Natalie Chowdhury
“Communicate your terms clearly to clients to avoid misunderstandings and problems at a later stage.”
Tell us about yourself
MBA with around 15 years of experience encompassing a blend of market research, customer service and consulting. Associated with the market research industry for more than 10 years. I have been involved with different types of projects/studies (including specialised sensory panels/product evaluations) for clients across industries gaining diverse experience in client relationship management, cross functional coordination and project management. I have more than 7 years of consulting experience with KPMG and D&B which involved process reviews, advisory services, revenue assurance cum standard operating procedure (SOP) assignments, customer experience analysis and benchmarking, B2B & B2C research (including NPS studies, enriched database deliveries, market assessment studies among others)
I’m an army kid who has travelled extensively. I studied in Cathedral & John Connon School and completed my BA with Honours in Economics from St. Xaviers College. In my free time I like to read, swim, go horse riding, travel, do nail art, cook, play badminton, go for walks and work on DIY projects.
What does it mean for you to work on your own?
How did you find your niche as an Independent Consultant?
What challenges do you face as an Independent Consultant?
It can be challenging to find work. Quite a few companies don’t hire external/freelance consultants so opportunities with companies can sometimes be limited. The team one works with may not give an independent consultant the same consideration which they would give their own employees/team members so they don’t respect your time or your other commitments (work can be assigned last minute, continue till the wee hours of the morning or extend to the weekends).
How do you usually find projects/work from clients?
Why did you sign up with InsightGig?
Sethukarasi very kindly reached out to me and explained the concept. InsightGig works with clients from market research which is one of my core areas of expertise. It seemed like a very good platform for freelance/independent consultants like myself. I wasn’t aware that a platform of this sort existed. I liked how considerate and patient she was with my queries/concerns. I liked it that she had the best interests of the consultant in mind unlike other instances in which the client is definitely given more importance (sometimes to an unfair extent).
How did InsightGig solve your challenges?
How was your overall experience working with InsightGig? And how can the experience be improved?
Tell us your tips on how to succeed as an Independent Consultant?
- Find options through which you can get opportunities – could be websites, platforms or even personal networking if that works for you
- Have a dedicated workspace – a desk, a room, a balcony. Whatever works for you. Have a space in which you can work undisturbed where children, pets, house help, etc. can’t get in. This is to be able to focus on your work and not be distracted
- Communicate your terms clearly – sometimes clients can expect you to be available all the time and that could be very inconvenient. If it is an international client, check which time zone you’ll be working in and which days of the week you will be working on. This would help avoid misunderstandings and problems at a later stage
- Give it your best effort – Take your work seriously. The assignment may be a short term one or it may even be just a call. Regardless of the duration, size or impact of the assignment ensure that you do your best. This would make the client view you as sincere and dedicated. They may recommend you to others or consider you again in the future.
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