The 2022 Women Leaders In Technology: Traci Gusher

Traci is the Americas Leader for Data & Analytics at EY where she leads a team of data scientists, engineers and consultants deeply skilled in helping organizations achieve analytics powered businesses through data-driven decisions She is an experienced executive with significant expertise leading programs focused on artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and data fabric programs.

What has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

A primary value driver of my success has been putting people at the center of my purpose. At the same time, I always challenge my clients to put their people at the center of how they build and evolve their businesses. At the end of the day, putting people first also puts the customer first.

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

What I enjoy most is the diversity of opportunities, thinking and people. Consulting is one of the best places to grow a career when you have a thirst for learning and doing a variety of things. I have had no less than three very different and meaningful career focuses in my 20 years of consulting and have grown knowledge in areas I would not have anticipated. Additionally, consulting is an industry that truly embraces diversity of people and thinking. To that end, I am a strong advocate for women's growth in this industry and specifically with focus on Data, analytics and broader technology areas. I have a personal goal to establish a gender-equal ratio within my team by 2024.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

In my previous role, I built a data and analytics practice from the ground up comprised of data scientists, software and data engineers and D&A/AI Consultants focused on Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence solutions. I am proud of the extensible growth in talent, capabilities and revenue that team created – and how it has led to my role today as Data and Analytics leader at EY, overseeing a team across the Americas with over 1500 people.

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

The best advice I ever received came from two people; my husband and a long-term professional mentor. Both told me that 100% of the time, you will not get what you want or deserve unless you ask for it. No one can read your mind. So if there is a role, a promotion, a raise, or a special present you want, don't expect to get it, unless you let it be known that you want it.