By Clara Montgomery, Senior Client Manager
Three years into my journey with Genoa Black, one thing has become increasingly clear, variety isn’t a by-product of the role, it’s one of its greatest strengths.
In any given week, I might find myself working with precision metalwork specialists Fife Fabrications, hospitality businesses such as Buchan Braes and The Palace Hotel, civil engineering experts at Mackenzie Construction, or refrigerated transport manufacturer Gray & Adams. On paper, these sectors have very little in common. In practice, working across them has shaped how I think, how I solve problems, and ultimately how I support clients.
The variety keeps the work engaging, but more importantly, it continually sharpens your perspective.
Variety Isn’t Something to Manage, It’s What Makes You Better
It’s easy to assume that moving between industries would create complexity. In reality, the variety is the value.
When you’re switching between a fabrication business and a hotel group in the same week, there’s no room for autopilot. You have to understand the context, the challenges and the priorities that define each organisation. What matters to an engineer isn’t necessarily what matters to a hotel/hospitality manager, and recognising those differences is essential to delivering meaningful support.
That constant shift in perspective develops a level of commercial awareness that’s difficult to build when you’re focused on a single sector.
Over time, something else happens too. You begin to spot patterns that aren’t obvious from within an industry itself. You see where one sector has solved a challenge that another is still grappling with. You identify approaches, processes and ways of thinking that can be applied elsewhere. Questions emerge that may seem straightforward, but only because you’ve encountered the answer in a completely different environment.
That’s where the real advantage of breadth lies. It’s not simply exposure to different industries, it’s the ability to connect ideas across them.
What Engineering Can Teach Hospitality – And Vice Versa
One of the most valuable lessons from working across sectors is realising how transferable many business principles are.
Take process discipline. In engineering businesses such as Mackenzie Construction and Gray & Adams, planning, sequencing and execution are deeply embedded in day-to-day operations. Whether managing a complex civil engineering project or delivering a highly specialised customer specification, attention to detail isn’t optional. The consequences of getting things wrong are tangible, so rigour becomes second nature.
That mindset translates far beyond engineering. Bringing the same level of structure and discipline to client relationships, considering every touchpoint, anticipating challenges and creating clear processes, elevates the quality of delivery regardless of industry.
The reverse is equally true.
Hospitality businesses such as The Palace Hotel and Buchan Braes Hotel operate with an exceptional focus on people. Every interaction shapes perception. Every experience contributes to reputation. The emphasis on making people feel valued is fundamental to success.
And while that may appear very different from engineering, the principle is remarkably similar. Businesses like Mackenzie Construction and Gray & Adams place significant importance on their people, customers and supply chains. The context may differ, but the underlying truth remains the same, strong relationships underpin strong businesses.
The more industries you work across, the more you realise that the fundamentals of success are often shared.
Adaptability Isn’t About Changing Who You Are
Working across different sectors doesn’t mean becoming a different person for every client.
The fundamentals remain constant, being reliable, communicating clearly, following through on commitments and bringing strategic thinking to every relationship. What changes is the way those fundamentals are applied.
Different clients require different approaches. Some want to be closely involved throughout a project, while others prefer to focus on outcomes and trust you to manage the process. Some value detailed discussion and analysis, while others want clarity, simplicity and action.
Effective client service isn’t about applying the same formula everywhere. It’s about understanding what matters most to each client and adapting your approach accordingly.
At Genoa Black, that isn’t an added extra, it’s integral to how we work. The strongest client relationships are built on understanding not only where a business is today, but where it wants to be tomorrow and how we can help it get there. That’s what transforms a transactional relationship into a trusted partnership.
Why Breadth Matters
I firmly believe that working across multiple industries makes you a stronger adviser, communicator and client services professional.
It develops commercial empathy through the ability to step into different environments, understand the pressures people are facing and quickly identify where you can add value. It broadens your perspective, challenges assumptions and exposes you to new ways of thinking. Most importantly, it creates a mindset of continuous learning.
Every client, every sector and every project adds another layer to how you think and how you work. Three years in, that’s what continues to make the role so rewarding. No two days look the same, and that’s exactly why it works.
