The 2021 Women Leaders In Consulting: Cara McFadden

Cara is a passionate and collaborative leader focused on creating an environment where her teams are empowered and inspired to deliver high-quality services that help clients solve their most important, complex problems. At Guidehouse, she is a partner within the international public sector practice, primarily focused on the U.S. Department of State.

Cara has been delivering information technology and business process transformation projects to public sector clients for nearly 20 years, specializing in IT project and portfolio management, strategic planning, evaluation and business process reengineering, and organizational change management.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"Our work to assist the US Department of State's Office of Global Women's issues is some of the most rewarding work my team and I do. While the relative size of the account is small compared to some of my other work for the State Department and other agencies, the mission to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls around the world through US foreign policy and diplomacy is a mission that I'm so honored to be a part of. As a working mother of a 7-year-old daughter, this issue is especially important to me and I'm glad I get to play even a minor role in advancing that issue as part of my professional career."

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

"Surround yourself with the best people. I'm thankful to be in the position I am in, much in part to the many women – and men – who have impacted my career. This includes colleagues that I have been so lucky to have built my career with, previous and current supervisors that gave me opportunities, mentors that provided me with candid feedback on how to develop as a person and professional, and family and friends that have been my support system through it all. I've been so very lucky to have such great people around me. No one can achieve great things alone, so it's important to be intentional early on in your career about who you want to work for, who you choose as your mentors to learn from, and most importantly, who you want to work with – colleagues who share your values and the spirit of teamwork so you can lift each other and our clients up to truly achieve great things."

What excites you most about your consulting career?

"Winning as a team. I grew up playing team sports, including lacrosse in college, and I think I'd miss sports even more if I didn't replace my team on the field with the one at Guidehouse. Winning together, both as a team and with our clients, is very important to me. In college, while I enjoyed scoring, I was most proud in leading my team in assists – to being a part of someone else's success. That is exactly how I feel now – that so much of my role as a leader involves seeing the field, knowing my team, and finding ways to tee up success for the team, and of course ultimately the client."

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

"When thinking about your own path toward advancement, try thinking of your career like a round of golf – just play your game and don't worry about the other players. All you can control is what you do; nothing else. And don't see the other 'players' as competition; there is enough room for everyone to be successful. What's best is to support one another. Focus on performing your best and supporting others; it will get noticed and rewarded."

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

"I try to be an example to young women as I believe that young professionals need to see people like them achieving in the workplace to help them feel more comfortable and confident that they can do it. I'm very humbled to be recognized and hope it can serve as an example to the women on my team."