Working as a Consultant in the United States

Embarking on the Sustainable Investing Research Consulting Project is like stepping into the seas of management consulting, it was an exciting journey full of hope. Working for a client in the United States, immersing myself in their work culture, and learning the ins and outs of their operations was something I had always wanted to do as an international student. The appeal of such exposure, along with the course's unique prospects, prompted me to excitedly join in this intriguing adventure.

The Sustainable Investing Research Initiative organized a workshop session to kick off our journey and set the stage for any difficulties or revelations that might come up. The session included experienced presenters from leading management consulting organizations, providing useful insights to help us navigate our consulting assignment. One essential lesson learned from this event was the need to establish formal rules within our team. Having clearly defined rules and boundaries served as our guide, providing clarity during difficult times and acting as norms that everyone in the team should follow and respect. Furthermore, the session provided us with crucial information on project comprehension, constructing impact statements, and getting a better grasp of the unique elements of a consulting project. The program provided practical exercises for brainstorming ideas for our upcoming project, making it more relevant to our current work.

Our varied team, consisting of 4 individuals from various backgrounds but connected by a shared passion for sustainability, found that finding time where we all had availability to talk about our work was a challenge since each of us was separated into different classes and had other commitments as well. However, I think that the beauty of this project is that we need to work in an efficient manner to tackle this kind of problem. We are assigned to evaluate biodiversity disclosure for a global independent organization to assess their standards on biodiversity topics and their intersection with US policies and find out how the appetite of investors who are interested in the field is. This broad subject stretched our consulting expertise, pushing us to not just understand but to anticipate and meet the unique needs of clients.

An important recommendation from the workshop approaching our first client call is to gain the client's trust by deeply immersing ourselves in the knowledge of the sector. Prior to our initial contact, we thoroughly explored the complexities and nature of the project, establishing a solid base to inspire trust in the client. After that, each next call was a step towards gaining a greater understanding of the project's objective. But, as any sailor would tell you, the voyage was not without its challenges. The changing characteristics of the sustainability industry, along with the new and growing regulations on biodiversity disclosure, presented a distinct set of challenges.

As we progress through the initial stages of research and gathering information, the project has proven to be an exciting place for learning. Interacting with professors and practitioners has given me insights into sustainability, specifically in the biodiversity sector, providing an extensive overview of the environment we are exploring. This project is exciting because of its inherent challenges as well as the prospect of creating solutions that will truly benefit our clients.