Gaining Different Perspectives

In our practicum project with our client, our main task is to support the firm in designing a carbon emissions strategy that is both ambitious and realistic, especially within the Latin American context. The project is structured into three main deliverables: first, benchmarking the client’s peers; second, analyzing global commitments and geopolitical contexts; and third, proposing a feasible plan tailored to the client’s needs. While our team is still in the process of finalizing Deliverables 1 and 2, we recently had the opportunity to speak with our professor, which helped us clarify the approach and direction we can take for Deliverable 3. This reflection blog shares some of the key takeaways from that discussion, along with my own thoughts on the challenges and learning process during this phase of the project.

Our project is divided into two main parts: first, understanding the global and local context, and second, making practical recommendations. At the beginning, I thought if we just finish Deliverable 1 and 2 well, we can naturally know what to write in Deliverable 3. But the truth is, translating analysis into actions is not easy. We need to propose a clear plan that fit the client’s needs, personality, and situation in Latin America.

In our recent meeting with Sara, we discussed the idea of scenario planning. I found this suggestion very helpful. Instead of giving one fixed recommendation, we can offer multiple pathways — from the legal minimum to more proactive and ambitious strategies. Each scenario can have both internal and external goals. For example, the client may not want to announce strong targets publicly, but still wants to set internal reduction goals and reporting systems. I realize this dual-level strategy is more realistic, especially for a firm like the client that operates in many emerging markets.

Another inspiring idea was to write a mock 2030 news article for each scenario. For example, what would happen if the client does nothing? Or what if they follow our most ambitious recommendation? These “future stories” can help the client imagine the long-term result of today’s choices. Sara said this kind of storytelling can be more powerful than just showing numbers. I think this is true, because even I feel more motivated when I imagine what might happen in 5 or 10 years.

Outside the meeting, I’ve also been thinking about how to combine different perspectives. As someone with both finance and data analysis background, I want to use numbers to show risks and opportunities. But in this project, I learn that language and framing are just as important. For example, the client does not use the term “net zero.” Instead, they prefer “carbon emission commitments” or “decarbonization pathway.” I realize that the term “net zero” can feel political or unrealistic for some firms. Using more flexible language may help clients accept our ideas more easily.

One challenge we face is lack of access to detailed data on the client’s portfolio. This makes it hard to do deep quantitative work. But Sara encouraged us to still try to analyze risk and impact based on what we know—like sector exposure, geography, or infrastructure type. She reminded us that even limited data can support meaningful scenario planning if we are careful and thoughtful.

Overall, I feel more confident after the meeting. We still have many tasks to finish for Deliverable 1 and 2, but now we have a framework to guide our thinking for Deliverable 3. I’ve learned that recommendations should be practical, flexible, and imaginative. This is not just a research paper—it’s something that could actually help a real company. I hope we can do a good job and make the final presentation valuable for the client.