The 2019 Women Leaders in Consulting: Jennifer Lee

Jennifer Lee wears many hats: She is the Managing Partner responsible for developing the critical issue-based growth platforms for Deloitte Canada and Chile. She is also Deloitte's Global Financial Advisory Clients and Industries Leader delivering the firm's global advisory go-to-market strategy. In addition, she is a board member for a not-for-profit that helps children from low-income households stay in school.

"I am looking forward to using my global role and my managing partner role in Canada to elevate other minorities, diverse individuals and women into senior roles," she says. "I've seen the challenges these individuals face, and know I am now in a position to drive change."

Lee comes from an immigrant family and humble beginnings and says she wants to pay it forward because over the course of her career, senior people took chances on her and opened doors for her to find opportunities. 

"When I took over the global role, I had inherited a non-diverse executive team. I am proud to say we now have three women on the executive team who are making a difference and impacting our clients and our business—all they needed was an opportunity to shine," Lee says. 

What Lee also enjoys most is that her day-to-day is equal parts fluid and complex, and she's working alongside diverse and high-performing people. "One morning, I am leading a part of Deloitte's global business and working hand in hand with our member firm partners and global leaders to discuss how we are going to lead the way in a particular industry in Asia," Lee says. "In the afternoon, I could be meeting with clients talking about how they can transform their business and reduce costs given the shifts in retail, drawing upon my global experiences."

As far as being recognized as a Women's Leaders in Consulting, Lee says her hope is that other women will look at her and feel encouraged that it is possible to have a partner; have a family, if they choose to do so; take care of aging parents, have close friends and have a fulfilling life in which ever path they choose. "It can be messy and exhausting, yet fun all at the same time. One of my mentors keeps telling me to have fun, and I am trying to live this every day," Lee says. "I am a diverse woman with an unconventional background, and the fact I have been chosen for the award will hopefully inspire those to take the "road less travelled" that I have been on. I expect to have five more careers before I retire (if I ever do!)."

Q&A: What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"There are two: making partner early in my career was both an honor and a humbling experience. The second was deciding to apply for a volunteer job with a global microfinance organization, where I spent eight years in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan helping to restructure the micro-loan industry. This allowed me to travel and meet with many inspiring people, particularly women who wanted to start small businesses to lift their families out of poverty. These experiences sparked a real passion for understanding how micro-loans can be a catalyst for reducing poverty in developing countries."