When I first applied to Fuqua’s Daytime MBA program, one course immediately captured my attention: the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP). Driven by my passion for problem-solving and consulting, I saw FCCP not just as another academic course but as a pivotal experience to leverage my global professional background and test my career ambitions in the context of a tech firm’s real-world challenges.

Visiting Our Client

My FCCP journey kicked off with an engaging and challenging project collaborating with Fastly, a cutting-edge global technology company based in San Francisco. Our goal was ambitious: to reimagine Fastly’s office environment to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. When Fastly invited us for an in-person visit, I grabbed this opportunity to learn more from the client’s point of view. It was a unique chance to connect with the client and experience the problem their team was facing.

Stepping into Fastly’s San Francisco headquarters was transformative. Directly engaging with stakeholders and participating in strategic discussions provided invaluable insights. I learned about the company’s organizational behavior, innovation management, and corporate culture, deepening my understanding of how strategic initiatives shape corporate culture and employee engagement.

Hands-On Consulting Experience

Under the meticulous guidance of our mentor Professor Stephanie Knight, a former McKinsey consultant, our team was held to exceptionally high standards comparable to those of a real-world consulting engagement. Every detail mattered, from the seamless integration of slides to the precision of our final recommendations. This emphasis on professionalism and consistency significantly elevated the quality of our output.

During the project, I honed several transferable skills, from initial client meetings and problem identification to data analysis, employee interviews, and hypothesis testing. We conducted quantitative and qualitative research, visited client locations, and organized focus groups, which significantly enriched our insights and validated our recommendations.

FCCP pushed me out of my comfort zone, compelling me to take on a leadership role as co-project manager. Managing project timelines, delegating tasks, and facilitating key client interactions strengthened my consulting, collaborative, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Continuous client engagement ensured alignment with evolving project goals, contributing to the robustness of our solutions.

My Diverse Team

The strength of our FCCP experience lay in our team’s diversity. Reflecting on my international experiences spanning India, Europe, Africa, Australia, and now the United States, FCCP perfectly complemented and expanded my global outlook. My teammates Lizzy, Ken, Christopher, and Fabiola brought unique perspectives from varied professional backgrounds, including finance, market research, operations, and project management. This in addition to our unique cultural backgrounds enriched our analysis and fostered innovative solutions.

Reflecting on this journey, I deeply appreciate the personal growth, enhanced network, and sharpened problem-solving skills gained through FCCP. This transformative experience reaffirmed my passion for problem-solving and consulting, validating my decision to pursue this career path. Still, forming meaningful relationships with incredible teammates, some of whom became close friends, is perhaps the most cherished outcome of FCCP. This collaborative experience greatly enriched my professional skills and enhanced my personal journey at Fuqua.

As graduation approaches, I eagerly anticipate applying the invaluable lessons from FCCP in my future career, confident in the knowledge that this experience has fully equipped me to excel in consulting, corporate strategy and client facing roles.