Leslie Parker
Kearney
Excellence in Leadership
Leslie Parker says she ended up in consulting by accident. She was part of a scholarship group at Georgetown that encouraged liberal arts students to pursue business careers. She had intended to go to law school, but that year Kearney interviewed the seniors in her group. "I was intrigued—and my heart wasn't really in being a lawyer—so I took Kearney's offer."
Fast forward 23 years later and she's still here. Today, she's a Partner based in the San Francisco office and a member of the firm's Operations and Performance Transformation Practice where
She helps organizations improve profitability and performance through broad-scale transformation. Her work spans many industries, including communications, media, retail, and chemicals.
Ask her what's she's looking forward to over the next 12 months and she says, the answer would have been different a few months ago because of Covid-19. She wonders if the "new normal"—whatever that ends up being—will keep consultants off the road a little more, closer to home yet still intimately connected with clients and colleagues. "That might be a silver lining following an event that has been so hard on so many," Parker says.
Parker says she is extremely proud of being a member and leader of Black@Kearney—the firm's network for advancing black professionals within the firm. "I had a lot of great roles models growing up in the firm, and I'm working to do my part now," she says.
When it comes to the day in and day out of serving clients, Parker says she's "enjoyed the tough moments most—staying up all night with a team, working to a deadline, pushing together with a client on something important to them," she says. "It's so much fun."
Parker, a single parent, says it truly does takes a village to allow her to do the work she loves. "I'm so fortunate to have family, friends, and colleagues who support me, especially when things get tough."
In 2016, Parker was named a Working Mother of the Year by Working Mother magazine, and in 2015 she was recognized as a Future Leader by Consulting magazine as part of its Women Leaders in Consulting Awards. Now, five years later, Consulting is back with new Top 25 Consultants recognition.
"This award is an honor. I'm grateful for it, but it isn't all about me," she says. "For two decades, the people at Kearney have been my colleagues and friends, and I'm proud to represent them all through this award."
Q&A: What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?
Parker: I'm motivated by the people around me. I stand on the shoulders of my parents and my sister who have supported me. I want my children, John and Claire, to see their mom successful and happy at work. I want my clients and colleagues to succeed.
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