The 2018 Top 25 Consultants: Katie O’Connell

Katie  O’Connell /  AArete

Excellence in Leadership

Katie O’Connell says she frequently tells people that she considers herself very lucky to have found the perfect profession for her early on in her career. “At my core, I am passionate about helping people. The combination of solving complicated business problems and deep relationship building matches up directly with my personality and interests,” O’Connell says. “Consulting as a profession keeps me on my toes and provides ample opportunities for continuous learning.”

O’Connell is a Managing Director at AArete with more than 12 years of experience consulting on cost reduction efforts and other procurement and operational improvement services; including vendor management, SLA creation, procurement process redesign, organizational review, and contract management. A certified public accountant, O’Connell also sits on the Board of Directors of Amandla Charter School in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.