Learnings as a Consultant

I worked as a Data Science Consultant at Big4 firm in 2022, working on Pricing models. Sharing my main learnings from that period

1. Documentation

   1. Put everything from the client on a slide — and get it verified twice.

   2. State every assumption clearly on a slide.

   3. Slides > long documents (but add detailed data in an appendix).

   4. A good slide = heading with the key takeaway + supporting visuals/data.

2. PMO

   1. Plan weeks and deadlines carefully — never overpromise.

   2. Coordination beats manpower; more people ≠ faster delivery.

   3. Keep the same person on a workstream for ownership and continuity.

   4. Each workstream needs a senior owner; align with their vision on day one.

   5. Collect everyone’s leave plan on day one to avoid surprises.

3. Data and Coding

   1. Get final requirements clear and explicit on day one.

   2. Write scalable, production-ready code from the start.

   3. Know your platform — and its limitations — before building.

   4. Spark and Python don’t mix well; plan accordingly.

   5. Understand the final data flow and have an architectural view early on.

Consulting is more than delivering fixes or new features — it’s about managing stakeholders, driving change, and keeping everyone aligned and confident, all while operating under tight deadlines.