2023 Global Leaders in Consulting: Rashada Whitehead

Rashada Whitehead is Grant Thornton's national managing director of Culture, Immersion & Inclusion and a member of the firm's Senior Leadership Team. She is responsible for driving priorities through a transformational enterprise strategy that delivers people-first and client-focused outcomes, including a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. Whitehead has been with Grant Thornton since 2019 and has held several leadership roles in its People & Community group, such as leading Grant Thornton's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force and serving as its head of Colleague Experience. In 2020, Whitehead spearheaded the creation of Grant Thornton's inaugural DE&I report.

An award-winning professor and former PRWeek "40 Under 40" honoree, Whitehead began her career in public relations before becoming a culture transformation executive. She has managed global communications for Fortune 500 companies and served as CEO of two businesses: a national public relations firm and a reputation management and culture transformation firm.

The experienced people and culture leader teaches public relations at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She has also provided culture insights and coaching through the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

I have been fortunate to have many personal and professional achievements. While I'm proud of the work my team has done and the progress we've made at Grant Thornton, I consider my greatest personal and professional achievement my ability to build valued and trusted relationships by investing time and resources into others and allowing them to get to know me for who I am as a professional and human being. I have had the opportunity to spread love through my work not just in what I do, but how I have done and continue to do it. Through all my experiences and achievements, I have maintained and enjoyed a family-first approach to my life, which keeps me grounded in perspective and priorities. Likewise, I've have seen people on my teams and other colleagues advance their careers to lead organizations, grow their families, achieve milestone life goals and so much more. Nothing tops that.

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

• Be yourself.
• Invest in authentic relationships with others.
• Stay curious, agile and solution oriented.
• Have a point of view.
• Whatever you do, know why you're doing it – and be sure to find love and joy in it.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

In addition to the dynamic and incredible relationships a career in consulting has brought into my life, I have loved the diversity of experiences. I've worked across disciplines, industries, geographies, private, public, corporate and partnership frameworks. The depth and breadth of people and experiences has added a layer of enjoyment that has extended into my personal life. As a part of that, I've been able to leverage these experiences on behalf of others through mentorship, professional development, fostering environments of inclusion and belonging, human connection, and helping to shift and enhance systems and structures that have minimized equitable opportunities for all. My career has been balanced, engaging, and fulfilling and in many ways, I feel that I'm just getting started.

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

Whatever you do, know why you're doing it – and be sure to find love and joy in it.

What does being honored as a Global Leader mean to you?

Being honored as a Global Leader in Consulting is an outstanding achievement – not because of the individual accolade – but because it recognizes the impact of a committed, intentional and focused approach to DE&I as a part of a healthy and progressive organizational culture. To go beyond the numbers on a page and bring an experience to life that demonstrates respect and appreciation translates into advancement, equitable experiences and belonging. This won't happen in a ceremony where we ring a bell. It's a process that continues over time. This award represents an important milestone in honoring our commitment.