The 2018 Women Leaders in Consulting: Debbie Simpson

Well, she sure picked a good one in Boston. But before Boston Consulting Group, Simpson worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 16 years—nine as a partner. She led the Northeast region's international tax team for several years and served on the U.S. Board of Directors. She greatly enjoyed her time at PwC, especially her years in client service and developing teams in a high-growth environment, focusing on serving multinational organizations, she says. 

Simpson joined BCG as a Partner in 2001 to assist the firm in its global expansion, as well as oversee its expert finance functions and HR operations, including compensation, benefits and mobility. 

Today, Simpson is Chief Financial Officer, Head of Functions, Senior Partner and Managing Director. In 2007, Debbie became Chief Financial Officer and a member of BCG's Executive and Operating Committees. In this role, she helped manage BCG through the 2008-2009 financial crisis and subsequent years of high growth, overall helping BCG triple in size over the last 11 years and deepening its global footprint, with more than 17,000 partners and staff located in 90-plus cities in more than 50 countries today. 

It's all this and more that led to Simpson being named the 2018 Women Leaders in Consulting's Lifetime Achievement Award winner. 

Although the recognition is surely a great feat, ask Simpson her greatest achievement over the course of her career and she'll say that it was "helping BCG triple in size during my tenure, but without losing who we are," something that remains very important to Simpson. 

And that "not losing who we are" has been one of the keys to the firm's success and her longevity at BCG, Simpson says. "I enjoy working for a global partnership that really has purpose/culture that is special," she says. "It makes all the tougher days well worth it, and just seeing us add many partners every year and retain the purpose/culture is super special. And then of course the people—self-less, hard-working, smart folks that I enjoy teaming with every day."

During the last five years, as BCG has invested in new business models and Digital businesses, Simpson has played a critical role in developing those models, supporting investments, and working with the firm's partners to expand and integrate new capabilities into its client offerings.  

She has also more recently taken responsibility for the Global Functions Leadership Team, helping to guide the further evolution of BCG's operations.

"Seek out the interesting and challenging work. The other will fall away as you prove you can take on the hard things," she says. That's the best advice she says she's ever received, and now she's passing it on—both in theory and in practice. 

In 2019, Simpson will transition out of the CFO role after 12 years to fully focus on guiding BCG's business functions, leading over 5,000 colleagues. This team aspires to drive increasing value in the business, increase its digital capabilities, and provide great support and thought-partnership to BCG teams worldwide. She will also continue her roles on BCG's Operating Committee, M&A Committee, Digital Ventures and Formation Boards for BCG.

As far as advice she would give to a female consultant just beginning her career? Simpson says: "Learn from many, but choose a style and way of serving your clients, teaming, and developing people that is your own." That has served her well over the years, for sure. 

Beyond work, Simpson has focused on her family—husband Lee and children Eric, Christopher, and Lucy. She also enjoys time on beloved sports, such as tennis, paddle, skiing, golf, soccer and more as well as her passion for the Red Sox. She also enjoys music and hiking, as well as bringing her capability to charitable and other causes, including managing a charitable fund she started with her husband in 2015.     

As for a lifetime of lessons, Simpson says she's certainly got a few but is quick to point out that she is nowhere near the end of her career. Despite receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award from Consulting magazine, Simpson is adamant that she will go on longer—and perhaps a lot longer—at BCG. "I'm no where near finished yet, so this award is a bit misleading," she says. "I sort of feel like I'm right in the middle of my career, to be honest. I still have an awful lot left to do." 

And who could possibly doubt her?

Q&A: What does winning the Women Leaders in Consulting award mean to you?

Simpson: "It is special for the 5000-plus non-client service folks at BCG. This group (and I am sure at other professional services firms), are unsung heroes and create a huge imprint on the culture, operations, and success of the firms. So, I stand here for them!"