From Students to Consultants: Insights from the First Three Weeks of SIRI's Practicum

Reflecting on the first three weeks of this practicum is challenging. There is a lot to process and distilling these experiences into a clear narrative mirrors the very struggles my team and I have faced—learning to navigate complexity and find structure in ambiguity. 

An Exciting Opportunity

I have always known that I wanted to build a career in sustainability, but understanding where my skills fit within this vast space has not been easy. Since joining Columbia last summer, I have been exploring different industries and roles, searching for where I could make the most impact. My background in Management Science, coupled with my passion for climate action, led me to a realization: finance is a powerful lever for sustainability, and consulting offers a dynamic environment in which to drive change. The intersection of these two fields felt like the perfect place for me. Joining the SIRI practicum was an obvious choice. It presented a rare opportunity to translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact. 

I have long been interested in a career in sustainability, but finding the right fit for my skills within this broad field has taken time. Since joining Columbia last summer, I have explored different industries and roles to understand where I could make the most impact. With a background in data science consulting and a passion for climate action, I realized that the financial industry plays a crucial role in driving the low-carbon transition, and its analytical, fast-paced nature aligns well with my strengths. With this in mind, the SIRI practicum presented an exciting opportunity to apply my knowledge in a real-world setting, and I was eager to get started.

In the first week, I selected the project that best aligned with my experience and interests. By the second week, my team and I finally got started. We met with the client to better understand the project’s scope and establish key guiding lines for the coming weeks. That is when the reality of the work ahead set in. Unlike academic assignments with clear rubrics and instructions, this project requires us to define our own structure, approach, and deliverables. We are no longer just students—we are consultants responsible for driving a real-world project forward. This transition is both exciting and challenging, offering a valuable opportunity for growth. 

Embracing the Consulting Mindset

One of the biggest challenges my team faced in the early stages was deciding where to start—what questions to ask the client, how to structure our approach, and how to break down each deliverable. To navigate this uncertainty, we first focused on establishing a strong team dynamic. We held an informal kick-off meeting to get to know each other, discuss our respective strengths and weaknesses, and share our motivations for taking the course. We also set clear team norms and expectations, ensuring open communication and alignment on how we would work together. While this helped build trust, we still struggled with framing the project and determining our first concrete steps.

A particularly helpful moment came when a guest speaker shared her experiences in management consulting. She emphasized that consulting is an iterative process—projects evolve, and there is rarely a single “right” answer. This perspective reshaped our approach. Instead of fixating on creating a perfect plan from the outset, we embraced the importance of setting clear objectives while remaining adaptable. We began to view ambiguity not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to define the problem ourselves and add value through structured thinking. Not having all the answers upfront was fine, as long as we could present well-researched options and guide the client through informed decision-making.

With this in mind, we shifted our approach. We started by outlining broad goals for the project, then worked backward to refine them into short-term, actionable targets. This structured yet flexible method allowed us to divide the initial workload more efficiently and set a clear foundation for the weeks ahead. Additionally, we opted to adopt a “test and learn” mindset throughout the project—checking in frequently to assess our progress, making necessary adjustments, and ensuring that our deliverables align well with the client’s evolving needs.

Working as a Team

With the right mindset and a clear strategy in place, the next challenge has been learning to work effectively as a team. Early on, it became clear that we each brought different strengths and work styles to the table. Some team members excel in deep research and data analysis, while others, like me, are more drawn to client interactions and practical applications. Recognizing these differences allowed us to delegate tasks strategically, ensuring that everyone contributed in ways that played to their strengths.

However, I quickly realized that delegation alone is not enough to make a team function well. Some decisions require collective input and navigating group decision-making has not been easy. At first, we were overly cautious—each of us hesitant to push too hard, wanting to be considerate and avoid stepping on anyone’s toes. While this created a collaborative atmosphere, it also slowed us down. Time is limited, and being too passive can be just as counterproductive as moving too quickly in the wrong direction. To address this, we have tried to foster an environment where healthy debate is encouraged, and decisions are made with both confidence and consensus. We have set clear deadlines for discussions and assigned final decision-making authority when needed. This ensures that we remain efficient while still valuing everyone’s input. 

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, I know there will be more challenges for my team to overcome, but I also recognize the immense opportunities for professional growth this project presents. In just a few weeks, we have shifted from students to consultants, learning to navigate ambiguity, collaborate effectively, and think strategically—not just in an academic setting, but in the fast-paced real-world environment. 

More than anything, this experience has reinforced that solving real-world challenges is rarely a straightforward process. It requires adaptability, resilience, and the confidence to take initiative even when the path forward is unclear. Unlike structured coursework with predefined expectations, this practicum demands that we take ownership of our work, make tough decisions, and deliver insights with tangible impact. It is more than just an academic exercise—it is an opportunity to develop the mindset and skills needed to drive meaningful change.

I look forward to seeing how our project evolves, how we refine our collaboration, and what new lessons this journey will bring.