Ever curious of what words 'management consulting' or 'microfinance' mean? 

Well, the root of these industries depends on your problem-solving skills to solve business challenges. It doesn’t matter if your academic background is in arts or engineering, consulting firms like Deloitte and PwC take in candidates from a diverse range of fields who are passionate to create change as consultants and have great problem-solving skills.

Considering this, UNSW Microfinance Consulting Group aspires to professionally train students and deepen their understanding and expertise in microfinance and management consulting.

It has three key objectives: 1. To create a supportive team environment for students to meet and connect with like-minded peers across all disciplines. 2. To provide students with the opportunity to develop and strengthen their skills in critical analysis, problem solving and creative thinking, and prepare them for a career in the professional industry. 3. To offer students pathways into microfinance consulting and create social impact on smaller communities.

In 2019 they’ve accomplished these targets through their 10-week management consulting training program that runs in T1 & T2. Keen consultants are placed into teams and led by an experienced team leader. Each week teams meet up to learn the key skills and frameworks of management consulting. For example, in one week you may learn about how to do market sizing, financials and PowerPoints.

“I wasn’t too sure of management consulting meant, but I had a great exposure to the skillsets and a great time with team which has given me the confidence to crack cases and use the presentation skills in other areas of my academics,” said Johnny Nyugen, who participated in the T2 management consulting program.

In addition to their consulting training program, the society has introduced an exciting client industry program, where students are assigned a client and placed into teams to solve the client’s business needs. They have a range of start-ups on board, such as Cluey Travel, which is a travel start-up that provides an easy platform to determine your ideal travel destination based on preferences like which activities you want to do, what weather you want, how far you're willing to travel, your budget etc. Students were given the opportunity to explore and analyse the Business to Business Channel for Cluey.

There are also opportunities for students who wish to attend specialised skills development events. Recently, the society held an Excel VBA workshop in collaboration with Visagio Australia. If you’re looking to gain insights into the management consulting or microfinance industry, check out the society’s Facebook page.

The opportunities at UMCG are growing, so get involved if you want to develop and challenge yourself!