The 2021 Top 25 Consultants: Marcia Macphearson

Marcia is one of Oliver Wyman's most senior Partners and has held several leadership roles including Chicago Office Lead, co-lead of OWs Health Innovation Leader Alliance.

Marcia leads one of OW's largest IP platforms, the Healthcare Affordability and Quality Impact platform.  Marcia is also part of the firm's Digital Practice and has led the development of analytic tools to improve clinical and quality program outcomes.

She is an accomplished, results-oriented professional with demonstrated expertise leading strategic planning and business transformation with 16 years of proven success providing consultative services to high-profile public, private and non-profit entities within the health care sector. A trusted advisor to leadership teams to drive strategic plans and enhance business performance in health care markets. A respected leader with success in managing and empowering teams to deliver valuable and measurable results.

What does winning this award mean to you?

"Winning this award would mean so much to me! It would be validation that the work we do at Oliver Wyman to help our healthcare clients to improve the affordability, quality, and experience of their customers within healthcare is making a recognizable impact. And, most importantly, it would provide the opportunity to highlight the hard work, commitment, and collective efforts of what our teams are able to deliver to transform one of the biggest and most important industries globally – healthcare!"

What's been the biggest factor in your success?

"The teamwork and mentorship that I've received over the course of my career in consulting have by far been the biggest factor in my success. None of us can accomplish our best efforts if we work alone or in siloes. My mentors, my teams, and my clients push me to be better every day, and the supportive and challenging environment of consulting keeps me striving to grow and change. The culture, collaboration, and lifelong learning focus of the consulting environment and the mentorship and support of those at Oliver Wyman has been fundamental to my success."

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

"I've been in consulting the entirety of my career, and I wish I could say that I chose to specifically focus on healthcare within consulting, but instead it chose me. Or rather my first employer- Accenture – chose to place me within their healthcare practice as an entry-level consultant because that is where they needed resources the most. Over the course of my first few months and years in their healthcare practice, I grew a deep appreciation for the healthcare industry and considered myself lucky to have been placed in it. Healthcare is a human right, it is a part of everyone's lives, it is highly personal, and it is a very complex and regulated industry that is continually advancing and changing. As a result, to be in healthcare consulting means you have the rare mix of challenging and important work that ultimately results in someone getting better quality more affordable care. That is more important than simply improving a client's bottom-line results. Knowing that the work I do can ultimately deliver impact for individuals at that level has kept me motivated to dig deeper, grow, and strive for bigger and better impact over the last 20 years of my healthcare consulting career."