Rising Stars of the Profession: Matt Wheeler

Matt Wheeler is a Managing Director and Partner in L.E.K. Consulting's Boston office and a leader in the Pharmaceutical Services practice. Matt joined L.E.K. in 2010 and advises clients on a range of topics, including corporate and business-unit growth strategy, platform and portfolio development, new market prioritization and entry, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. Within the pharmaceutical services space, Matt has particular expertise and deep experience across clinical services, eClinical tools and commercial services.

Matt holds an MBA with distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he was elected an Edward Tuck Scholar, and a B.A. in economics from Boston College.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

While I'm very proud of my professional accomplishments, the great relationships I've built with colleagues and clients, and the joint successes we've seen together, my proudest achievements are personal ones. I have an amazing wife (Ashley) and we have a wonderful 5-month-old baby (William). Ashley is supportive, caring, and fun-loving – she has been an amazing partner and has helped me achieve on both a personal and professional level. Our baby Will is sweet, cute, curious, and happy. I'm proud of how I've balanced success at work and being present and involved at home. I think I've been able to strike a healthy work-life balance. The work can be demanding, but family is a priority and I think I've been able to do a good job of keeping that perspective. One of the silver linings of "work from home" has been seeing my son throughout the day (having lunch together, etc.) I proactively make space and time for that, and it is something I'm very proud of.

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

I'd say: Stay curious, ask a lot of questions, and don't be afraid of not knowing an answer. The people I've seen most successful in this industry are the ones who ask good questions. These questions are driven by genuine intellectual curiosity and fascination with a particular business problem, industry dynamic, interpersonal situation, etc. In a new situation/new job, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or uncertain. Many people in our industry suffer from "imposter syndrome" and don't want to look a certain way by asking what may be perceived as a "basic question." The best advice I can give is to ask the question. Be inquisitive. Stay curious. These are trademarks of an engaged, intellectual mind. Through questioning and curiosity, you build a deeper understanding of a situation, you shed light on things for other people around you, and you drive toward better outcomes for everyone.

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

I enjoy helping impact and shape an entire industry. The work we do for clients is so rewarding. But when we are able to work with a client to do something that's truly transformative and changes the way an entire industry functions, that's the most satisfying feeling. The work we're doing in pharma services is at the forefront of industry innovation, and we're regularly in a position where we help clients chart totally new paths and approaches in the space — which has been very exciting.

The cherry on top of everything above is when you can do all that with great people. I've been lucky to work with amazing colleagues and clients along the way — that makes the successes so much sweeter.

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

In my first week as a new associate at L.E.K., my career development coach gave me great advice that has stuck with me over the past 11 years. He said, "On every project, stop and think about what new skills or experiences you're developing. Sometimes you're focused on a new type of client problem, sometimes you're working with an industry that's new to you, sometimes you get to do a new analysis and sometimes your role on the team is unique. No matter the project, there is always something 'new' that you're getting from it that helps you learn and grow. Being mindful of that, looking for it, and keeping it front and center all allow you to be grateful and see the best in each project." I've since passed this advice to my mentees, and I think it's helped them too.

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

In my job, I'm always very focused on looking ahead – thinking about how we can help our clients with the next big thing, thinking about how we can grow our practice and our team, thinking about how we can continue to scale and enhance L.E.K. A byproduct of that "looking ahead" is that you don't often take time to reflect on the journey to date and the changes you've been able to reflect.