The 2011 Women Leaders in Consulting: Julie Coffman

"I had the honor of leading a Bain Chicago team with dozens of contributors in researching best practices for charter schools in urban areas, facilitating an appropriate partnership for Bain with a community not-for-profit—Northwestern University Settlement House—to help run the school and then to help select our principal and work with her leadership team to launch the school," she says. "Today, the school is absolutely thriving."

Coffman is a Partner in Bain's Chicago office where she is a leader in both the Global Healthcare and Organization practices. She also has held several key leadership roles and was named the chair of Bain's Global Women's Leadership Council in July 2009.

"There are challenges for everyone in the consulting industry, but I think there are some additional challenges for women, as there are many fewer women that rise to the senior levels in both consulting firms as well as in most of our client companies, so therefore our approaches or styles may not be the norm in many places," Coffman says. "That said, I have been very fortunate in having a network of incredible mentors and sponsors, both men and women, throughout my career. And, I have amazing support at home from my husband, my three amazing children, and my extended family, which enables me to do what I do."

—Joe Kornik