Rising Stars of the Profession: Chrissy Cocrane

Chrissy leads a diverse practice of 700 policy analysts, project and program managers, strategists, financial experts, science and technology professionals, and  change management consultants. Her cadre supports a broad federal mission space spanning healthcare, defense and national security, and citizen services. Chrissy has worked at LMI for almost 12 years and has supported various parts of the organization during her tenure. Chrissy started out as an analyst, supporting the Department of Defense, and after taking an interest in project management, built her career leading contracts supporting the USDA and the Centers for Medicare. Throughout her career, Chrissy, a self-proclaimed generalist, took interest in the art of business, and focused on roles that allowed her to better understand the levers to pull to successfully meet organizational goals. Prior to her current role, Chrissy stood up a business line focused on policy and government operations. She stepped into her role as Vice President over LMI's management consulting services in November 2020. Her current role includes managing LMI's management consulting services, and also providing corporate guidance as part of LMI's Senior Leadership Team.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

My greatest personal achievement is successfully raising two small children, while advancing my career, and managing our largest business line. I pride myself on my ability to manage my time and maintain a work life balance, and the fact that I've never let work get in the way of what matters most – my family.

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

Try different things and don't turn down an opportunity. I learned the most when I was supporting multiple clients and when I took the opportunity to try something new. Most of the time I wasn't ready, but if your company is giving you the opportunity to try, don't take that for granted.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

The people I've met along the way. Having supported various clients, across federal government, I learned something from each and every one of them and it has helped me develop my leadership style. Similarly, every single person I've worked with at LMI has left a positive impact on me. It's the people that make this work special and fun.

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

Play with the cards you've been dealt instead of trying to play with ones that you think you should have. We all have our strengths and or weaknesses. For a long time, I was trying to be something that I wasn't. Once I figured out what my "cards" were, I've been able to stay true to who I am, build a team around me who has been able to fill my gaps and weaknesses, and be more confident in what I have to offer.

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

That adventure is still out there. I've been able to do a lot in a short amount of time, but I still have a lot of opportunities ahead of me. As a rising star, I want to develop those who will come behind me, meet and work with those who are going to help me be the best version of me, and appreciate the ride that I'm currently on.