We interviewed incoming student Kristina Mohme, who will start the International Master in Sustainable Business & Innovation at EADA this fall. As a Business Graduate and Sustainability Consultant, Kristina Mohme has both strong theoretical and practical knowledge of the business case for sustainability and is continuously looking towards expanding her experience. With a mature and responsible approach to every situation, she is eager to continue rising to inspiring opportunities and facing demanding challenges. Kristina currently works as a director at 180 Degree Consulting Barcelona (180DC), the world’s largest consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises.
Tell us a bit about your current position.
180 Degrees Consulting is an organisation that is focused on providing consulting services to socially conscious enterprises. Run by students, we offer a wide variety of services ranging from impact assessment to business development, fundraising and marketing to help our clients develop innovative, practical and sustainable solutions to whatever challenges they are facing.
As Community Director it is my responsibility to foster the bond among our stakeholders and to support our consultants in their professional development. Together with the other board members, we want to drive the growth of 180DC Barcelona and provide our consultants with opportunities for both personal and professional development.
When carrying out consulting for non-profits and social enterprises, it becomes especially important to consider the values of the company alongside all decision-making processes.
What drew you to 180 Degree Consulting Barcelona?
Coming from a sustainability background, I was looking for an opportunity to continue using my skills and experience to create a positive social impact. With 180DC, I found an organisation that shares these values and that is driving change towards a more sustainable and just future. Especially inspiring for me was the idea of working together with like-minded students who are passionate about the work they do and who are challenging the status quo at 180 Degrees Consulting.
Do you think that consulting for non-profits and social enterprises differs from working with for-profit corporations?
When working with non-profits and social enterprises, it becomes especially important to consider the values of the company alongside all decision-making processes. While the overarching responsibilities of consultants remain the same, projects for non-profit and socially conscious enterprises require considering resources in new ways as well as including different impact measurements. Moreover, our consultants might face a higher degree of uncertainty, as business acumen can be lacking in non-profits and social enterprises, and companies must first identify the actual problems and their sources.
Besides that, consultants often experience high levels of satisfaction, as their input aligns with their intrinsic motivation to drive positive change.
What qualities are the most important for professionals in the consulting field?
The most important thing about being successful in about any field is to have drive and to put this motivation to work. Especially as a consultant, you need to be able to show strong analytical skills, a problem-solving attitude and the ability to manage relations successfully.
Analysing a client’s concerns, seeking effective solutions and being able to respond to changes rapidly are significant aspects of consulting. Consultants need to be able to work with clients and respond to their needs effectively, drawing from their previous experiences and approaching each client with an open mind and an eagerness to grow and learn continuously.
Additionally, strong communication and interpersonal skills are important to managing relationships within your team as well as with clients and other stakeholders. This includes leading conversations efficiently, being a good listener and the ability to collaborate well with others.
The master’s at EADA will provide me with the ideal foundation to learn and develop in the field of sustainability and equip me with the knowledge and skills I need to advance my career.
What attracted you to EADA’s International Master in Sustainable Business & Innovation?
EADA’s programme offers me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge in the field of sustainability and to learn more about the challenges we face today. Having gained practical experience as a sustainability consultant, I have decided to pursue a master’s to gain a more holistic view on the area and to discuss and explore social entrepreneurship and innovative solutions together with like-minded classmates.
The master’s at EADA will provide me with the ideal foundation to learn and develop in the field of sustainability and equip me with the knowledge and skills I need to advance my career. In addition to the curriculum, I am looking forward to learning more about new opportunities and being inspired by the global network of students and professors at EADA.