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MBA to Independent Consultant

How to provide trustworthy & relevant guidance & support

Design Thinking Action Lab -- Ideate

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STAKEHOLDERA woman in her late 20s is finishing grad school (MBA) while working part time. She is self-aware, personable (very skilled at networking) and an active learner. She has a talent for creative marketing and storytelling. She wants to work as an independent consultant after graduating, but feels uncertain about pursuing this path and perceives many challenges with doing so.

NEEDShe needs a way to get trustworthy guidance and support that will help her (a) assess the viability and attractiveness of working as an independent consultant; (b) find, win and deliver projects successfully; and (c) perform administrative tasks that are essential for her business.

INSIGHTDespite her obvious talents, she has found it difficult to find steady, meaningful, good- paying project work. She wants to focus on doing creative/strategic work (her strengths) and avoid getting bogged down with administrative or low-value tasks. She lacks experience in many of these areas. As an independent, she feels like she’s on her own and has found it challenging to find resources and/or mentors who can help.

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INSIGHTS• Many more people are working as independent consultants –

including some people just starting their career• This path has many challenges

– How to find & win project work– How to deliver the work– How to get paid by clients– How to get (and pay for) administrative support– How to price services– How to write proposals and contracts– How to get mentorship and coaching that’s relevant to her consulting

projects• Schools provide very little guidance or tools for pursuing this path

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The Idea Map (from 30,000 feet)

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Overview of Ideas

Now let’s drill down … and explore these categories in more detail

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Connect with mentors…

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Provide sample content & templates

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Provide Training

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Connect w/ “peer” network

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Consider different dimensions of the problem

Now each of these will be explored in further detail…

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How to find and win work

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How to determine rates…How to write proposals & contracts…

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How to deliver work

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How to get administrative help

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How to get paid

How to get coaching that’s relevant and informed

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5 year old’s perspective

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95 year old’s perspective

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Unlimited funding or No funding

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Reframe the problem & solution

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Fanciful or “Blue Sky” Approaches

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Step 2: Idea Selection

Most PracticalOnline portal with resources for independent consultants and their employers (best practices, training content, sample contracts, statements of work, invoices, etc.)

Most Disruptive“Auto assigner” … machine intelligence solution where consultants are automatically assigned to projects that are ideally suited to their skills, experience and interests… and perfectly matched with the needs of the client / employer

FavoriteThe “need to work” at all disappears… Society becomes so efficient and automated that all “work” becomes voluntary / discretionary