Freed Associates

Freed Associates is a boutique healthcare consulting firm based in California. It partners with healthcare organizations to deliver custom solutions in the areas of strategy, operations, and technology. The firm focuses on innovation and collaboration as it works with health systems, health plans, and physician organizations to address complex challenges and improve care delivery.

Freed Associates stands out for its emphasis on a client-centric approach, combining deep healthcare expertise with a commitment to measurable results. If you’re an aspiring consultant, Freed Associates could be an attractive destination because of its dynamic work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and impactful projects that contribute to transforming the healthcare industry.

Freed Associates Key Stats

Website: https://www.freedassociates.com/
Headquarters: Oakland, CA
Number of Employees: 60-80
Number of Locations: 2
Chief Executive: Dava Freed
Revenue: $15-25 million

Freed Associates History

The Freed Associates history begins with the firm’s founding in 1991 by Dava Freed. The firm was originally known as Dava Freed Consulting. After the birth of her second child, founder/CEO Dava Freed recognized the challenges of balancing family life with the demands of a global consulting firm. Encouraged by a client to start her own firm, she took on a large systems implementation project, marking the inception of the company.

In its early years, the firm deliberately grew slowly and intentionally to ensure quality work. As Freed’s children grew, so did the firm. The firm changed its name to Freed Associates to reflect the expanding talent and teamwork within the company. Over the past three decades, Freed Associates has built long-standing relationships with leading healthcare organizations, focusing on improving healthcare access, quality, and reducing costs.

Freed Associates Careers

For those looking to break into—or move up in—the consulting industry, Freed Associates careers are a compelling option. In this section, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to determine if Freed Associates is a good option for you. We’ll discuss the industries in which Free Associates specializes, its practice areas, as well as available career paths and more.

Freed Associates Internship

There is not currently any available information about a Freed Associates internship program. Keep checking this space to see if more information becomes available.

Practice Areas

Freed Associates offers a variety of services to healthcare clients. The main Freed Associates practice areas include:

- Operations
- Strategy
- Analytics & Technology
- Regulatory Compliance
- Revenue Cycle

Industries

Unlike some other firms that work in multiple industries, Freed Associates concentrates exclusively on the healthcare industry. The kinds of clients the firm works with include health systems, health plans, large Independent Practice Associations, and managed service organizations.

Freed Associates Locations

There are currently two Freed Associates locations:

- Freed Associates Oakland, CA
- Freed Associates Kensington, CA

Career Path

As Freed Associates is a relatively small private firm, there isn’t comprehensive information available about the Freed Associates career path. However, the firm emphasizes professional development, and has demonstrated a commitment to developing and promoting talent internally. That means there should be opportunities to climb the ladder within the firm.

Exit Opportunities

For those looking to transition to a new organization following their time with Freed Associates, or considering how working at the firm might play into your long-term career trajectory, the Freed Associates exit opportunities are promising. Departing employees should have the expertise necessary to move into competitive roles at a variety of healthcare organizations, with other consulting firms, and even leadership roles at organizations within the healthcare industry.

Diversity Programs

There aren’t any publicly detailed Freed Associates diversity programs, however the firm has a stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion—both within their internal practices and in the work they offer to clients. This is expressed through the company’s United Against Hate resolution. Freed Associates also offers health equity consulting services to clients.

Freed Associates Culture

The Freed Associates culture is generally regarded very positively. The firm is Great Place to Work-Certified, with 97% of respondents identifying it as a great place to work. Employees praise the benefits, work-life balance, collaborative environment, and strong values.

The Freed Associates core values are:

Client Commitment
Integrity
Teamwork
Versatility
Well-being

Freed Associates Interview

If everything you’ve read so far sounds appealing, then you’re probably asking: “Where do I sign up?” Of course, in order to land a position with the firm, you’ll first have to navigate the Freed Associates interview. In this section, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to be prepared.

Interview Process

The Freed Associates interview process begins with the application, which can be submitted online or in person. One criticism of the interview process is that it can be lengthy—many applicants report the Freed Associates interview process taking 2-6 months, with several phone screenings and online interviews before more face-to-face interviews at the company’s HQ in California. The upshot of this is that it gives applicants the opportunity to assess the company from several perspectives, including current consultants as well as senior leadership.

The Freed Associates interview questions are primarily about applicants’ resume/background and their behavioral fit. Several applicants report being asked somewhat unconventional questions like, “What keeps you grounded?”

There is no mention of a Freed Associates case interview.

Freed Associates Salaries

Now let’s look at the Freed Associates salaries. The salary range for consultants at Freed Associates is $86,000-$149,000, with a median salary of $113,000. Of those figures, the median base pay is $102,000 per year and the median annual bonus is $11,000. That’s a bit less than the average MBB base salary of $112,000, but it’s competitive. If you want to compare those numbers with hundreds of other firms, see our current Consulting Salaries Report here.

Conclusion

Freed Associates has a lot to offer as a consulting firm. The company offers an emphasis on work-life balance that’s rare in the consulting industry, as well as the opportunity to participate in exciting projects that make a real positive impact in the healthcare industry. If you’re an aspiring consultant and you’re excited by the idea of helping healthcare companies improve accessibility and quality of care, Freed Associates consulting might be the right place for you.