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Madeline, Project Coordinator at GreenerU: Advize Career Interview
A Williams College graduate, Madeline's career path exemplifies seizing opportunities.
A part-time fellowship at GreenerU blossomed into a Project Coordinator role within six months, managing multiple clients and diverse sustainability projects within higher education.
The daily work is dynamic, encompassing client meetings, data analysis, report creation, and stakeholder engagement, demanding strong communication, technical skills, and adaptability.
While the emotional intensity of addressing climate change presents challenges, the rewarding work of directly impacting sustainability, coupled with continuous learning and professional growth, makes it fulfilling.
Madeline's success stems from proactive critical thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work, skills honed through undergraduate experiences and further developed within GreenerU's supportive environment.
Entry-level opportunities abound in the consulting industry, particularly with large firms offering training programs, as Madeline's experience demonstrates.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Madeline Rawson
Project Coordinator
GreenerU
Williams College
n/a
Environmental & Related Sciences
Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
None Applicable
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Career Path of a Project Coordinator at GreenerU
Madeline's career path began at Williams College, where exploration of "multiple aspects of the environmental field" through policy, planning, and sustainability communications courses, including a study abroad in Copenhagen, shaped their focus. Following graduation, a part-time fellowship at GreenerU quickly led to a part-time position and then a promotion to Coordinator within six months, showcasing "taking advantage of opportunities as they arise."
Main Responsibilities Of A Project Coordinator At GreenerU
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, manages "between five to 10 clients and projects" simultaneously, focusing on environmental sustainability within higher education. Her work encompasses diverse tasks, from "baselining" and greenhouse gas inventories to climate planning, stakeholder engagement, and even graphic design, often providing crucial "capacity support" to under-resourced sustainability offices.
A Day in the Life of a Project Coordinator at GreenerU
Madeline's role as a Project Coordinator at GreenerU is highly varied, with "a different day" depending on client needs and project phases; the work includes client meetings, internal team coordination (especially with engineers), deliverable creation ("mid-project presentation or a final report"), meeting planning, and independent work on data analysis, inventories, and designs.
Most Important Skills For A Project Coordinator At GreenerU
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, emphasizes that strong communication skills—"both verbal and written"—are paramount, alongside "knowledge of sustainability" and the ability to build "lasting relationships built on trust." Successfully navigating complex stakeholder meetings and possessing strong attention to detail, including technical skills like data analysis and Adobe programs, are also crucial for success in their client-facing role.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Project Coordinator At GreenerU
Madeline enjoys the daily variety in her Project Coordinator role at GreenerU, stating that "every day is different" due to diverse projects and clients. This independence and early responsibility at a smaller company fostered significant professional growth, allowing Madeline to "learn new things every day" and diversify their skillset.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Project Coordinator At GreenerU
Madeline's biggest challenge as a Project Coordinator at GreenerU is the heavy reliance on "building and maintaining relationships," particularly during "hard conversations" with clients about potentially upsetting topics like budget constraints or ineffective sustainability practices. The inherent emotional difficulty of discussing climate change daily, both personally and professionally, significantly impacts these relationships.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Sustainability Industry As A Project Coordinator
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, finds the most rewarding aspect of her career in the "consulting or professional services industry" to be directly working on sustainability issues and helping others find solutions, although this passion is coupled with the significant challenge of the emotionally taxing nature of the field, leading to high rates of burnout, a topic frequently addressed in industry conferences.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Sustainability Consulting, According To A Project Coordinator At GreenerU
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, highlights adaptability, resilience, and self-motivation as crucial for success in consulting, noting the need to "switch from one place to another" and "compartmentalize." Further, the sustainability sector specifically demands optimism, a solution-oriented approach, and a commitment to continuous learning, as the field is "ever-changing," requiring staying current with the latest research and solutions.
What a Project Coordinator at GreenerU Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Consulting Industry
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, advises that the consulting work "is a lot of ebb and flow," with periods of intense busyness ("when it rains, it pours") alternating with slower times. The key takeaway is to utilize slower periods for professional development and remember that the intense workload is not constant.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Project Coordinators
Many large consulting firms offer entry-level positions to recent graduates, often labeled with the year of graduation, and invest heavily in training programs to supplement what colleges don't provide; Madeline's own career trajectory exemplifies this, starting with a "part-time year-long fellowship" that unexpectedly led to a full-time position, highlighting the value of internships and fellowships even if they initially seem less than ideal.
Significant Career Lesson From a Project Coordinator at GreenerU
Madeline, a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, emphasizes two key career lessons: proactive critical thinking, exemplified by anticipating needs and "going the extra mile" to add value, such as tailoring reports to specific client needs; and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring consistency in formatting and style to elevate the quality of work. These skills, Madeline suggests, are valuable differentiators in a professional setting.
College Experiences That Helped a Project Coordinator at GreenerU Succeed
Madeline's undergraduate success stemmed from a commitment to producing "the best possible work," regardless of grade impact, building high standards and valuable experience. This dedication to quality directly translates to their current role as a Project Coordinator at GreenerU, where delivering high-quality deliverables is paramount.
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