The 2019 Women Leaders in Consulting: Jessika Garis

Chalk up another consulting success story to the Great Recession.

At the height of the recession, Jessika Garis' corporate accounting job was outsourced and she had a choice to move to another position within the company or make an investment in her career and seek a different opportunity. "I wanted to pursue a career that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and was a better fit for my personality and workstyle. I enjoy meeting and working with new people. I felt consulting checked off these boxes."

A decade later, Garis is a healthcare consulting manager in RSM's risk consulting practice and has more than 10 years of professional experience providing operational, financial, regulatory consulting, and outsourced and co-sourced internal audit services. She has extensive experience evaluating the effectiveness of compliance programs and managing the internal audit function for healthcare organizations. 

Her expertise also includes revenue cycle audits, comprehensive operational reviews, and HIPAA privacy assessments. Jessika's healthcare internal audit and financial support services have included: Operating as the interim VP of compliance for a health care client; managing the internal audit function for multiple health care systems; and, leading compliance program assessments for several large health care systems.

What she enjoys most about consulting, she says, is the commitment from her leadership team to people and clients. "I have been at RSM for a little over three years and in this short time, everyone from the CEO to my peers has elevated me and helped make me a better, more confident consultant," Garis says. "The investment that the firm has made in me and the faith they have in me to deliver valuable services to our clients and shape the future of the firm is inspiring."

Part of that investment in her incudes being selected into the RSM industry eminence program. In January 2019, Garis was selected as a senior analyst in RSM's cutting-edge industry eminence program, which positions its senior analysts to understand, forecast and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. "We advise clients on conditions influencing middle market leaders and my focus is on the healthcare industry," she says.

Meanwhile her greatest personal achievement, she says, is "becoming a mom to my wonderful son Jordan. I never understood what unconditional love is until now." 

As far as winning the Women Leaders in Consulting award, Garis says she is so humbled and honored that she's been chosen. "Being considered as a future leader means I am on the right path with the right organization and am surrounded by people who believe in me," she says. 

Q&A: What's the best advice—consulting or otherwise—you've ever received? 

"Be your own best advocate. Many women are afraid to promote themselves or ask for things (like raises or promotions). I never understood how important it was to speak up and ask for what I wanted. I assumed that if I kept my head down and worked hard that I would be recognized and be rewarded. While it is true that hard work does pay off, it will pay off a lot sooner for you if you advocate for yourself."