Valuable lesson: how to manage a cross-cultural client relationship
By Faetitia
[T]he most valuable lesson I learned was in regards to managing client relationships and all the nuances that come with not only managing a client relationship, but managing a client relationship from a different country virtually. Understanding cultural norms is essential to building trust which is the foundation of successful relationship management.
Today we will be submitting our final report to our client and I must admit it was a bittersweet feeling. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with a team and consult with a solar energy organization in Brazil and help them strategize innovative ways to generate revenue. I am also grateful for the opportunity to learn more about a new sector and get a glimpse of what global business consulting feels like.
As I reflect back on everything that took place during this course, including the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in our trip getting cancelled, the most valuable lesson I learned was in regards to managing client relationships and all the nuances that come with not only managing a client relationship, but managing a client relationship from a different country virtually. Understanding cultural norms is essential to building trust which is the foundation of successful relationship management. I truly enjoyed getting to know my clients and learning more about the solar energy sector.
As a Health Sector Management student, partaking in the social impact field seminar has really taught me the true meaning of social impact and the wide array of ways the missions and business plan of companies and organizations can impact communities and the world around us.
Furthermore, while I myself was not working with a health care organization on this project, I was pleased to learn about the health care organizations my peers worked with which showed the cross section of social impact and health, something I am interested in exploring further in this program.