Case Consulting, Gen Z, Global Talents, Millennials, Universities

by Kate Dougherty

October 22, 2024

Throughout this Fall 2022 semester, I was able to find more clarity in my professional path. Entering college last year, I was unsure where I saw my academic journey taking me. I had interests within political science, business, and potentially economics and began my exploration process as an undecided major.

By the end of my first year at Northeastern, I found myself within the Business Administration major, but I really did not feel as connected with it as I wanted to.

What I needed was a more hands-on experience, in which I could get a better understanding of what it would be like to work in the business world and operate in a collaborative environment. This exact opportunity was offered to me in my International Business class, where I was able to construct a consulting case that would provide a globalization recommendation for an international company. This not only taught me more about what it would be like to actually create a case brief but gave me a more cohesive comprehension of my own abilities. I believe that my experience was not only beneficial to myself, in terms of self-discovery, but could be as informational to others who might also feel unsure of their space in professional markets.

Understanding Personal, Social, and Professional Capitals

Before I can fully describe how the case impacted me, it is crucial to understand where I fell in terms of psychological and professional readiness. When it came to envisioning my future, it seemed daunting. However, once understanding the values of personal, social, and professional capitals, I was able to try and more clearly visualize my goals for the future. When looking into investing into your professional capital, being aware of the extent that you can know about international businesses and their political and economic environments is important. Furthermore, diving into social capital, how we engage with those we work with is necessary not only for our own personal development but the goals of the team. When considering psychological capital, we have to evaluate the various ways we can challenge ourselves to learn about the world around us.

The Case and Personal Capital Investment

The consulting case that was drafted by my team and myself involved finding a company, talking with the client, and recommending a globalization strategy. At the beginning, it seemed like an assignment that I had been well versed in. In my other business classes, we were given opportunities to write case briefs and formulate business plans. However, what made this case so different from the others, was the treatment of it like it was an actual case. Being in communication with the Director of Sales of the company my group chose made it feel even more like it was a real business recommendation we were working on. Thus, the research and critical analysis that was conducted was taken very seriously by myself and my groupmates. 

Social Capital Investment

Being able to understand and immerse myself into the client’s reality and goals best helped me to comprehend the reality of the industry and market we were looking into. I was able to see our client’s thought process more through trying to implement his recommendations. Overall, working with other people with differing perspectives was beneficial in creating a well-rounded case because it represented our various ways of thinking.

Professional Capital Investment

When working on a professional case brief, attention to detail is the key to success. To make a recommendation of where a company should globalize based on two separate markets, there is much research to be done. Not only does research need to be conducted but knowing what to do with that research is just as important. This case taught me how to look at information in a business context as well as work in a group setting to achieve a common goal. 

What This Case Taught a Newcomer

For me, this experience mainly taught me about myself. I was able to discover my own strengths through working with a group, develop relationships with my groupmates and case clients, and find value within the work I was doing. While I am still unsure as to where I see myself past graduation, this case taught me that the business world has many opportunities for me to explore. Mainly, I learned that my passion and love for a collaborative work environment will accompany me no matter which path I take. 

Recommendation to other Newcomers

When I first began this consulting case, I thought I knew what I was getting into. However, the challenges that this case presented to me demonstrated how there are always opportunities to improve. No matter what area of business you get into or team you join, there will always be ways to advance your personal, social, or professional capital. Being aware of this and open to change and improvements is the best way newcomers can grow and ultimately be the best version of themselves.

About the Author:

Kate Dougherty, candidate for B.S. Business Administration concentration in Marketing and minor in Communication Studies at Northeastern University