Building a Career in Consulting: KAYR Robinson Bridge ’03, T’12 on How Tuck Shaped His Professional Path

We caught up with KAYR Robinson Bridge ’03, T’12, CEO and cofounder of KAYJAY Consulting, to hear about his consulting career today and how his time at Tuck set him up for success.

What first sparked your interest in consulting, and how did the Tuck Bridge program help you explore or confirm that path?
I have always been fascinated by problem-solving and strategy—understanding how businesses operate at their core. The Tuck Business Bridge Program was a turning point because it provided me with a crash course in finance, marketing, and operations while I was still an undergraduate. That experience opened my eyes to consulting as a career and how I could apply my analytical skills to impact various industries.

What does a typical week look like in your role as a consultant, and what skills do you rely on most?
Every week looks different—that’s the beauty of consulting. One week I might be advising a client on structuring a real estate deal, and the next helping a startup refine its growth strategy. What’s consistent is the need to listen carefully, analyze numbers quickly, and communicate solutions clearly. Adaptability, problem-solving, and relationship-building are the skills I lean on every day.

What’s one thing you wish you knew about consulting when you were in college?
I wish I knew how much mindset matters. The technical skills—finance, accounting, modeling—are important, but consulting is really about resilience, curiosity, and confidence. In college, I thought I had to know all the answers. However, in reality, consulting is about asking the right questions, pulling in the right resources, and bringing a solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge.

How did Bridge help prepare you for the fast-paced, team-oriented environment of consulting?
Tuck Bridge was the first time I truly worked on diverse, cross-functional teams under real pressure. We had to analyze cases, present recommendations, and deliver results in short timeframes. That environment mirrors consulting perfectly. Bridge taught me to contribute my strengths while trusting my teammates to bring theirs, which has been invaluable in every stage of my career.

Anything else you’d like to add or reflect on in your personal and professional life that you’re proud of?
In addition to leading KAYJAY Consulting, I’m sharing my broader journey in my upcoming memoir, Can’t Break Me: How I Shifted My Mindset and Overcame the Odds, which will be available in May 2026. The themes of resilience and business leadership that began at Bridge continue to shape everything I do today.