The 2022 Women Leaders In Consulting: Kathleen M. Pomento

Kathleen has over 20 years of experience marketing to a wide array of industries including procurement, asset management, banking and capital markets, consumer goods, real estate and insurance. She is passionate about driving value through strategic marketing, creatively and effectively communicating, and developing talent and mentoring.

Before joining ProcureAbility, Kathleen served as Deloitte's US Investment Management marketing leader, and previously led Marketing for Pershing's Broker-Dealer, Prime Brokerage and Trading Services practices. She also has experience as a dispute analysis and investigation consultant and business interruption negotiator.

Kathleen holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State and a dual MBA in Marketing, and Communications and Media Management from Fordham University. She was recognized by Consulting Magazine's Women Leaders in Consulting Awards in the category of Mentor of the Year. Kathleen loves traveling, snowboarding, the beach, and Pilates She lives in Baltimore with her husband and their two children.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement has been the opportunity to make a small difference in the lives of the people I have mentored. It has truly given me great joy and a personal feeling of accomplishment and pride to give back and spend time helping and learning from my mentees.

I asked a former mentee of mine, whom I met when she was 14 years old, what our mentor relationship meant to her and am incredibly touched and humbled by her response. "I had the honor of being paired with Kathleen to mentor me in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. This has been one of the most gratifying and life changing experiences of my life. Kathleen guided me through difficult college decisions and helped me with applications, letters of recommendation, and offered great advice like the big sister that she is to me. I remember the day she took me to watch my first Broadway show; she even helped me put together my prom outfit offering her own accessories and shoes. I hope she knows that her devoted time as a mentor makes a huge difference and that she made an impact in my life."

What advice would you give to a female consultant just beginning her career?

Find not just a mentor, but an advocate. Someone who will push you to find the very best in yourself and is willing to go to the mat for you to introduce you to business leaders, sponsor your promotion, and help you to know and value your own worth. A person who provides actionable feedback so you can progress both personally and professionally.

I have advocated for the career advancement and fair and equitable compensation for my team members. "Kathleen is an amazing person, both professionally and personally. She is a strong leader with the depth of character that raised her mentoring style above all others. Kathleen would always provide honest feedback and guidance. Kathleen had a very busy work schedule, but she always made time for me, and others as well, to discuss any issues and possible resolutions. She would solicit feedback and instinctively knew if something was not right, and she always provided an open forum to discuss any issue and she was not happy until she knew I was comfortable. Kathleen has a beautiful heart and I know if I were to call her with a problem or a question—everything would stop, and she would find the time to prioritize my need and help me to see a clear path. Despite the many years, Kathleen's positive impact has remained with me and not a day goes by that I don't think of her with a smile!"

What do you enjoy most about your consulting career?

I absolutely love my career in Professional Services Marketing! I enjoy the creativity and problem-solving skills it requires to drive value and make an impact. I am energized by and enjoy that the consulting industry is a very dynamic field where our sole goal is driving the success of our clients. What's the best advice—consulting or otherwise—you've ever received? I believe strongly in following my instincts—an important lesson I learned from my mother. It was a journey for me to learn to fully trust myself, but it is something that continues to serve me well. You feel if something is right before you know something is right.

What does being honored as a Woman Leader in Consulting mean to you?

I genuinely believe that relationships are the most important aspect of life and hope that I make a positive impact on the lives I am blessed to touch throughout my own. Reaching out to current and former mentees through this application process has already been immensely rewarding and humbling. I am so grateful that they have trusted me and allowed me to have a front row seat to their many personal and professional successes. Like all of us, my professional journey has taken many unanticipated turns. My father passed away shortly after my 12th birthday, and I deeply missed having his insights and guidance as I entered high school and began thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. This recognition means a great deal to me given it is my life's passion to help others in a way in which I feel I could have benefited more.