The 2021 Women Leaders In Consulting: Marci Marra

Over the course of Marci's career, she has often found herself as the only woman at the executive level and has embraced being a pioneer carving the way for greater diversity. She is a committed leader with a passion for inspiring people to innovate and make impactful changes. She is a certified coach and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and integrates her coaching practices into all aspects of her life.

Marci Marra is a pioneer in the consulting industry, from being the only woman on the leadership team in several different companies, to launching her own company and selling it, to being the first person (and woman) to be promoted to a Partner at Caiman Consulting, which was acquired by Sia Partners in 2019. She generously shares her time mentoring and coaching people inside and outside the organization and is a true inspiration to the women and men that know her.

Early on in career, she discovered a natural curiosity for technology, and how it would impact people and businesses, which lead her to the consulting industry. She studied how people responded to the change, the fear it caused, their resistance and scrutiny, and set out on a path to positively influence how people can embrace change and technology together and see it as something positive vs something they are dragged through.

Now, after more than 30 years of experience across multiple industries, Marci is considered a specialist in Organizational Health and Effectiveness. She is a committed leader with a passion for inspiring people to innovate and make impactful changes. She enjoys spending time coaching and mentoring Consultants and Clients to lead and manage strategic projects for Fortune 100 companies.

At Sia Partners, she splits her time between working directly with clients and leading several internal initiatives, such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and Sia Cares (volunteer and community outreach effort). Her tool kit is always growing to better support consultants and clients and you can see that reflected in her thought leadership posts on Linked in and frequent speaking engagements.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"My greatest achievement is not my own but is reflected in the faces of the countless clients and consultants I have led, mentored and coached over a 30+ year career. I have a file folder filled with success stories, thank you notes, even a book dedication from people I have spent time with over the years. These amazing and incredibly diverse people have influenced my life dramatically over time, much like water shapes the landscape. You don't see it changing the shape of rocks daily, you see it as you look back over decades."

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

"Leadership isn't about creating the company strategy, making the hard decision, or balancing the budget. It's about doing what is right for the people around you. Never forget the importance of establishing meaningful connections with people to create lasting and positive impressions. This bit of advice was shared with me decades ago, but still resonates and is a good reminder to focus on people first. More often than not, the rest can wait and should. Treat every interaction as a micro experience. Even if you only spend one to two minutes with a person, make sure they know you are listening, you value their time, they are your focus and leave feeling good about the experience. It may sound like an obvious thing but take a minute and think about all the times you are distracted when talking to someone. Did they feel important in the moment? Don't we all need that? Would it have been that hard to look someone in the eye, connect on a human, personal level and be present for just a few minutes? It takes practice, but when you know how to do this ― and whether you spend 30 seconds or an hour with someone ― you can feel that connection and create a great network for yourself. After living in the Seattle area all my life, my network is good. I've been able to help a few people along the way, and I've received wonderful advice, sponsorship and friendship, which has greatly contributed to my personal success and fulfillment."

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

"Stay curious, ask for help, and try to learn something new every day. Consulting is a challenging business and the only way to stay relevant is to continue to learn and grow. Sometimes this means trying to predict the future, so you stay ahead of technology changes. If you aren't moving forward you won't last in the consulting industry."

"Be authentic to who you are and what you stand for and be bold and brave. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need and what you want. There are going to be times it feels uncomfortable, but if you hold to your values, work hard and be true to yourself, you will find yourself leading from whatever level in the organization you sit."

"Have confidence and faith in your own ability and accept that you don't have all the answers (none of us do). It's OK to make mistakes as long as you learned from them. It took me a while to learn this but when I did, I became braver about voicing my opinion, and I was more willing to take risks. Failure wasn't something to be frightened of any longer. It was a step in the process. I think these things are particularly hard for women. We hold ourselves to unrealistic standards, afraid to be anything but perfect, and the strive for perfection holds us back from speaking up and taking risks."

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

"Receiving the Excellence in Leadership award is recognition to all the people that have influenced my life, encouraging me along this journey and cheering me on during the darkest hours. The consulting industry is rewarding and tough, being a good leader in any industry is challenging, being a Woman leader in consulting can feel impossible and incredibly lonely. I would like to share this award with all the brave, brilliant, and dedicated women that were the only woman in the conference room filled with men, left out of countless events like the poker or golf games when large deals were closed, asked to make coffee or plan the office party because they were female, yet persevered and cut a path for so many of us, cracking the glass ceiling and continue to battle against gender bias. Receiving awards is not about accolades, it is a symbol of respect and acceptance of a greater responsibility that is my legacy."