Consulting Lab – 1: Why I Chose to Learn Management Consulting (Intro)

👋 Hello, I'm Rishi Shah
“Consulting Lab” - a space where I’ll think, write, practice, and learn everything about management consulting

Why Consulting?

I’ve always been curious about how businesses work, how they grow, how they fail, and how small changes can make a big difference.

I realized that consulting is where strategy meets execution. A consultant doesn't just give advice they solve real problems. For example:

• A company wants to enter a new country → the consultant helps plan the market entry.

• A brand’s sales are flat for 3 months → the consultant finds the root cause and fixes it.

• A business is losing profits → the consultant breaks down revenue, costs, and finds the leak.

This mix of logic + business sense + real-world action is exactly what excites me.

What You Can Expect from This Series

Every blog in Consulting Lab will include:

• My thoughts and learning in simple language

• Real-world business problems and how I’d solve them

• Short case breakdowns (like how I’d help a shop owner or a tech company)

• Frameworks I learn, and how I apply them

• Mistakes I make and how I improve

My Perspective on Consultants

To me, consultants are not just advisors — they’re the doctors of business.

They diagnose problems, find solutions, and help execute them.

They save time, bring new perspectives, and add real value.

Whether it’s fixing flat sales or launching a product in a new country, consultants are there to solve the hard stuff.

That’s the kind of problem solver I want to become.

Why Would a Company Hire Consultants?

In my words, companies hire consultants for three main reasons:

1. To save time – Consultants help speed up complex decision-making.

2. To bring new thinking – They see patterns and solutions the company might miss.

3. To execute strategy with expertise – They know how to make the plan work, not just talk about it.

Even something simple like a local shop with flat sales can benefit.

Consultants might analyze sales data, research competitors, suggest new product ideas, or restructure pricing — all to boost performance.

Practice Pitch

Hello, I’m a management consultant. I believe we can help you grow your business. If your sales are flat or your competitors are moving ahead, we can find out why. We bring deep market insights, data, and strategies to solve exactly these kinds of challenges. From helping you launch new products to identifying untapped growth opportunities, we handle the complex thinking so you can focus on execution. Let’s talk about where you're stuck and we’ll show you how to move forward.

What Do Clients Expect From Consultants?

In my view, there are 3 core expectations clients have when they hire consultants:

1. Guaranteed Results (or at least a confident path forward)

2. Value for Money – They expect a solid return on their investment

3. Clear Strategy + Action Plan – Not just slides, but real decisions and execution help

These expectations make consulting challenging but also exciting — it’s not just about knowledge, it’s about delivering impact.

Bye 👋, See you In the next Lab.