Rising Stars of the Profession: Christina Powers

Christina finds fulfillment in keeping her clients' organizations safe from harm. A cybersecurity specialist, she works with a range of companies, including private equity firms and their portfolio companies, to understand risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them – before they can cause significant financial losses, interrupt operations, or affect investment value.

Christina leads the Cybersecurity Advisory for Private Equity (CAPE) program – which provides ongoing visibility into security practices and risks across a firm's portfolio and helps investors determine where they need to influence changes. She also conducts cybersecurity due diligence for potential acquisitions.

Christina began her career in Accenture's Technology Consulting Security practice, where she worked on implementing a global identity and access management solution for a global insurance company. She earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and has attended management courses at the Yale School of Management.

She enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Some of her favorite trips include hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park and skiing Whistler Blackcomb outside of Vancouver.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Building and growing our Cybersecurity Advisory for Private Equity (CAPE) offering is my proudest achievement. The frequency and impact of cybersecurity attacks continue to increase, and private equity portfolios are an attractive target. The CAPE program is designed specifically for private equity firms and their portfolio companies to quickly identify existing threats and help portfolio companies proactively prevent future attacks.

By outlining ways for each company to improve their cybersecurity posture and supporting the implementation of their cybersecurity strategy, we are ultimately protecting the private equity firm's investment. My team and I have worked over the last few years with hundreds of portfolio companies across many of the top private equity firms. It's been rewarding to see individuals on my team grow in consulting and take the next steps in their careers in both client delivery and leadership. At a consulting firm, our people are our most valuable assets, and the CAPE program wouldn't have grown to what it is today without such a solid core team.

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

Saying yes to new opportunities and experiences. This is especially important when beginning a career in consulting. I've been fortunate to have very supportive leadership that has given me these opportunities, including providing stretch roles that helped me grow. Going outside your comfort zone and working on different engagements or in a new industry can be intimidating but has ultimately provided me with a wide variety of exposure, resulting in making me a better consultant.

These opportunities have also helped me grow both my internal and external network through the variety of relationships I've since developed. Through saying yes, I got exposure to the world of private equity, due diligence, and post-close work. The quick-paced nature of this area and the variety of industries, company sizes, and teams was something that I really enjoyed and where I have spent my time working the past five years. The style of leadership that gave me these opportunities is something that I aim for with my teams today—looking for how I can get others to say "yes" to similar exposure opportunities to identify and ultimately grow in areas they are passionate about.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

I really enjoy the variety of people I get to work with every day, both at West Monroe and my clients. I also really like working with these people across a host of industries and companies. This has exposed me to many different perspectives which has enabled me to think about and approach cybersecurity and overall resiliency of companies in unique ways.

Pre-pandemic, the travel that came with consulting was definitely an added bonus of the job — getting to see new cities and regularly connect with people in person. Fortunately, I am still able to satisfy my lust for travel and exploring new cities with my recent move to Los Angeles to build out West Monroe's cybersecurity practice on the West Coast.

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

Be thoughtful and intentional about how you spend your time. When committing to tasks, projects, and various asks, it's important to understand what is high-value as opposed to low value and not urgent, which can cause a lot of churn and distraction. This applies to both professional work and personal time. Spending time on high-value tasks creates a more rewarding environment and allows for more fulfillment and ultimately growth.

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

Being recognized is an honor. It shows me that my contributions to West Monroe are valued, as both a contributor to our overall success and a leader within the company. This recognition demonstrates the value that West Monroe puts on its people, helping to elevate them in the market and highlight their accomplishments. It also demonstrates that my company believes in me to help lead us in future growth, continuing to perform great client service while growing our people and supporting them on their own career journeys. I am excited to be selected for this recognition as it provides external validation of my hard work, and I am joining an impressive group of peers.