The 2019 Women Leaders in Consulting: Lisa Caldwell

Lisa Caldwell says it was both design and accident that she ended up with a career in consulting. Her background as an engineer taught her to problem solve, she says. And as she started a career in the auto industry, she saw firsthand how business knowledge combined with problem solving skills could really make a difference. 

"So, I went to Business School to learn more about how business works. Then I got lucky and connected with consulting firms that showed me how to bring it all together," Caldwell says. "And the journey began."

It's a journey that has taken her on many career arcs, including more than 20 years of management consulting, global operations and engineering experience leading large-scale enterprise transformation. Her experience includes strategic planning, business model transformation, supply chain optimization, technology-driven change, analytics, operational efficiency and cognitive systems implementation. 

"Solving complex problems with a team of talented, experienced consultants that can deliver value to a client that they couldn't get on their own," is what Caldwell truly enjoys about the consulting profession, she says.

Today she is proud to be recognized for building business models, systems and processes that drive profitable growth in highly competitive markets, while championing the next generation of leaders, she says. 

And the journey has ultimately brought her to this seminal achievement—being recognized as Consulting's Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2019.

Ask her what the award means to her and she'll say that her purpose is to be a servant leader (like her dad), enabling others. "The consulting profession provides me that platform, she says. "I have worked to leverage the opportunity with my skills and passion. This award is a visible recognition of the results.  I couldn't be prouder (and I know my dad is too)!"

In many ways, the award is the culmination of a lifetime of servant leadership. In her current role as the EY Americas Central Region Advisory Managing Partner, Lisa is responsible for consulting go-to-market strategy, market-driven product/service innovation and delivery of value to EY clients. 

Caldwell works with EY industry and account teams to integrate EY's insight and capabilities to solve clients' toughest problems. Previously, she was the EY Americas Advisory Markets leader driving market segment strategy, solution development and account enablement.

Ask her what she considers her greatest professional and personal accomplishments and she says professionally, she's proud of "the creation of Order to Delivery and Available to Promise concepts in manufacturing that contributed to changing an industry," Caldwell says. 

"Personally, my family, we are a team that works to make life better. I have been married for 26 years to a wonderful person and fellow problem solver who inspires (and supports) me every day.   And our amazing daughter, who teaches us and challenges us to be bold, is starting Engineering School in 2020."

Indeed, at the Women Leaders in Consulting Gala in New York last month, Caldwell's husband was on hand to present her with the award and her daughter was in the room cheering her on. "Being a successful consultant is about listening, learning and teaming. Have a point of view, articulate it with clarity, revise it with others and execute it with passion," she says. 

Caldwell is quick to point out that this Lifetime Achievement Award is not the end of the journey, by any means. She's already got her eyes fixed on 2020 and says she is most passionate about the impact "globalization, demographics and technology" will have as the primary forces driving a discussion on the future of work. 

"This generation of leaders has the unique opportunity to define that new working world," Caldwell says. "I see 2020 as the time to innovate business models and push boundaries for our clients and our firms."

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

Caldwell: "The essence of character is 'always do what is right.' And the essence of apprenticeship is 'watch one, do one, teach one.'