Over the years, while conducting career guidance sessions and mentoring increasing numbers of founders, CEOs, and consultants in the ESG field, I often hear the same question: "I’ve worked in a Big 4 firm, and now I feel ready to start my own business. Can I make that leap?"
This is a question I deeply relate to. I’ve been there myself – from working as an analyst at Deloitte to eventually taking the plunge and starting Sustainability 101. Through my journey, I’ve learned a lot about the differences between being an entrepreneur and a consultant in the ESG world.
In this blog, I want to share my experience with you so you can make a more informed decision about which path might be right for you. Both options come with their unique challenges and rewards, and knowing the realities of each can help you choose the right one for your career.
Let's dive in!
The above hand showes 2 options Red (Entrepreneurship) and Blue (Consulting)? Choose your path!
Consulting
Entrepreneurship
Through My Experience:
I met Adhil when we were both analysts at Deloitte. Adhil, a mechanical engineer by training, chose to continue his career in the big four and other companies, specializing in ESG. Meanwhile, I took a different path. I shifted my focus to entrepreneurship and started Sustainability 101, an ed-tech company aimed at teaching and training future ESG consultants.
As an entrepreneur, I had to wear many hats—I was responsible for hiring and firing, managing the ups and downs of the business, and handling all the challenges that come with running a company. This gave me hands-on experience in business management and the chance to work on a variety of sustainability projects. My company focuses on improving the skills of future ESG consultants by providing them with the technical knowledge they need to be better at their jobs.
Adhil, on the other hand, stayed in the corporate world and worked with big companies to help them solve issues related to net-zero and decarbonization. As an ESG expert, his role involves extensive research, working on project-based models, and expanding his expertise across various industries and sectors like LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and carbon reduction strategies.
As a business owner, you may not be able to focus entirely on becoming a subject matter expert like Adhil.
Adhil focuses on improving his expertise and handling specific client projects, diving deep into areas like decarbonization, ESG strategy, and LCA.
His salary has increased as he’s upgraded his skills and expanded his knowledge in the field. As a consultant, he can focus all his attention on each project, improving his expertise with hands-on, technical work, while learning from his team, managers, and mentors.
Adhil’s role in a corporate setting allows him the support of his colleagues and managers. He’s in a more structured environment, where mistakes can be caught before going public, and he gets regular breaks, including weekends off and paid leaves.
On the other hand, as a business owner, like me, you have a lot of responsibilities, but not the luxury of focusing entirely on improving specific technical expertise.
Entrepreneurship demands attention to multiple areas of the business—marketing, sales, operations, customer relations, and more. Every day requires attention to keep the business running, especially when it's still in the building stage. As the owner, the pressure is constant to ensure everything functions smoothly and grows.
While Adhil’s role provides a more stable income and job security, my business is unpredictable. Clients are not fixed, and revenue can vary. The challenges of entrepreneurship include handling mistakes, managing the team, and ensuring that the business survives. I’m responsible for every mistake, whether they happen within the team or with clients. But at the same time, the growth opportunities are massive. I have learned everything—from marketing and sales to team management and operations.
Although I may not be a subject matter expert in technical fields, my business acumen has grown tremendously. I am skilled in running the day-to-day operations, managing multiple teams, and talking to clients to drive the business forward. My work is about growing the business, handling clients, and learning from every mistake—ultimately being responsible for the survival and success of the company.
Which Path Will You Choose?
Entrepreneur (Business Owner): If you love taking risks, managing diverse roles, and enjoy the thrill of growing something from scratch, entrepreneurship might be the right path for you.
Consultant (ESG Expert): If you're passionate about deepening your technical knowledge, solving complex ESG problems, and prefer a structured work environment with a steady income, consulting could be your perfect fit.
Entrepreneur Path:
Pratiksha from Sustainability 101 grew her business from the ground up, managing everything from sales to hiring, all while learning valuable business skills and creating a brand in the sustainability space.
As a business owner, you develop a broad skill set, including leadership, client relationships, strategic decision-making, and financial management, all while driving sustainability initiatives across industries.
Consultant Path:
Adhil, an ESG expert, thrives in a structured corporate environment, working with top-tier clients on decarbonization strategies and expanding his expertise across industries.
As an ESG consultant, you gain specialized knowledge, shape impactful sustainability strategies for companies, and play a key role in transforming industries toward greener practices
A little heavy observation
One of the best parts about being an entrepreneur is the freedom to choose your
clients, decide where you want to travel, and determine the expenses you’re willing to consider for a project. As a business owner, you have the flexibility to make those decisions based on your goals and values.
On the other hand, in a consulting job, you don't always have that kind of freedom. You’re assigned projects by your manager or higher authorities, and you can't always choose your clients. The expenses and budgets are usually predefined, and you have little room to negotiate or debate those terms. You're working within the framework set by others.
As an entrepreneur, you not only have the freedom to choose your clients and set your own expenses, but you also have to build your brand from scratch. You need to establish your brand identity, create marketing materials, and continuously work on making your business visible in an already crowded industry. This requires significant effort and creativity to stand out and get recognized.
In contrast, as a consultant, your identity is often shaped by the company you work with. Adhil, for example, gains recognition through the established reputation of the organizations he works for. He dosn't have to worry about building his brand or figuring out how to get recognized; it’s already done for him. Plus, consultants often use resources and materials provided by the firm, making the process smoother.
I hope this is helpful.
We created a safe space for new enthusiasts who would like to be a part of the sustainability/ESG.
𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲/ 𝐄𝐒𝐆 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
✨ Date: 24th November 2024
✨Time: 11:00 AM to 01:30 PM IST
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dWx274Xv Use code "ESG101" to get 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕
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