What are some effective ways to start consulting in Social Impact?

Identify your interests, but ground it in experience. Don't underestimate passion... it can drive change & inspire people. Keep an eye on your passion though, as it can alienate people (#SpeakingAsOneWhoKnows!) Make sure you match your passion with EXPERIENCE. The beauty about co-creating social impact is that - to excel and thrive - it requires something from every thread of society. So, what is your experience and how can it help make the world a better place?

Define your uniqueness in terms of area , work and quality. Master the area and use new technologies for the same. Spread the word that you are the best in the specific work.

So important to do this, rather than being for everyone. Find the area that really interests you and look at what is happening in that area of social impact. What can you add to this?

All of the steps outlined make sense: from identifying your niche to scaling. But they all seem to be focused on the way to make money as a social impact consultant not creating social impact. The steps provided are no different than building any consultancy business. Perhaps the best way to build a social impact consultancy is to build a business with social impact. That is an entirely different level.

To build a consulting portfolio in the social sector, after defining your niche, showcase relevant experience and case studies, emphasizing quantifiable impact. Highlight skills like strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Incorporate testimonials and demonstrate thought leadership through authored content. Design a professional portfolio for online or offline presentation. Regularly update it with new projects and skills. Network within the sector, attend events, and utilize social media for marketing.

Networking and collaboration are the strong pillars of the social impact organization. And if you are in this sector you have to master it. Further, if you are in the consulting profession it becomes a must. With the network you can show your work and impact to many people and attract their attention as well as the work in this sector.

One of the best ways to start consulting in Social Impact is to volunteer. That’s how I started. It has brought me amazing connections and community interactions. I’ve travelled internationally to support and consult for causes I believe in, such as women’s empowerment by enabling and encouraging women growers of Samoa to show up confidently in social media and strengthen their brands. Driving environmental sustainability initiatives by advising Pacific Island regional bodies of water and wastewater management in their communication strategies. My suggestion is to simply start. When the heart and mind are in the right place, opportunities follow.

Timely delivery of quality work with humbleness is the key to success in the consulting. This will create a constant customer for your work and a mouth to mouth advertisement as well.

All of the steps outlined make sense: from identifying your niche to scaling. But they all seem to be focused on the way to make money as a social impact consultant not creating social impact. The steps provided are no different than building any consultancy business. Perhaps the best way to build a social impact consultancy is to build a business with social impact. That is an entirely different level.