The 2019 Rising Stars of the Profession: Angela Courtney

Age: 32

When it comes to her career, Angela Courtney says she is proud of her decision to enter the field of management consulting after college. She had multiple options, yet this has been a career path in which she has grown, been tested, and rewarded for results.

"Not to mention that I genuinely love what I do and the people I work with at Ankura," she says. "Collaborating with smart team members and clients to unearth creative solutions to complex problems is incredibly exciting. Leading strategic change with a people-first approach is gratifying, especially as our world is becoming increasingly complex."

As a management consultant, she says she enjoys the opportunity to collaborate with others to solve complex problems and lead strategic change across organizations. "I enjoy the fast pace of my role and the ability to work with sharp team members at Ankura who share my passion for delivering top-quality client service," she says. "I have been very fortunate to work closely with and learn from several mentors whom I deeply respect both professionally and personally."

Two of these individuals successfully started their own firms, she says, which takes an immense amount of grit, skill, and passion. "These individuals have been role models as I have grown in my consulting career, and I am grateful for their encouragement, support and guidance. Textbook learning is valuable but will never replace learning firsthand from the best of the best consultants."

At the end of the day, it is all about people, she says. "We partner with clients to engineer efficient processes, launch the best products, and have a solid growth strategy, but if the right people are not on board or if they are not aligned, success is unlikely."

As far as winning a Rising Stars award, Courtney says it is an incredible honor. "I owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues and leaders at Ankura, our clients, and my family," she says. "Without them this would not have been possible."