The 2021 Women Leaders in Consulting: Caroline Parker

Caroline has over sixteen years' experience in international consultancy working with some of the world's most recognized brands. She has overseen the management and strategic development of clients' global and regional communications programs to deliver commercial success by protecting and enhancing brand reputation and value.

Caroline has worked with some of the leading names in her sectors, notably financial services and technology, across a range of stakeholders and disciplines providing senior counsel and cross border execution of corporate communications, transactions, capital markets activity and crisis communications across international and emerging markets.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"Having been based in a developed market for fifteen years, I moved to join the South African team seven years ago because I wanted to immerse myself in an emerging market environment. I've always loved experiencing different cultural perspectives, both personally and professionally so this married the two. Obviously, growing the business and our team has been our priority, but what's been really interesting is how we have embraced the differences and similarities of the consulting environment to respond to our clients' needs, whilst working in the broader economic and stakeholder context. In many instances, we have worked on client mandates that are aligned to the broader social and economic development of the country which is hugely rewarding.?

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

"The advice I would give to a female consultant is the same advice I would give to any consultant starting out. Make sure you always think about how you can add value and put yourself in the client's shoes. Bring being female to the table and embrace it because teams thrive on the diversity of the people in them and the skills each of them brings."

What excites you most about your consulting career?

"No client mandate is ever the same. So we always have to think about how we approach each client's specific challenge, what the solutions we deploy could look like to best respond to their needs and how we assemble the most relevant experience from our teams to execute on it."

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

"Never give up. Simple, but so relevant for every facet of life that you can always find a way."

What does being honored as a Woman Leader in Consulting mean to you?

"I hope that it helps to promote gender diversity and underlines the valuable contribution women make in the workplace."