As a public health consultant, I hear from lots of Master of Public Health (MPH) students. Many are looking for advice as aspiring consultants and entrepreneurs. One thing I always mention to students: the classes I WISH I had the time or opportunity to take in graduate school.

When you are a consultant, your website is one of the most important ways you can connect to potential clients. Too often however, I see websites that are confusing and hard to navigate. So I challenge you to look at your website (whether it is existing or in development) and ask yourself these eight simple questions.

Over the past six years as a public health consultant, I can tell you that technology has been essential to the growth of the consulting workforce. Technology helps to expand our opportunities for training, networking and collaboration, and product and service delivery.

Each month, I will introduce you to a public health consultant or entrepreneur and they will share their path to self-employment and outline key pieces of advice for aspiring business owners.

Today we welcome Stephanie S. Hodges from Charleston, South Carolina!

This is one of the most asked questions I receive about public health consulting. People want an easy answer. A concrete answer. Unfortunately, there is not an easy or concrete answer that is the same for everyone. However, I can lay out important considerations so that you can calculate the right answer for you.

Even though the communication channel is different, the respect for someone’s education, experience, and position should be the same.