Member Spotlight — Business Development Manager: Kangan Mahajan
Meet Kangan Mahajan:
Kangan is currently a second year Accounting and Financial Management student at the University of Waterloo, and has recently completed her first term at 180 Degrees Consulting Waterloo as a Business Development Manager. Kangan was drawn to 180 Degrees Consulting because of the opportunity to give back to non-profit organizations who work towards making a positive change in their community. She enjoys spending her time outdoors with friends, and exploring new places whenever given the opportunity to. As a result of the pandemic, she has become interested in going on long and (very early) morning bike rides!
In this interview spotlight, we asked Kangan about her experience as a Business Development Manager and how her 180 Degrees Consulting journey has been so far.
As a Business Development Manager at 180 Degrees Consulting Waterloo, what are some of your responsibilities?
As a business development manager at 180 Degrees Consulting, my responsibilities primarily consist of onboarding new clients for the following term. This is done through outreach to prospective clients on a weekly basis over email. For clients who are interested in our work, an initial call is set up to explain the work that is done at 180 Degrees Consulting and we begin brainstorming potential project ideas that we can take upon. After this is solidified over a couple of meetings, I help draft the project proposal which outlines the project description, and deliverables that will come from 180 Degrees Consulting’s end.
What are some notable highlights during your time with us?
The most notable highlight would be hearing about the obstacles that clients have faced (especially over the past year) and seeing how 180 Degrees Consulting could have a positive impact by navigating their problems. Although the work is not done at this stage of the process, it’s really rewarding to see how happy they would be with even the idea of a deliverable that’s only written out on paper right now.
What do you think are the most important skills for success in your role?
The three most important skills would be organization, communication, and perseverance. In order to onboard clients for future terms, it’s important to stay organized with emails to prospective ones and following up on previous conversations. This ties into how vital communication is as well, as clients really do appreciate when information is conveyed to them in a timely and concise manner. Perseverance is also key in a partnership like role, as it’s important to remember that not every organization is going to want to work with 180 Degrees Consulting. However, that should not stop you from being unmotivated when the responses are not positive.
What are some skills you were able to improve upon since joining?
After joining 180 Degrees Consulting, I have been able to step out of my comfort zone and be more confident. I am someone who used to be shy and tends to avoid presenting. However, this role has really helped me grow in this aspect. As a business development manager, you are the very first interaction the client has with 180 Degrees Consulting. For this reason, it is important that we give a good impression of the work we do and work towards building a friendly relationship with them.
What advice would you have for those who are looking to join 180 Degrees Consulting Waterloo in the future?
My advice would be don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. There are numerous opportunities at 180 Degrees Consulting based on interests — consulting, marketing, partnerships, and more. Try something which you’re comfortable with and feel free to jump around in future terms. The team here is super friendly and we all share one common goal of making a positive difference in our community. It’s a really great feeling to work with a group of individuals who share similar interests and values as you, while bringing a different skillset to the table. Have fun and be ready to learn!
180 Degrees Consulting Waterloo is a branch of one of the largest university-based consultancy organizations in the world. We offer affordable consulting services to not-for-profit organizations and social enterprises. The Waterloo branch has consultants from University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
For more information, check out our website here.
