I distinctly recall the day when I received a job offer from one of the esteemed consulting companies. The prospect of commencing my post-MBA career with a renowned firm filled me with joy and excitement. Joining happened during the COVID-19 lockdown, and like many of my peers, I embarked on my professional journey through online onboarding.
Within the first week, a project was assigned, and work commenced with optimal background context. We adapted on the fly, gaining insights into the projects and engaging with stakeholders virtually. This marked the initiation of my consulting journey. As the months passed, the transition to working from the office revealed both tangible and intangible facets of management consulting. In this arena, sharp thinking, logical explanations, and a structured approach held significant weight. Concurrently, networking and communication skills proved instrumental in building one's professional brand. My two-year tenure enriched me with knowledge about consulting, and I am forever grateful to the partners, managers, and colleagues who contributed to my learning.
In business management consulting, I gained valuable insights through diverse projects spanning various geographies and sectors. While my initial consulting years were rewarding, I felt that the opportunities for societal contribution in the corporate world, though present, were not sufficient for me. This realization prompted me to transition into social impact consulting, marking a new chapter with GDi Partners. My first project, Mission Buniyaad, aimed to provide digital education access and enhance learning outcomes for girl students in Government schools of Rajasthan. This shift presented a plethora of new learnings. Identifying key differences between management consulting and social impact consulting, some major aspects emerged.
Social Sector
Management consulting involves stakeholders with whom you can connect in an office setup environment, and it also offers the flexibility to have meetings either in person or via virtual modes, making it feasible for employees to work from an office or remotely. However, social sector consulting involves multiple stakeholders, and often the end beneficiary is not connected to formal systems, necessitating field visits and working out of the office, making WFH a rare possibility.
Field Engagement in Social Sector Consulting : Social sector consulting necessitates active field visits and direct engagement with individuals impacted by the project. This includes collecting diverse perspectives and ideas to ensure the project aligns with its intended goals.
Client Dynamics in Private and Social Sectors : In the private sector, the client is typically the end beneficiary, and the primary goal often revolves around increasing profits. Conversely, in the social sector, clients are often distinct from the ultimate beneficiaries. The success of a social impact project is measured not only by quantitative results but also by qualitative factors, such as bringing smiles to beneficiaries' faces, boosting their confidence, and empowering them.
Personal Experience at a Government School : During my first visit to a government school, I interacted with girls in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs. One was very shy, and another was afraid to touch the computer mouse, often seeking help. Despite this, what stood out was that all the girls had smiles on their faces while operating the computer. This firsthand experience highlighted the positive impact on their confidence levels. Such insights, gained through direct interaction with end users, are unique to field visits.
Stakeholders
Diversity in Stakeholders : Management consulting primarily involves stakeholders from various companies, typically in a client-vendor format. On the other hand, social impact consulting seeks collaboration across sectors, bringing together NGOs, government entities, CSR initiatives, philanthropic organizations, and social impact consultants.
Equality in Relationships : Unlike the hierarchical relationships and power dynamics often seen in client-vendor setups, organizations working on social impact projects tend to treat each other as equals, collectively striving towards a shared goal. This equality is reflected in their interactions and collaborative approach.
Top-Down vs. Collaborative Approach : In typical corporate consulting, often, a top-down approach is observed, where the strategy is defined by the leadership team, and clients and vendors follow their designated roles. However, in the social sector, all partners bring in their expertise from various fields, whether it's project design, implementation, or developing a new product
Importance of Understanding and Trust : Understanding the nuances of project requirements and trusting and respecting the experiences and knowledge of each stakeholder becomes extremely important in the social sector. This collaborative and inclusive approach ensures a holistic integration of diverse expertise toward the common goal.
Skill Set
Consultant Skills in the Social Impact Sector : A consultant in the social impact sector must possess the skills of a typical management consultant, such as analytical thinking and project management. In addition, he/she needs to be well aware of ground realities and able to develop practical and scalable solutions, often with limited resources.
Qualities of a Social Impact Consultant : A social impact consultant needs to be highly optimistic, resilient, and empathetic. These qualities are essential to understand the intricacies of a project, connect with all individuals linked to the project, and design robust and scalable solutions.
Agility in the Social Impact Sector : In the social impact sector, agility is crucial. Sudden changes, such as the transfer of a government officer, can occur, requiring the consultant to swiftly pursue a different officer and onboard them into the project.
Challenges and Moments of Stagnation : There can be various moments when everything seems stagnant, and it appears that nothing can be changed within the system. However, even in such situations, a single smile witnessed during a field visit, when the end beneficiary is happy, can uplift the consultant and provide a ray of hope to start afresh.
Empathy and Resilience : To experience all these moments and still remain persistent about the project, one needs to be extremely empathetic and resilient. It's the combination of these qualities that allows a social impact consultant to navigate through challenges and continue making a positive difference.
This is just the beginning, and I am sure in the upcoming days I will explore a myriad of things. As of now, I am extremely happy in my new role as a social impact consultant. It gives me immense satisfaction, and the idea of working for society motivates me to go to work every single day. I am hopeful about the future of this nation, and I will strive my best to build an ecosystem where every single person will have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams and make our nation proud.