The 2012 Women Leaders in Consulting: Nicola Russell

"I've been able to create my own path and define a whole new career within Slalom. It's been amazing to shape how our company grows our people. I know that our company's success rests on our consultants' knowledge, skills, and abilities, and nurturing that talent is my driving purpose. When you find an opportunity to blend your expertise with what you're most passionate about, nothing can match the energy that's created."

That energy is the driving force behind the passion that Russell brings to her day-to-day focus—building the talent management function at Slalom from the ground up and defining the firm's strategy for people development.

After a little more than a year, she says the team has put in place dozens of learning programs for both virtual and in-person delivery, implemented an onboarding program, established company-wide competencies, built an executive leadership program, rolled out an annual employee survey, and commissioned a Talent Management System.

"But the foundational work of building a team is what I'm most proud of," she says. "I'm lucky to work with a team of incredibly talented people who are as passionate about our consultants as I am."

While taking on such a monumental task, it's no surprise that Russell says the best advice she's even been given is this: "Don't be afraid to take on projects where you'll be in a bit over your head; those are the best opportunities for learning. Look for the roles that will challenge and stretch you, and seek out opportunities to work in areas that you're most passionate about."

And when giving advice to those female consultants just beginning their career, Russell says to "pursue your passions and explore areas that interest you, even when you can't tell where they will lead you. Sometime in the future there will be a point of convergence, where you'll see the common thread among those experiences and be able to integrate them into a completely unique career that unites all your passions."

Russell also leads a Talent Advisory Council across Slalom's 11 offices and represents the national viewpoint on the firm's diversity initiatives, which keeps her on the road quite a bit.

"My specific challenges as a woman in consulting come from balancing travel with parenthood. In my role it's crucial to build solid relationships that help me understand the needs of our employees and clients," she says. "It can be challenging to balance a high-travel job with raising a toddler, but my support network and a great deal of flexibility from Slalom help make it work. I may never find the elusive balance we all seek, but as long as I'm fully challenged and engaged in each part of my life, it's all worth it."

As far as the award recognition, she says: "I gain a great deal of satisfaction from the challenges of my job, and this kind of recognition helps reaffirm the choices I've made to dedicate time and energy to my career."