The 2019 Rising Stars of the Profession: Chelsey Dudash

Age: 34

The first week Chelsey Dudash started as a consultant with North Highland, a leader told her that this job would be 'whatever she made it.' And it has been—and she's made it a huge success.

"North Highland has encouraged my success and truly enabled me to shape my career into 'whatever I make it.' As consultants, we're in the business of continuous improvement: for ourselves, our clients and our firm. I'm never going to master everything," she says. "And that's awesome."

At this point in her career, she says she's proud to have learned enough to be able to lead others—incredibly smart, capable colleagues and clients—and lean on her experiences to contribute to their development as people and as consultants.

What would she say is the biggest factor to her success so far? "I do what I say I'm going to do, when I say I'm going to do it," Dudash says. "Throughout my life and career, it's been important to me to be someone upon whom others can rely. In turn, I've made a point to help cultivate a team that I can rely on, and one that has allowed me to continue to hone my skills."

Her ability to stay focused on the big picture and anticipate what's coming next, she says, have been factors, too. That said, no single person, or set of qualities in a single person, can create success on their own, "and I'm thankful to be continuously supported by great teams, mentors, colleagues, friends and family."

Dudash says people pick up millions of pieces of advice along the way, but the two that have stuck with her the most came from her dad: If you're not going to do something right, don't do it at all; and if it is to be, it is up to me. "These two statements have given me motivation, determination and commitment when I needed them throughout the years and have shaped the ways I work and lead."

The Rising Star recognition is "nice external recognition that reminds me I'm making a difference for my team, my firm and my clients," she says.