Breaking Barriers: Women Leaders in Consulting

On Nov. 1, we launched a new chapter as we unveiled a new honor to the industry – Consulting magazine's Achievement Awards: Women Leaders in Consulting. The gala at the Waldo-Astoria in New York was an event that was, in our opinion, long overdue. Even though women make up only about a quarter of the profession, their collective impact on the industry is far greater. Quite frankly, we think it's about time the industry sat up and took notice of the accomplishments of the women in consulting. And took notice they did. More than 160 leaders of the profession came together to celebrate the accomplishments of five women, all at very different stages of their careers. In some cases, they are industry veterans who have spent decades sharpening their skills and leading business strategies. In other cases, they are rising stars, poised to be the leaders of the next generation of consulting. But despite the differences, the five award recipients are best defined by their similarities. They are leaders in their firms and leaders in their disciplines. And while we realize consulting remains a team sport –indeed, each said they couldn't have done it without their firms and co-workers –we single out these five women because of their outstanding accomplishments, their leadership, their service to clients and their potential for excellence. Collectively, they represent all that is good about the profession.

Orit Gadiesh has spent more than three decades with Bain & Company and today serves as the firm's chairman. As a woman who spoke little English when she enrolled at Harvard Business School and began her consulting career in the steel industry, she has had to overcome more than a few obstacles along the way to being named one of "The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Forbes magazine. She is the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award.