Rising Stars of the Profession: Ashley Rocha-Rinere

Ashley Rocha-Rinere was a Manager in Kearney's Consumer & Retail Practice where she served clients across the industry as well as at the intersection of consumer and media for over 7 years. In February 2022, she joined Tapestry Inc, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, as a Director of Strategy to continue her career in the retail industry. Rocha-Rinere holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and resides in New York City with her husband, Cheyne, and dog, Wilbur.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement as a consultant was developing the analysts and associates on my teams in a supportive and fun environment.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

My advice to a consultant just starting out is to always have your own perspective on the problem you've been tasked with solving. Whether that's having an interpretation of the analysis you just completed and what it might mean for the client or having an opinion on the content for the next deck. Don't just calculate the numbers or build the slide and move onto the next task. Doing the critical thinking to develop your point of view and voice that point of view early in your career will build the muscle memory that sets you up for success as your progress.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

I most loved working alongside such smart, fun, and humble colleagues.

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

The best professional advice I've ever received is to stay above the fray and form your own opinions.

What does being honored as a Rising Star mean to you?

Being honored as a Rising Star is incredibly validating. I committed an incredible amount of time and energy to deliver excellent work for our clients while also trying to support my teams to the best of my ability, and being recognized for doing that well means a lot.