This article originally appeared on Fuqua’s MMS student blog and is shared here with permission.
By Guanjia Zhu, MMS:FOB ’25
When our Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) project kicked off, I remember feeling a little lost. There were no rubrics or step-by-step instructions, just a broad objective from our client and a lot of ambiguity. I had worked on projects before, but never something that felt this real. This time, the expectations were higher, and the structure was looser. At first, I was not sure how I would contribute.
Our client was Oracle’s marketing team, and the task was to support their sales efforts by designing a maturity model. While the project scope was exciting, it was also complex. What made all the difference was the people around me.
Working With an Excellent Team
I genuinely enjoyed working with my team. Two of my teammates, Wei and Huan, had full-time work experience. They were the backbone of our group: steady, reliable, and calm under pressure. Whenever things felt unclear, they knew what to do. Cindy and Tory helped keep the project on track by taking ownership of communication and making sure we stayed aligned. They had a great sense of timing and priorities.
Our MBA engagement manager, Maggie, is an experienced leader who explained things clearly and gave thoughtful, constructive feedback. She created a space where we all felt heard and supported.
We had a small tradition of changing our group chat icon each week to a funny photo of one of us. It sounds simple, but it helped us stay connected, especially during busy weeks. It reminded me of why I chose Fuqua. Team Fuqua is not just a phrase. It is something you feel when people care enough to support each other and push one another to do their best.
Establishing My Role
My FCCP experience was humbling in the best way. My teammates set a high bar, making me want to rise to their level. Because I trusted them, I felt safe stepping outside my comfort zone. I knew I wasn’t doing it alone. That support allowed me to take initiative in ways I hadn’t before.
I started drafting our weekly client update emails to keep everyone aligned. I also took the lead in preparing a short presentation for a check-in with Professor Stephanie Knight. It was not required, but it helped us communicate our progress and needs more clearly. These were not major actions on their own, but they gave me the confidence to take ownership and stay proactive, even when things felt uncertain.
As the weeks went on, I started thinking less about whether I was doing enough, and more about how I could support the team. I made it a habit to share updates, stay aligned with the group, and connect our work back to the big picture. That shift from simply contributing to truly owning my role was one of the most valuable lessons I took away from the experience.
Building Real Client Connections
Our client, Oracle, was also incredibly supportive. They connected us with members of their sales team, which gave us valuable insights into how our work would be applied. On our own, we also reached out to an outside industry expert to gain a broader perspective. That combination of support and initiative gave our project both depth and direction, and gave me the confidence to engage with professionals, ask better questions, and approach problems with a more practical mindset.
FCCP was my first opportunity to apply what I had learned in the MMS program in a real client setting. But more importantly, it showed me how much you can grow when surrounded by people who challenge you, support you, and trust you to step up.