The 2021 Women Leaders In Consulting: Chérie Schaible

Chérie was previously associate general counsel and managing director at AIG Investments where she managed a team of attorneys responsible for supporting a full range of investment transactions, including fixed income securities, loans, equity investments, and life settlements.

Chérie was directly responsible for advising clients that managed more than $5 billion on restructurings, high-yield transactions, and residential mortgage lending.

She supported the compliance department on various matters and worked with the regulatory team on processes to facilitate Federal Reserve regulations, including corporate governance, policies, procedures, and legal entity reporting. She advised on the impact and implementation of processes and procedures to comply with the Volcker Rule of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"One of my greatest professional achievements has been building our legal department from the ground up at Ankura. In 2016, I left my stable job for the challenge of building a legal department at a newly formed consulting firm. When I joined Ankura, it was a US employee-only company with approximately 150 professionals; five years later we have grown to over 1500 professionals and have expanded our global footprint to include EMEA and APAC."

"During this time, in addition to doing the day-to-day legal work, I utilized my prior experience as a lawyer at a global law firm and a multinational finance and insurance company, together with working with our various practice group leaders to redefine the role of legal within a company. I have thoughtfully built a team of talented lawyers who support the company internationally on a variety of matters and the business views legal as a key partner to their business."

In addition to building the legal department, I have learned to be transformational and pliable, as I have handled many high-profile matters at the same time as negotiating back-to-back M&A transactions (six in less than five years), to bringing on new senior professionals to our firm. I am grateful for the team that I have built with the support of my c-suite and in particular, my CEO who has believed in me, mentored me, and helped elevate me to where I am today.

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

"I am fortunate that I have an excellent relationship with our CEO who has provided me with the best advice that I have received: actively listen and process a thoughtful response, considering what you just heard from others, before you respond. We live and operate in such a fast-paced environment that a lot of times people do not stop to listen and have knee-jerk reactions or desire to state our point of view before listening to what others have to say. I have found that actively listening to someone's point of view before responding has helped achieve resolution or solutions in a much timelier manner."

"In my five years at Ankura, I have been instrumental in the acquisition and integration of companies and people, many of which had their own specific processes of what worked for them and how things were done. Obviously, professionals are much more comfortable with what they are used to and what they know, and a new system or policy can be daunting. Part of my responsibility is to ease that anxiety, listen to what worked for them, how we could integrate or modify our processes to incorporate their recommendations or explain why there was going to have to be change. Listening and understanding their viewpoint and offering valid suggestions in moving forward has been invaluable advice."

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

"Never underestimate your ability to learn new things and don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. I started my career as a restructuring lawyer at a global law firm. When I left the law firm and went inhouse as an Associate General Counsel at a multinational finance and insurance company, I undertook not only restructuring work but also worked on many engagements that were out of my wheelhouse but I was encouraged by the challenge and loved learning new areas of the law."

"As fate would have it, I ran into a former restructuring colleague in the airport on my way to a family vacation about six years ago. We started talking and he was telling me about a new firm that he had just joined and that they were in the market for a General Counsel. I had never held the General Counsel seat nor worked in consulting but with the support of my husband and my restructuring colleague (now our CEO), I accepted the challenge and now am the General Counsel of a 1500+ professional global consulting firm. I did not fear failure, was honest about my abilities, the fact I was going to have to figure some of it out along the way, but that I knew when to ask for help or seek the advice of others. It has been the most challenging and rewarding time of my career."

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

"To be recognized for my accomplishments, hard work and dedication by such a prestigious organization and be among so many successful women is extremely gratifying and a humbling experience. As a mom of two young children, it is important to me that they see their mom as someone who works hard, loves what she does outside of the home and makes a difference at work and in her community. I also specifically want to show young women that they deserve these seats and that they do not have to limit their goals. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family and a career that I love. Mentoring our younger professionals has always been one of my favorite extra-curricular activities at Ankura and developing our future generation of leaders who see women at the table with valued input into the organization."

"I recognize that I am only as good as the team that I have, so this recognition is a validation of the dedication and collaboration of the team members that I have brought on board this journey with me. With their help and hard work, we have supported a growing organization from 150 to 1500 professionals in under five years, which is no easy feat. Also – this recognition validates the discussion that I had with our now CEO six years ago in an airport, who took a chance on me, knowing I had two very small children at the time and a husband with a challenging job also. I jumped at the chance and never looked back."