31 Oct 2024
Recently, IBSS Work placement, Employability and Career Development (WEC) team successfully hosted the consulting industry sharing event as part of the "Explore the Corporate World" series. The event brought together senior executives, outstanding alumni, and IBSS faculty member (from fields such as ESG consulting, management consulting, financial risk management consulting, etc.) to discuss the expectations and demands for talents in the consulting industry.
The event was organized by IBSS career counsellor Ms. Hou Hailu. The roundtable forum featured a strong lineup of guests, including Mr. Liang Yuhai, founder and CEO of Hanji Management Consulting Co., Ltd. (XJTLU external mentor), Ms. Qian Wen, independent director of Suzhou Jueyuan Data Information Technology Co., Ltd. (XJTLU external mentor), Ms. Liang Jiaqi, solution architect at Accenture Consulting, Mr. Guo Hongbin, senior ESG consultant at Cushman & Wakefield (alumnus of IBSS), and Ms. Lu Huijin, senior teaching fellow at IBSS. Each of them provided in-depth sharing of the core business, market demand, and capability requirements of the consulting industry from their respective professional perspectives and offered valuable career development advice to our students.
Ms. Qian Wen, independent director of Suzhou Jueyuan Data Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Ms. Qian Wen first elaborated on the core elements of ESG consulting and the development history of the industry. She encouraged students to prepare in advance by acquiring relevant knowledge and actively pursuing related ESG certifications. By sharing two career development stories, she advised students to not only develop professional skills at work, but also to be resilient in a competitive job market, striving to become "T-shaped talents" with solid professional skills and a broad knowledge base.
Mr. Guo Hongbin, senior ESG consultant at Cushman & Wakefield
Mr. Guo Hongbin, an outstanding alumnus of IBSS and a senior consultant in the ESG field, shared the career development path and industry demands in the ESG field based on his own experience. He introduced five certifications that have significant reference value in the ESG industry. Additionally, he encouraged students to make full use of the resources provided by the university and actively participate in relevant academic and practical activities. During internships, he advised students to work with questions in mind to understand the actual needs and challenges of the industry. Finally, he emphasized that staying true to one's initial aspirations is key to doing any job well.
Mr. Liang Yuhai, founder and CEO of Hanji Management Consulting Co., Ltd.
Mr. Liang Yuhai introduced the organizational structure and work model of management consulting firms and expressed confidence in the future of consulting industry. He specifically pointed out that with the rapid development of emerging technologies such as AI, students need not only solid professional knowledge but also a broad range of comprehensive abilities, especially in aesthetic cultivation and innovative thinking. Mr. Liang emphasized that while AI can assist in work, it cannot replace human aesthetic judgment and deep insights into the business world. Therefore, learning to effectively use AI to empower work will become a core competitive advantage in the future. Additionally, he advised students to focus on "looking inward" in their career planning, finding their interests and strengths through self-awareness, and avoiding blindly following external trends. He encouraged everyone to accumulate experience through targeted internships, not only to do their jobs well but also to understand the operational models of enterprises and the real needs of the industry, which is the only way to stand out in career development.
Ms. Liang Jiaqi, solution architect at Accenture Consulting
Ms. Liang Jiaqi first introduced the work content of large consulting firms from a professional perspective and explained in detail the responsibilities of a solution architect. She pointed out that the work of a solution architect requires not only solid hard skills but also a global mindset over the project to continuously optimize the plan according to the actual situation during the project's progress. She specifically advised students to strengthen their English and IT skills, emphasizing the key role of logical thinking ability in solving complex problems. She then shared her work experience both domestically and internationally, pointing out the significant differences in work culture. Finally, she encouraged students to maintain a lifelong learning attitude and spirit of exploration, continuously improving their comprehensive qualities to meet the increasingly complex world.
Ms. Lu Huijin, senior teaching fellow at IBSS
Ms. Lu Huijin, used to work in Deloitte and PwC consulting department, introduced the main work content of financial risk management consulting, noting that it is a flexible and high-intense work. She especially reminded students that to stand out in the competitive consulting industry, they must focus on enhancing their core competitiveness, deeply understanding the operation mode of the financial industry and the key links of risk management. At the same time, Ms. Lu emphasized that maintaining a positive learning attitude and a spirit of hard work will be the key to students' long-term success in the consulting industry.
The consulting industry sharing event received widespread praise from students. Many students said that the event not only helped them think deeply about their career planning but also deepened their understanding of the operation mode and future development trends of the consulting industry. Through the sharing of the guests, students gained a clearer understanding of the industry's core skills and career paths. Ms. Hou Hailu concluded, "We hope that students will plan with the end in mind. The WEC team is always committed to providing students with high-quality career development counselling, activities, and training resources. In the future, we will continue to hold more industry-related roundtable forums. We hope everyone will actively participate, jointly improve personal abilities, and broaden career horizons."
News contributed by: Jun Ren
News translated and edited by: Ms. Hailu Hou
31 Oct 2024