When my team and I were selected for our first choice among the projects offered in the Sustainable Investing Consulting class, we were thrilled. We couldn’t wait to meet with our client and get to work. As soon as we received their contact details, we wrote to them requesting to schedule a meeting at their earliest convenience. Our excitement and eagerness clearly shone through our letter, in which we introduced ourselves and indicated our availability to speak.
A few days later, we received a curt response from the client, who informed us that they wouldn’t be able to meet with us for another few weeks. We were disappointed, to say the least. Not only would we lose time to work on the project, we would have less of an opportunity to engage with the client. All our classmates had already had their introductory meetings and been briefed on their projects. We felt a little demotivated by their response, but we understood that every client was different.
Looking for a solution that would suit both parties, we asked if we could meet sooner with junior members of the team. Again, our idea was shot down. At this point, we decided to yield to the client’s wishes and adjust to their timeline. We were slightly confused and disillusioned with the situation, especially given how excited we were in the beginning of the class. Two weeks passed before we finally had our first call with them.
When we finally connected with our client, we were pleasantly surprised by how forthcoming and accessible they were. They were helpful, kind, and courteous with us and made us feel like a part of the team. We understood that we jumped to conclusions in our perception of the situation, and the absence of communication had created space for misunderstanding. The learning from this experience was that one should always give the other party the benefit of the doubt. Also, always remain professional and never take things personally.