and be expected to contribute more to thinking through and structuring various issues in the case rather than just executing. (But you won’t have to worry about that for a little while!) • Your day-to-day work could be managed by almost anyone above you. Part-ners Sell cases; provide strategic direction; serve as main client liaisons Provide day-to-day case and client management Associate Partners Senior Associates Associates Senior Consultants Consultants 18
is active in the following areas: • - Community Engagement: Create an inclusive and supportive environment for GLBT people at OWG. Create networking, socializing and service work and philanthropy opportunities. • - Cultural Transformation: Create a voice for GLBT in OWG including mentoring programs, enhanced communications and more inclusive policies. • Business Development: Provide internal training to aid building successful relationships with GLBT clients, and explore GLBT networking and BD opportunities • - Recruiting: Support OWG recruiting to sell to GLBT recruits, create more inclusive marketing materials and maximize GLBT recruiting channels Oliver Wyman Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) Our culture is one that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages and perspectives of our colleagues. It is this culture of diversity and inclusion that helps us generate new ideas and create solutions that best serve our client base, which itself is increasingly diverse. — Corporate Diversity Statement Oliver Wyman has a number of popular (and growing) Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These cross-functional groups recognize and celebrate diversity & inclusion across OWG and are a great way to get involved in the global OWG community! Founded in 2008, GLOW supports OWG diversity and inclusion initiatives and advocate for the unique needs of the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender (GLBT) employees. To feel more accepted and connected to our organization, we are creating reverse mentoring programs, affecting policies, enhancing communications and getting involved in business development activities. “If I’m not gay, can I join GLOW?” YES - Over 35% of GLOW members are straight. Your contribution is essential to create an inclusive environment for ALL employees of Oliver Wyman. To learn more or to join GLOW contact:GLOW@oliverwyman.com or visit the group site on POW! Larissa DeLima will help get you started!
Oliver Wyman ERGs continued… WOW is a grass-roots, cross-OWG employee resource and networking group focused on increasing our ability to attract, develop, and retain highly talented women by enhancing their access to professional development and personal growth opportunities. WOW is open to all Oliver Wyman Group staff (both men and women). It focuses on community building, recruiting, business development & brand-building. • 250 new members • Established chapters in most major global offices • Numerous activities: Toronto & Singapore Run for a Cure, Boston Leadership development session • Migrated groupsite to POW! • Work with Women: collaborate across OpCos (Mercer, Marsh, Guy Carpenter) • Communicate: Be ‘voice’ of Women at OWG through POW! • Work for Women: Enhance career development, act as a resource for global/local management initiatives To join WOW – email WOW@oliverwyman.com or visit the group site on POW! EMPOWERED is a grass-roots Employee Resource Group for racially and ethnically diverse OWG employees and their allies. Our Mission is to enrich Oliver Wyman Group, its core values and culture, through inclusive initiatives that foster communication, understanding and appreciation of racial and ethnic diversity. • We pursue our vision in the following areas: • Cultural Awareness: Create opportunities and develop strategies to advance cultural awareness • Community Outreach: Involve local communities to support diversity related initiatives & education • Recruiting & Retention: Attract & develop top talent from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds • Coaching & Mentoring: Help OWG staff understand and overcome challenges relating to racial, cultural and ethnic diversity through mentorship and access to personal development resources • Data & Messaging: Internal and external communication on efforts to enhance diversity at OWG To join EMPOWERED please contact Brandi Greene (brandi.greene@oliverwyman.com) or Kaijia Gu (kaijia.gu@oliverwyman.com) or visit the group site on POW!
Lunch / Dinner at the Office • Given the amount of offices on Bay Street (think Brookfield Place alone), there is no shortage of places to grab lunch or dinner. You can eat over-priced sandwiches, wraps, and salads to your heart’s delight. If you’re watching your finances, consider bringing in lunch. Buying lunch 5 days-a-week does add up – trust us. If you’re working locally, you can generally expense your dinner if you are staying at the office past 8 pm. Here are some of the classic “go-to” places amongst Consultants: • Food courts • Brookfield Place favourites include Fit for Life for Mediterranean, Thai Island, Jimmy the Greek and Pumpernickel’s for sandwiches. You can also load up on the amazing Longo’s salad bar, but you’ll pay for it (they charge by weight)! • Walk over to Commerce Court for ZTeca fresh TexMex or Fast Fresh (popular enough to get its own section on this page). • Sometimes we venture to the TD Food Hall for Hero Burger or FreshWest (TexMex). • Word is out that Madina in Scotia Plaza is the best Mediterranean in The PATH. Fast Fresh Foods - Perhaps the most popular lunch destination amongst GCG (“draws Consultants like moths to a flame”), load up on gourmet sandwiches and giant “choose your own ingredients” salads at its Commerce Court location. We also get lunch at Petit Four, “the other gourmet sandwich place”, across the hall from Fast Fresh. Longo’s – Located just steps from the office, Longo’s is a high end grocery store with a delicious and varied hot table. Though buying by weight, the opportunity to have salmon, shrimp, chicken, and beef in the same meal is worth the extra few dollars. In addition, this is the place to go to get your fresh fruit kick. Take Sushi (www.takesushi.ca) – Right around the corner on the south side of Brookfield Place, two Toronto Consultants actually had Take for dinner every night for the duration of a 3 month project! Pronounced “tock-A”, it really is THAT good! Just make sure you can expense it… OrderIt.ca (www.orderit.ca) – Thisdelivery site allows you to place orders online for a number of restaurants but charges a markup for delivery. Make sure to start planning early if you’re going to order from this site, as it’s hard to choose from the huge number of restaurants! Biermarkt – If you have time for a lunch out, grab some friends and sit on the patio of this popular Bay Street haunt on the Esplanade. Try it on the weekends too for live bands, and great mussels and fondue.
The PATH • The PATH is downtown Toronto's underground walkway linking 27 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment • More than 50 buildings/office towers are connected through PATH. Twenty parking garages, five subway stations, two major department stores, six major hotels, and a railway terminal are also accessible through PATH • It also provides links to some of Toronto's major tourist and entertainment attractions such as: the Hockey Hall of Fame, Roy Thomson Hall, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, and the CN Tower. City Hall and Metro Hall are also connected through PATH • Most importantly, the PATH connects Brookfield Place (the building where OW’s Toronto office is located) with Union Station (largest subway/train station in Toronto) • Because of this underground network, it is seldom necessary to go outside; this is especially convenient during the long winter months • A link to a map of the underground can be found here (http://www.toronto.ca/path/)
Office Traditions • The Toronto Office has a variety of traditions, most of which occur on Fridays when everyone is in the office (remember this when you’re procrastinating during the week and planning to be productive on Friday – it can be very difficult to get work done). These are great times to get to know your colleagues and catch up with friends, especially if you’ve been traveling all week. It’s also really easy to get involved in planning events and/or starting an event of your own. If you build it, they will come… • FAS(Friday Afternoon Session) – (Almost) every Friday afternoon the office gathers in the Fishbowl for presentations on anything from scotch tasting to how to buy a car in the US to international travel to interesting casework…you get the picture. • Bill’s Place– The fun starts during the FAS – as a new Consultant, it will be your job to venture to Shoppers Drug Mart, Longos and the LCBO to pick up a variety of snacks and drinks to satisfy every gluttonous desire of your colleagues. We all gather in and around the Fishbowl and kitchen to catch up on our weeks and discuss weekend plans. • Holiday Party– THE event of the year, expect an amazing dinner at a private venue, followed by drinking and dancing with all your friends from work. • April Anarchy– Another annual event, we all get together for a night of mayhem in April. Past events have included dinner and drinks at lounges, and the most recent party started out with cooking our own dinner together at a professional cooking school, followed by drinks at a popular Yorkville bar. • Golf Tournament– Every July we get together fore a birdie of a time at a local golf club. It’s fun to witness people’s competitive sides come out for the day, while others spend the whole time watching for the beer cart. • Office Barbeque– We enjoy one of the last beautiful nights in August grilling up a storm at one of our colleague’s homes. We usually leave it up to the new Consultants to work the BBQ, so start practicing! • Ski Day– There is no avoiding the snow in Toronto, so we try our best to make the best of the winter months. Don’t worry if you can’t ski well…that shouldn’t stop you from participating in our fun race down the hill! • Other Social Events– Some of the most fun things we do are less formal, ad hoc events. Throughout the year you can expect outings to professional sports games (both watching them and being the pros ourselves), comedy clubs, picnics, etc. • “Unauthorized” Social Events– Just like this guide, the Consultants often plan weekend trips to such destinations as Miami, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Belize…why don’t you be the one to make the next suggestion?!
Office Events At Office Events, you never know who’s snapping pictures, so be on your toes… Office BBQ 2007 April Anarchy 2008 Holiday Party 2009
The Unauthorized Guide TORONTO EDITION Moving to Toronto Working at Oliver Wyman Living in Toronto
Gyms & Outside Activities • Yes, there is such a thing as the “Consulting 15,” but the good news is that you have plenty of options of places to work out to burn off all those meals you’re eating out. • Toronto has a great variety of gyms (many right near the office). When choosing a gym, be mindful that there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling during the week, so that location far from your apartment, but close to office might not make sense after all. • Gym Options (Many options and locations, find the one that best suits your style and fitness goals!) • Dynamic Conditioning Centre: “The First Fitness & Athletic Playground”(http://www.dccentres.ca) • The Adelaide Club:“Provides moneyed Bay Street types with a much needed escape” (http://www.adelaideclub.com) • Extreme Fitness:“Warm, Fun, Challenging Environment” (http://www.extremefitness.info/richmond.aspx) • Goodlife Fitness:“Caring is the key value“ (http://www.goodlifefitness.com/club_locator.aspx) • Toronto Athletic Club:“The city’s most desirable health & fitness oasis” (http://www.torontoathleticclub.com/welcome_aboutus.htm) • All-female gyms: Toronto Ladies Gym (http://www.torontoladiesgym.com/); Fitness One (http://fitnessone.ca/) • Many many more… • Being active outdoors • Great selection of running routes in Toronto: http://www.run.com/city.asp?dest=Toronto+ON • The Waterfront area has a great boardwalk for all you joggers, rollerbladers, skateboarders, etc… as well as other fun options like beach volleyball, sailing and golf • Other fun fitness options • Rock Climbing: The Rock Oasis (http://www.rockoasis.com/) • Kickboxing & Muay Thai:http://www.tkmt.ca/ • Ask neighbours and look around your neighbourhood for other great options!
Yoga & Dance • There are various yoga and dance options in Toronto, depending on the style you want and where you located, but here are a few of the best studios in town in various disciplines: Queen West: • Ashtanga: Downward Dog (www.downwarddog.com) at Queen and Palmerston King West: • Dance: City Dance Corps (www.citydancecorps.com) just west of Spadina (539 King West) – the hip hop class is a great workout! The Village/Downtown Yonge: • Ashtanga: The Yoga Sanctuary (www.theyogasanctuary.net) at College and Yonge • Jivamukti: Jivamukti Toronto (www.jivamuktiyoga.ca) at Shuter and Yonge East Toronto: • Ashtanga: Downward Dog (www.downwarddog.com) in The Beaches (1977 Queen East) • Ashtanga: The Yoga Sanctuary (www.theyogasanctuary.net) on the Danforth (95 Danforth Ave) • O.I.P. Dance Studio (www.oipdance.com) – have some fun with breaking, popping or house Liberty Village: • Moksha: Moksha Downtown Toronto (www.mokshayogadowntown.com) at Richmond and Strahan (860 Richmond W) The Annex: • Bikram's Yoga: Hot Yoga Toronto (www.hotyoga.ca) Spadina & Bloor (720 Spadina) Various locations: • Dance: Toronto Dance (www.torontodance.ca) – classes at various gyms across the city, with a focus on salsa and ballroom
All Other The Black Hoof (MEAT!) Kultura (tapas style) Fresh (vegetarian) Mezes (Greek) Christina’s (Greek) Duff’s Wings (wings) Supermarket (tapas) Aroma (Indian) Eating Out Toronto has lots of restaurants for all sorts of budgets and tastes. College West (a.k.a. Little Italy) is people’s classic area for “go to” Italian food while the Entertainment District provides an excellent array of menus in a pre-theatre atmosphere. Winterlicious and Summerlicious each happen once a year, offering great three course prix-fixes at restaurants throughout the city. The whole city gets into the mood, and you can find info on any restaurant website. Steak Barbarian’s Ruth’s Chris The Keg Harbour Sixty Italian Café Diplomatico Veni Vidi Vici Terroni Trattoria Giancarlo Coco Lezzone Pizzaeria Libretto Brunch Cora’s Eggspectations Mitzi’s Sister Kalendar Shanghai Cowgirl Overeasy After the bar Burrito Boys Rol San Pho88 The Big Slice STREET MEAT!!! After work Ki Duke of Devon Jump Bymark Irish Embassy Splurge Lee Sotto Sotto Sassafras Bistro 990 Colbourne Lane Cool spots for hot restaurants Baldwin Street King b/w John & Blue Jays Way College & Clinton Kensington Asian Hiro Sushi The Friendly Thai Salad King Spring Rolls Golden Thai
Bars You will not go thirsty in Toronto (in case you were at all worried). There are plenty of scenes depending on what you’re in the mood for. If you’re looking to bar hop in an area with lots of options, try the Entertainment District, Queen West or College West. And here is just a small sampling of GCG’s favourite watering holes: The Madison – Casual hangout in a mansion on Bloor & Madison – like an oversized frat house with a bit of class Easy on the 5th– Classic Toronto Entertainment District club Stone’s Place– Hipster hangout with live bands on Queen West The Drake Hotel– Draws a big crowd on Queen West The Black Bull – Relaxed hangout with a neighbourhood feel at Queen & Peter Tattoo– New “rock parlour” on Queen – a chance to bang your head to your favourite rock tunes without having to hang out with 50-year-olds Maro– Big Liberty Village club that’s packed on Saturdays Brant House – Perhaps the most popular club with the Bay Street crowd Czehoskis– Polish restaurant and lounge on Queen West with a fantastic cocktail menu too. A great place to hang out for a nice night out. Circa – Huge, whimsical hot new Entertainment District club – you have to see it to believe it! Grace O’Malley’s– As Irish as a pub can get, get to “Gracie’s” early because it gets packed when bands are playing on the weekends Hemingway’s– A less fancy spot tucked amidst upscale restaurants in Yorkville. Great crowd and the patio is open all year long.
Where to get Information on Events in T.O. • Dine.to (www.dine.TO) • For restaurants by region, cuisine type, etc. with online reservation capabilities. Also info about T.O. hotels and attractions. • Zagat Survey (www.zagat.com) • For restaurant recommendations, the Zagat guide is the ultimate in review sources. However, the online guide requires a paid subscription. • Toronto Life Magazine (www.torontolife.com) • Make sure you get the annual restaurant guide! • Toronto.com (www.toronto.com) • City guide with coverage of events, restaurants, music, attractions, etc. • Martini Boys (www.martiniboys.com/toronto) • Everything entertainment – parties, events, restaurants, bars, etc.
Basketball – The Toronto Raptors: The Toronto Raptors have had a resurgence in recent years. The team has improved and as a result more people are filling the seats. The team also plays at the Air Canada Centre. Tickets go for $20 and up. The best options for purchasing Raptor tickets are through eservus online concierge service, the team website, Ticketmaster, or ticket broker websites. Sporting Events Toronto has a diverse set of sports teams and events which can provide a great deal of enjoyment. They range from hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, football, tennis and golf. There are several avenues in which tickets can be obtained. Cost of tickets vary by team and event. Given that this a hockey-crazy country, it is not hard to determine which team has the most expensive tickets. Like a good consultant, you should know that price is not the sole decision criteria. Professional Teams Hockey – The Toronto Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs are the sports icon of the city of Toronto. The team plays at the Air Canada Centre, which is connected to Union subway station in in downtown Toronto. Tickets are hard to come by and tend to be pricey, but they are still available. You’re looking at $50 - $400 each. The best options for purchasing Leafs tickets are through eservus online concierge service, the team website, Ticketmaster, or ticket broker websites. Baseball – The Toronto Blue Jays: The glory days of 1992 and 1993 have come and gone, but the team is still competitive and frequently plays its hated rivals the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays play at the Rogers Centre, a five minute walk from Union subway station. Tickets range in price from $10 to $50 and are widely available on the team website.
Sporting Events Football – The Toronto Argonauts The CFL is still alive and kicking, as are the ever entertaining Toronto Argonauts. The Argos play at the Rogers Centre. Tickets can easily be obtained through the team website. Price vary from $10-$50. Soccer – Toronto FC: This expansion franchise boasts a nice new outdoor stadium located at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) called BMO Field. The stadium is accessible via the bus and street car. Ticket prices range from about $30 to $60. The best way to get tickets to a soccer game is through the eservus online concierge service and the team website. Special Events Golf – Canadian Open: The PGA tour often makes a stop in the Greater Toronto Area. The event takes place at the end of July and tickets are fairly easy to obtain. The best way to purchase them is through the eservus online concierge service or the Royal Canadian Golf Association website. Tennis – Rogers Cup: Professional tennis comes to the Tennis Centre at York University in the middle of August. Each year the event alternates between featuring the men’s and women’s tours. Tickets can be obtained through eservus online concierge service or through visiting Tennis Canada’s website.
Arts & Culture • Museums and Attractions • Toronto has some great museums for whatever tastes you have (literally). Be on the lookout for special nights with different events and free or reduced admissions! • Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) – www.ago.net • Over 68,000 pieces fill this gallery, dating from 100 AD to today. Over 40% of the collection is pre-Confederation Canadian art. • BATA Shoe Museum – www.batashoemuseum.ca • Yes, Toronto has a museum dedicated to shoes, with over 10,000 on display, from ancient artifacts to Elton John’s boots and Marilyn Monroe’s pumps. • Casa Loma – www.casaloma.org • Yes, there really is a piece of European grandeur hidden in the middle of Toronto. The original owner spent over $3M to build it in 1913, and had to turn it over to the city to pay his taxes just over a decade later. • Hockey Hall of Fame – www.hhof.com • Perhaps the most truly Canadian cultural exhibit in Toronto, right in Brookfield Place! Hockey fans or not, Consultants give it great reviews for its fun interactive exhibits. • Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) – www.rom.on.ca • Toronto’s flagship museum with the newly opened architectural controversy known as the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. Feed your mind with the vast array of world culture and natural history exhibits, as well as exciting special exhibitions. • Steamwhistle Brewery – www.steamwhistle.ca • A staple in Toronto bars, “the roundhouse” is just a hop, a skip and a jump from the office. Of course there is free beer at the end of the tour! • Distillery Historic District – www.thedistillerydistrict.org • This recently restored, up-and-coming area is a great place to find small galleries, museums and great outdoor performances…oh yeah, and beer! ROM Casa Loma
Arts & Culture • Classical concerts • The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) (www.tso.ca) presents about three concerts per week at Roy Thomson Hall (on King West) September through May. Sign up for tsoundcheck (people aged 19-29 are eligible, and there’s no catch!) and get tickets for you and a for $12. tsoundcheck tickets are offered about a week before each performance, and you are eligible for the best available remaining seats. • Opera & Dance • The Four Seasons Centre is home to the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. Sign up for the National Ballet’s DanceBreak (for those aged 16-29, free!) and get $20 tickets on the day of the show. Rush tickets for the opera can be purchased for $20 in person starting at 11 am on the day of the performance. • Live music (non-classical) • For jazz, try the Reservoir Lounge, for up and comers go to Hugh’s Room in the up and coming Roncesvalles neighbourhood • Other popular venues for live music include Lee’s Palace, El Mocambo, Horseshoe Tavern, Opera House, Phoenix, Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse, Massey Hall and more. Check out individual venue’s sites for the most up-to-date information. • Also useful are the email ticket alerts available at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ca) Massey Hall Princess of Wales Theatre • Theatre • Toronto’s Theatre District (walking distance from the office) has a full slate of shows going on all year. You’ll find info and be able to purchase tickets for most of the shows at www.mirvish.com. Recent/current productions include Dirty Dancing, We Will Rock You, Spamalot and Sweeney Todd. Also check Ticketmaster for shorter running performances at other venues throughout the city.
Festivals Beat the heat, taste a delicacy from a new culture or just go for a good time…Torontonians love festivals, and it’s a great way to spice up your week/weekend! Here are some of our faves. Check out http://www.torontotourism.com/Visitor/CalendarOfEvents for more listings! Luminato (www.luminator.com) – Toronto’s new festival of arts and creativity, with music, dance, film, theatre, literature, etc. Taste of Little Italy (www.tasteoflittleitaly.ca) – Live performances and all the best food of College Street. Toronto Jazz Festival (www.tojazz.com) – Jazz take over the city, with performances at various venues. Pride Week (www.pridetoronto.com) – Toronto’s own LGBT festival comes to The Village! Great beer gardens and parades. Beaches International Jazz Festival (www.beachesjazz.com) – Just say “yes” to jazz on the beach – a great chance to check out the Beaches neighbourhood if you haven’t already! Festival of Beer (www.beerfestival.ca) – Enough said. Taste of the Danforth (www.tasteofthedanforth.com) – Greektown’s version of Taste of Little Italy. Canadian National Exhibition (The Ex or CNE) – Release your inner child with the midway and snacks, not to mention great concerts and a spectacular air show. The Pirate Festival (www.thepiratefestival.com) – We think it’s in September and have not been, but why not try partying with the scallywags this year? Canadian Music Week (www.cmw.net) – Artists from A to Z hit Toronto in March for a week of non-stop performances. Okay, so there weren’t any under “X”… Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) (www.tiffg.ca) – Join international celebrities on the red carpets for a screening or two, but don’t even think about trying to get into a hot restaurant during this week in early September. June July August Other
Shopping Places we love: • Eaton Centre for all your favourite chain stores – Lululemon, Club Monaco, Zara, etc. • Queen West, an eclectic wonderland of used book stores, upscale furniture stops, up and coming boutiques – you name it! • Bloor to rub shoulders with celebrities and Yorkville celebrity wannabes – blow your bonus at Holt Renfrew, Gucci or LV • Kensington – vintage central to find those “Where on earth did get that?!” items • While there is plenty to do in Toronto on weekends, everyone enjoys getting out of the city every once in a while. Especially if you’ve never lived in Ontario before, you will find plenty of new, fun things to do within a few hours’ drive from Toronto. • Getting around: While some destinations have a bus or rail service (e.g., Niagara), you will realistically need a car to get to most places. You can rent from standard car rental companies (accumulate Hertz points from your cases), or join a car sharing program like Zip Car or AutoShare. Day Trips • Summer/Spring • The Niagara Peninsula is a popular destination with something for everyone. • World-famous Niagara Falls are a must-see at least once in your life. The Niagara township also offers enough tacky stores and attractions to keep you busy for a day. • If you would prefer to experience the other thing Niagara is famous for, take a trip to wine region. Bring a DD or book a tour, and you should be able to visit 2-4 wineries in a day. Many of them have fantastic restaurants, and labels available exclusively at the vineyard. Many of the GCG will happily give recommendations on where to visit! Winter Although not the ideal skiing destination for anyone who has skied outside of Ontario or Saskatchewan, the runs of Blue Mountain, Ontario’s largest ski resort, are just over two hours’ drive from Toronto. Horseshoe Valley is about a half hour closer to the city.
Got Everything? While we hope we covered a lot of the basics, we know you’ll have many more questions once you start. The important thing to do is just ask. Yes, there are such things as stupid questions (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise), but nobody will remember them for more than an hour, so you might as well ask. We leave you with some sagely advice from current GCG at Oliver Wyman: “Ask ask ask. If you can't figure something out after 5-10 minutes, ask someone near you or shoot an email to someone. Chances are, someone has the answer and will be glad to help.” “There are two types of consultants in this world, those who love PowerPoint and liars.” “Girl/Boy in a bar: What do you do? You: I model.” “Consulting years are like dog years.” “Eat well, drink well, the Consulting 15 is inevitable.” “Learn to use your PowerPoint toolbar buttons--they will revolutionize your life.” “Staffing is your best friend in this place - be ‘can do’ and low maintenance (no matter how many times you end up working in Timbuktu).” "No matter what your case manager says, you do not have to go 'two-to-a-bed' to stay under budget." “Don't be shy. The people at this firm are fantastic, and it's worth getting to know every one of them.” "If you go on long haul, be sure to leave a lot of your crap in and around your cube so they don't give away your desk while you're gone."