Beatrice Ruiz – #InspirationCafe
From Auditor to CEO of Trampoline Global Consulting & Founder of #InspirationCafe (DEI), today we spoke to Beatrice Ruiz about life as a consultant!
Q1. Did you always want to become a consultant, or did you fall into the role?
I always wanted to be an artist, an architect, a singer, a ballerina, a cook, but I was also pragmatic.
I studied a few (!) degrees (when your father is a professor, expectations are high). Back then, I realized that I was good at translating big words, strategies, complex ideas into easy-to-understand actionable items;
I was good at teaching and supporting others achieve their goals, and I was good with numbers. I decided that, at some point, I’d run my own company. The first step was to learn all about running a real company from the ground, so I joined Accenture then move into Finance.
After a few years of working in different capacities in the USA, EU, UAE, UK, it was clear that I was ready.
Today, I am a global consultant helping companies grow into Excellent, Diverse, Equal, and Culturally dynamic organizations running Trampoline Global Consulting and #InspirationCafe, supporting clients like Salesforce UKI.
Q2. What makes a good consultant?
A set of big ears and a very open mind make the best consultant.
We all have met the typical know-it-all of a consultant. Unfortunately, there are more than we’d like to see.
A good consultant listens to their client with an open mind, understands where the client is coming from, what their needs, concerns, priorities, and constraints are so they can offer an optimal, tailored solution.
Q3. Do you feel you manage yourself well, or is it a case of ‘the cobbler’s shoes?
One of the great things about being a consultant is that you get to manage yourself, your time, your clients.
When you are passionate about helping others grow, solve their problems, or design their future, you’ll probably have the challenge of ending your working day at a decent time, but that is a good problem to have. In the end, it’s up to you what kind of clients you welcome, how you work with them, and for how long. The sky is the limit.
Q4. Are there enough hours in your day?
Never. I can’t complain. I have a degree of flexibility that many would love to have, but I still wish I had more time to onboard more clients and enjoy my family, friends, and hobbies.
Q5. If you could magically stop your clients from making one mistake – what would that be?
Be clear about what you want and pay for the value your consultant is adding to your business. Forget about paying per presence, per big name, etc. There is a reason why a good engineer will solve your problem in 10 min and not 10 hours. They invested resources in themselves first, so they could understand you and solve your problem efficiently.
Q6. What do you find is the best way to market yourself?
Networking.
We are not alone. There’s nothing like a good network to move forward in life.
Q7. What do you do to unwind?
I love cooking, hosting at home, reading, traveling, and any form of art.
Q8. What advice would you give a starting consultant?
Be patient and keep going. Focus more on people than on admin tasks. All the hard work will pay off sooner than later.
Q9. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Real estate in NYC, London, Dubai. I have been following the ups and downs of real estate in multiple locations, checking houses, etc. for the past 20 years. Weird as it sounds, I really enjoy it.
Q10. What’s your goal for next year?
My goal for 2022 is to duplicate my client base, grow the team, and create exclusive content for our users.
Along with that, I am searching for a university interested in researching DEI. After working in this space for many years and living in +6 countries with their very different cultures, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. on a related subject.
And, finally, I’ve been pushing learning French forward for a while now. I should add it to my list of goals for 2022 🙂
To connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatriceruiz