The 2012 Women Leaders in Consulting: Leslie Blair

Now, that's results!

"It's been tremendously exciting and rewarding. I love so many things about consulting, especially working with such great people, but one of the best things has to be solving really challenging problems and building brilliant teams," Blair says. "I get energized by turning things around, and transforming businesses or projects that have been barely surviving, and even some that have been failing, and putting plans in place that result in them becoming extremely successful. That's a great feeling!"

Today, Blair serves as the West Sub Area Advisory Managing Partner in the Los Angeles office. She joined what was then Ernst & Whinney in 1989 and was named Partner in 1994.

Over the following three years, she played an instrumental role in developing Ernst & Young's consulting practice in Belgium, creating a technology entity that generated $70 million in annual revenue.

And Blair would offer this advice to any consultant—male or female, experienced or just starting out in the profession: "Never stop growing, learning and taking risks," she says. "No one else has your life to live, so set the course you want for your life. Take the long view and hold to your vision, but be prepared to embrace new challenges, changes and surprises!"

That's something Blair has consistently done throughout her career, which began in banking. She eventually worked her way up to a vice president of Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh before she was recruited by Ernst & Whinney to join their Financial Services Consulting practice in Chicago. Consulting "was more by accident than design," she says. "Consulting has become a great profession for women, but when I started out I encountered some unhelpful stereotypes and ways of working, but so much of that has changed."

And for those just starting out in the profession today, Blair says she would tell them to remember they have a unique set of gifts and experiences, and that they can make an incredible impact if they stay true to themselves and their values.

"They will need to be prepared to take risks and go along with the ups and downs and changing seasons," she says. "They'll also need a double dose of dedication and commitment to finding creative solutions for integrating their work and the rest of their lives."

As for the Women Leaders in Consulting award itself, Blair says she is incredibly honored.

"To be recognized in this way is just tremendous, and I'm grateful to so many people who have given me the opportunities to continue to learn and to take on bigger and bigger challenges," Blair says. "My achievements have been made possible by the great teams and clients I've been privileged to work with," she says. "You can not be a leader if you don't have a team that trusts and respects you."