Julie McPherson 
Booz Allen Hamilton
Excellence in Client Services
Julie McPherson has had countless female mentors in her 25 years at Booz Allen Hamilton says there's a piece of advice she has received in many different forms—that you can't solve every problem at once. "Even if you know the answer (if there is one), effective leaders don't try to tackle every piece of it. They bring the right set of stakeholders and experts together to get to the destination in the optimal way and they account for diverse perspectives and experiences. As someone who likes to jump in and fix things, it's an important reminder that many things can't just be fixed—those things need patience and true leadership, rather than unilateral decisions." She adds, "Just as importantly, now more than ever, is understanding that everyone working for you has a life. You never know where someone is on their journey and what a person is going through. At the end of the day, we're all 100% human, and leaders need to account for imperfection, create space for people to make mistakes, and then support them on their way back up.
McPherson grew up in the technology consulting industry and experienced times in her career when she needed someone to say 'they've been there and they can relate.' "I've been blessed with leaders who have lifted me up when I needed support and presented me with challenges to grow in my profession. To me, this award is both a direct outcome of the impact of the women who have shaped my journey—and it also signals what's possible for the next generation of women in technology." She goes on to add, "As I look ahead, I'm energized from the continued investment that Booz Allen is making in recruiting and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. The industry has come a long way since my early days in the field, and I'm proud to play a small role—sponsoring the women's business resource group at our firm to support this essential mission."
She admits her most rewarding work has been with the Children's Inn at NIH, a home for families with children participating in NIH research studies. "I've been privileged to volunteer, assist with strategic planning, and found Women for the Inn (WINN)—an initiative that brings women together to use their personal philanthropy networks to support the Inn's mission and enhance the comfort of residents." McPhearson notes, "It's also been satisfying to bring my technical and design thinking skills to the Children's Inn, helping the organization better achieve its mission and focus on the most impactful activities. One example is we developed Zilly, a chatbot (named for the Inn's therapy dog) that helps families get answers to questions and connect with the Inn more easily."
Q&A: What unique challenges have you experienced being a female consultant in the technology field?
"This isn't necessarily unique for others in my industry but probably an experience that many others can relate to. There was a time early on when I worked almost exclusively for, and with, male colleagues. There were many moments when I was starkly aware of how I didn't 'fit the mold' and I truly felt like I needed to act like a different person. I learned a lot about resilience from those years, being dismissed for my gender and age, and I had to figure out how to break through that."
"It wasn't until much later, when I had the opportunity to work with women—who are women first and incredible leaders second—when I found my authentic voice and understood my real value proposition. It was a journey, but I know I wouldn't be an effective and trusted business leader if I couldn't be authentically myself and show others that they should do the same."
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.