The 2021 Women Leaders In Consulting: Tina Cooper

Now, in a consulting leadership role at Grant Thornton, Tina helps the DoD and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) design programs that improve wellbeing for servicemembers and their families. She's currently supporting a DHS task force for diversity and inclusion by providing in-depth data analysis to study gender and representation disparities within career specialties and levels.

Tina also empowers Pan-Asian professionals like herself. For the past three years, Tina has created career advancement programs and served as an Executive Vice President for the Greater Washington chapter of Ascend, the largest North American organization for Pan-Asian professionals. Tina, who's also heavily involved in Grant Thornton's Pan-Asian Business Resource Group, is helping this community develop confidence and leadership skills crucial for success.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"I'm certainly proud of what my teams have been able to do for our clients — increasing efficiency and effectiveness and improving safety and employee wellness — but what matters most to me is the difference I've made for individual people. Through my involvement in the Greater Washington chapter of Ascend, the largest North American organization for Pan-Asian professionals, and the U.S Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, I've had the immense privilege of meeting so many amazing professionals whose dreams I get to support. The first example that comes to mind happened at a recent conference. A colleague and Military veteran whom I'd mentored through Grant Thornton's participation in the Hiring Our Heroes program pulled me aside to tell me that I was one of the people he admired most because of the kind of leadership and integrity that I brought to work. Hearing his words moved me to tears because it was such a meaningful and unexpected validation of the way I want to show up for my teammates and clients and the way I define success in my career."

What's the best advice—consulting or otherwise—you've ever received?

"The best advice I've ever received is to never apologize for having an idea. When I first got into consulting, a close friend and mentor pointed out that I had a tendency to downplay my ideas and say things like 'This is just my opinion, but…' or start emails with phrases like 'Sorry to trouble you, but…' She explained to me that those phrases added zero value to the content and it cheapened whatever I was planning to write or say next. I believe this is especially important advice for women, who, historically, have not been afforded the same opportunities as our male colleagues. To that end, it's important for us to be confident in our work and have trust in our talent, our abilities, and in what we have to offer our clients and the workplace."

What advice would you give to a female consultant just beginning her career?

"I would tell her to trust in yourself and your abilities. There will be times when you're not sure you're ready for a role, and there will be times when you are simply afraid to speak up at a meeting. Don't pass up opportunities due to self-doubt and always remember the role is being offered to you for a reason. You're in those important meetings for a reason — it's because you belong there."

What does this recognition mean to you?

"The nomination was a surprise because, quite frankly, I've been so immersed in my work that I didn't think about incredible accolades like this. Plus, I believe it's often the case that people don't consider the full breadth of their impact until they take a moment to reflect. That's exactly what this nomination caused me to do: reflect. And as I think about this Future Leader award, I realize there's a certain power that comes with being seen — and being seen is also an incredible motivator to do even more. In short, being named to this list alongside other incredible women in the consulting profession would be a true honor; one that would empower me to keep honing my skills and going above and beyond for my clients and colleagues."