The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Jessica Tuccillo

Jessica is a results-orientated, consultant with a history of delivering high quality work and track record of building trustworthy relationships. Since joining MPG in 2018, Jessica has been instrumental in consistently delivering strong results across a wide range of complex projects and a diverse set of clients. Jessica is known for her strong analytical and exceptional story telling skills, and her collaborative style has established her as a leader amongst her peers & clients. Among her many accomplishments, Jessica was awarded a Back Half Inspirational Performance Award in 2019 for her ability to think at a high level while always executing with excellence and delivering on promises.

Prior to joining MPG, Jessica has nearly 10 years of sales strategy & category management experience. As a Category Manager at Kellogg, she helped to design and implement two cutting edge shelving solutions to drive center store excitement. For her work in cereal, she was recognized as Runner Up for K Master Award: Win With Customers & Insights 2017. Before joining Kellogg, Jessica worked at Bayer Healthcare as a Senior Customer Development Analyst for Bayer Aspirin and Midol, assisting in the development of national brand strategies by category and class of trade to help achieve budgeted sales and profit margins for the two brands. While working as a Sales Analyst on the Rite Aid National Drug Team, she served as a Rite Aid 1010 Loyalty Advisory Board Member framing the database in which to evaluate & analyze performance and was recognized with a Bayer Vice President Top Sales Agent STAR Award 2011.

Jessica has a BSBA from Drexel University and completed Columbia University's Driving Strategic Impact course, a mid to upper-level executive educational course focused on building structured problem-solving skills.

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

The biggest factor in my success so far is letting my experience matter. I took a leap of faith when I left a nearly 10 years career with traditional manufacturers', in category management and sales strategy, to take a role in consulting. I was the youngest consultant on the team, and it was a boutique firm. I knew I had to prove myself by stretching out of my comfort zone to deliver against the company's expectations. I always let my experiences guide me, and when I did not have the answer, I let the relationships I have been able to nurture help me get to the last mile. I never let my prior experiences "sit on a shelf"; I used them to fuel my work, establish a point of view and help shape projects.

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

I thoroughly enjoy the endless opportunities to grow and learn. The recommendations and selling solutions I provide to clients requires in-depth knowledge and understanding of not only my client's business objectives & strategies but also a foundational understanding of the categories they compete in, key competitors they play against and retailers they sell-in. Each project and client provide an opportunity to learn something new about the CPG industry and delivers new perspective I can leverage and apply to future work. Consulting allows me exposure to a broad view of the industry, which in turn, offers endless opportunity to learn. It's the power of knowledge that keeps my job motivating and engaging.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

It's difficult to pick one professional achievement I am most proud of over the last 13 years. I've been fortunate to contribute to several successful in-market solutions that I am proud of. On a personal level, I was nominated to be a board member of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the age of 30 and helped raise over $100,000 to benefit local cancer patients in my hometown.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

"Trust your instincts." My grandmother and dad were big proponents of letting intuition guide you no matter the obstacle. I've learned that the worst enemy of success is self-doubt. Whether its personal or business related, I've always listened to my instincts and married it with my past experiences & personal needs to help me make better more confident decisions.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be nominated for this award. I work with some of the brightest and most talented individuals in the CPG space, many of whom have led companies and brands. I am honored to be able to learn from them and partner with them to deliver against our client's expectations. We are not a large consulting firm, but the work we do competes with some of the biggest and best in the industry, and it's a privilege to represent the entire team with this award.