Jonathan Aronoff, a senior associate, joined ScottMadden in 2017. Since his arrival, he has worked within ScottMadden’s energy practice, an area that evoked Jonathan’s interest from day one. Jonathan is an active member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, connecting ScottMadden with diverse student organizations thus widening the firm’s networking and recruiting outreach. He has also been involved in the internal energy markets community of practice. Prior to joining ScottMadden, Jonathan earned a B.A. from The New School and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School with concentrations in corporate finance, energy, and sustainability.
Looking Back
Following high school, Jonathan left his home in Dallas, TX, to attend The New School in New York, where he studied contemporary art and economics. Jonathan’s undergraduate experience was enriched by his access to the art community and his exposure to the subcultures of the city. Jonathan began working in the art world, as a curator, writer, events manager, and teacher. He found the business development element of his work most enjoyable and eventually joined the Council for Economic Education, serving as a development consultant. Following this, he joined the Women’s Refugee Commission, serving as a development coordinator.
It was at the Women’s Refugee Commission that Jonathan became truly passionate about humanitarian aid. The organization works tirelessly to understand the sources of risk and vulnerability faced by refugees, pilot solutions to eliminate these risks, and find humanitarian funding to support full solution rollout. The intensity of the work was high—successful maternal health and gender-based violence prevention programs could mean the difference between life and death. Jonathan’s role was widespread, as he was responsible for research, communications, grants, and data management. Translating technical and procedural information into communications that are easily understood and resonate with various stakeholder groups is a particularly valuable skill Jonathan has brought to his work with ScottMadden. This work has also shaped Jonathan’s world perspectives; he learned about resiliency through hardship from courageous colleagues, many of whom were former refugees.
Looking Ahead
Wondering how Jonathan jumped from humanitarian work to management consulting? Through his economic and humanitarian work, Jonathan drew parallels between climate change and refugees. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, due to climate change, is often the cause of conflict, and conflict further displaces people from their homes. To better understand the link between the pace of change in the energy industry and the reduction on the global climate, Jonathan looked to the energy industry. Given this, Jonathan selected UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School for its emerging energy program and ScottMadden for its leading energy practice to help propel this advancement.
“Professionalism is not synonymous with conformity—bring your authentic self to work!”– Jonathan Aronoff
Today, Jonathan remains involved with Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA), a global coalition of students and alumni focused on building a support network and leadership pipeline for the LGBTQ community in business. Through ROMBA, Jonathan received access to support, mentorship, and lifelong connections, and he now appreciates the opportunity to give back. As a mentor, he reminds those pursuing business careers, “professionalism is not synonymous with conformity—bring your authentic self to work!” Within ScottMadden, he is passionate about making space for everyone and always encourages openness. The firm is lucky to have him!
On a Personal Note
In addition to his philanthropic interests, Jonathan has a deep love for the outdoors. He enjoys backpacking and camping, and like most consultants, travel. A recent visit to Singapore and a post-graduation road trip across France stand out as his most memorable experiences. When he is not on the road, Jonathan loves cooking with his boyfriend Loy and visiting his family and dog Raffi in Dallas and Chicago.