Liberal arts education and consulting: Could it be the optimal combination?

 

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

by Longitude fellows Alishahal Macknojia, University of Houston, and Elijah Sales, Rice University.

In the professional world, many companies and organizations across a wide array of industries depend on expertise to help them adapt to unexpected changes or to emerging technologies so that they can efficiently explore new approaches for their businesses. They often need assistance from consultants, who provide them research and analysis tools as well as advice or plans that could propel them towards their goals. Consultants bridge the gap between problems and solutions by offering their services to clients using their specialized knowledge. This is beneficial to both the company and the consultant as they can collaborate, when needed, to review and solve problems together. Companies can bring on the expertise they need from outside for specific projects, mitigate risks, or help implement a particular strategy. They pay a premium to have the convenience of solving problems efficiently with outside expertise rather than employ and train additional full-time staff.

Consultants need to have a robust set of skills, in some cases including both technical and analytical skills to pull off a project in a specified timeline. Consequently, it is becoming apparent that students with liberal arts backgrounds, whobring excellent communication and project management related skills among numerous other talents, excel at providingvaluable contributions. Their ability to translate technical aspects of a project into business terminology and, eventually, a solution, brings a comprehensive perspective to the consulting process. Based on the conversations with six interviewees from the consulting field through the Longitude.site program, we have observed that liberal arts backgrounds and expertise allow them to ensure efficient negotiation and implementation of ideas, leading to a more streamlined consulting process from start to finish.

Soft skills are repeatedly mentioned as essential by those in the professional world, and for consulting, it is no different. Emotional intelligence and self-awareness were two characteristics that a consultant who studied political science in college mentioned as valuable during managing projects with challenging clients. A senior consultant who studied cognitive sciences mentioned that learning the decision-making process was most beneficial to him in managing tough challenges.

Effective communication and project management are two skills that are deemed essential during the life cycle of consulting projects. Doing the due diligence of conducting research and working with data along with organizingtakeaways and preparing visual presentations is what makes up a large part of consulting. In the absence of preliminary material, asking as many questions as possible upfront can be instrumental in reducing the downtime later in theseprojects.

Another crucial skill in consulting that many Longitude interviewees mentioned is the ability to connect with others. Since many consultants often travel far and wide to meet their clients and suppliers, they would also have to be adept at interacting with others while keeping cultural traditions and customs in mind. A senior product consultant who majored in sociology explained that consultants would also have to be well-adjusted to whatever setting they are required to be in so as to perform their work to the best of their ability and not feel overwhelmed in a foreign city or country. History, linguistics, and cultural studies majors would most likely succeed in this aspect because they work through curriculums that foster intercultural and interpersonal understanding. Through early exposure to different cultures before working in consulting, many students with a liberal arts background would be able to form strong relationships with whomever they interact with, allowing them to ultimately succeed in getting their ideas and solutions across.

Consulting as a career can seem quite daunting at first to those who have a liberal arts background. However, given that consulting emphasizes creativity, communication, and connection, it is an industry in which liberal arts majors can certainly find their niche. Liberal arts students will always be seen as an asset as they can provide another approach and way of thinking that shouldn’t be discounted especially considering the concerns for reliance on artificial intelligence and automation in the future. Although automating certain aspects of consulting can be efficient, the unique connection between humans is irreplaceable and could prevent a complete shift to automation. Consultants with a liberal arts background, as mentioned earlier, tend to be well skilled at forming that sort of connection, which could give them an advantage no matter what path consulting takes in the future. Consulting may also shift towards specialization, potentially causing an increased dependence on a diverse skillset brought upon by liberal arts majors. As skilled learners, researchers, and presenters, liberal arts students have an immense potential to shine as consultants as long as they put their diverse, unique, and invaluable skills to good use. In that regard, the consulting industry is brimming with opportunities for liberal arts students who have a passion for learning about, connecting with, and implementing potentially life-changing solutions for others.

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