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.
Adaptable, Resilient, Self-Motivated, Solution-Oriented, Curious
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
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Consulting & Related Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Adaptability and resilience are crucial for success in consulting, as professionals work with various clients and projects, requiring them to pivot and handle challenges effectively.
2. Self-motivation is key, as consultants often work independently and need to be driven to produce high-quality work and achieve optimal outcomes for clients.
3. In sustainability consulting, optimism and a solution-oriented approach are essential, focusing on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems, and continuously learning and adapting to new research and advancements in the field.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
People who thrive in consulting are adaptable, resilient, up for a challenge, and self-motivated. Consulting involves working with different clients on various projects, so you need to be able to switch focus and pivot when circumstances change, or if the project scope is altered.
Resilience is also crucial. You might encounter difficult clients, demanding projects, or frustrating situations. Being able to recover and then transition to a meeting with a different project, person, and topic is an important skill. You'll often be jumping from one task to another, requiring you to compartmentalize and switch gears effectively.
Consulting work is challenging, with a constant influx of new information. You need to be eager to learn new things, progress, and be open to new ideas. Much of it is independently driven.
Being self-motivated is a significant asset. It means you're driven not just to complete your job, but to do it exceptionally well and achieve the best outcome for the client. This drive aligns well with sustainability work, which is something I'm passionate about.
For sustainability specifically, a certain optimism is needed. You also have to be solution-oriented; focusing too much on the problem will be overwhelming. Instead, you must concentrate on solutions and remain optimistic that they will work and that your efforts can make a difference.
Curiosity is also vital in this ever-changing field. In college, citing research from the 1990s was acceptable, but in this job, even something from 2015 is considered outdated. The pandemic, in particular, shifted data and scientific understanding significantly. Staying current with new research and solutions is therefore essential.