The 2021 Women Leaders In Consulting: Donna Bauer

She leads the Tech Vertical Consulting Practice and is known for innovation in the Ecosystem, Partner Relationship and the CoSell model leveraging SaaS and Hyperscalers.

She is the consulting lead for Cognizant's Strategic Engagement Team (SET) for the firm's largest deals. She specializes in creative deal shapes that assure the alignment of goals, solutions based on the aspirations of the clients, value propositions associated with the optimal solutions and outcomes are achieved.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"The achievement that I am most proud is seeing the growth of the people that I have interacted with over the years. As a former GE leader, we were taught the value of real leadership (vs management) and how it impacts the results of an organization, but more importantly, the impact it makes in people's lives. Teaching, coaching, mentoring, and grooming those that are around you was part of the culture that I grew up with. It is part of my DNA. The people that I have worked with over the years have become successes in their own right, and some have become CEOs and COOs. As a person that values impact, I can clearly connect the dots in their career."

"While I would like to say those are the high points, it struck me that while I was building my new team at Cognizant, that there were real personal impacts. When I asked each one of my new hires why they wanted to join our Tech Vertical practice, 80% said they wanted to work for a leader, they wanted to learn, and they wanted to be part of something big. I realized that my career has come full circle and at Cognizant we can thrive together."

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

"As consultants we are strategists by nature, but always remember that 'Culture eats strategy for lunch' – Peter Drucker. No matter how great the strategy is or how fast your client needs to move, if the culture of the organization is not ready, then jointly we may not be as successful."

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

"Always keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. If you are willing to take a measured risk and willing to try something new, you never know where it will lead you."

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

"The recognition pays tribute to the consultants, teachers, and mentors that have come before me. They persevered and blazed the trail. The path was smoother as a result of the work they have done before me. I would also like to think that the work we are doing today, makes the trail easier for the next generation of consultants."