Future Leader Award
Chiaki Nishino
Partner
Prophet
The two things Chiaki Nishino enjoys most about consulting are "the constant problem solving and the high caliber team I work with to solve them," she says. As a Partner in Prophet's New York office where she leads the Marketing Practice, Nishino says the combination of art and science is what makes the process so intellectually stimulating and the solutions so powerful. "You never get bored in this business," she says. "There are similar problems that come up but there is always a unique twist that makes them interesting and challenging."
Another aspect of the job she appreciates is being able to help younger consultants develop through the unique way the firm operates, she says. Never one to shy away from a challenge—she holds a B.A. in Government and East Asian Studies from Harvard University, and an M.B.A. in Marketing Strategy from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania—Nishino says the constant opportunities to tackle interesting and challenging problems, working with high caliber colleagues and the ability to work with the most senior executives across companies initially attracted her and she's never left.
"Over time, I found that I had passion for particular areas of consulting—brand, marketing, and growth—that I eventually transitioned to a firm that allowed me to do that exclusively," she says.
Throughout her career, she says she's been lucky enough to have great female colleagues around her. "Everyone will have their own way of dealing with each situation, but I believe it's important to have people you can confide in.
Nishino says these days her biggest challenge is balancing her personal and professional life. "My greatest achievement is being told by people I've worked with that I've had a significant influence on them in their professional career," she says. "At the same time, being able to do this work while having a great family—my husband and my two boys—is my greatest achievement on a personal level."
—J.K.
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