The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Stuart Klein

Stuart Klein is a Partner in Kearney and leads the Kearney Analytics practice in the Americas. Stuart has extensive consulting and cross-functional industry experience with clients in the retail, consumer goods and apparel sectors. Stuart is a passionate expert on advanced analytics and AI. Stuart leads a team of advanced analytics consultants, data scientists, and data engineers to develop breakthrough solutions across end-to-end supply chain transformations and growth strategy.

Stuart is based in Kearney's San Francisco office. He spends his time outside of work with his family skiing, hiking and surfing.

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

Without a doubt, the biggest factor in my success has been working with incredible people: leaders at all levels who push my thinking, data scientists who turn raw data into powerful insights, and consultants who uniquely collaborate with our clients to make change stick. Consulting is a team sport. In my experience, each person on a team brings a unique perspective and skillset, which is ultimately crucial for our success. With this team around me, we've accelerated our commercial growth, embedded analytics more deeply within other Kearney practices, and advanced our solutions with new techniques and insights.

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

I enjoy creating new analytics solutions to solve unique or established challenges with greater impact through data, AI and advanced analytics. I lean into opportunities to work with analytics consultants and data scientists to find and develop the next big innovations with a blend of data science, business insights and experimentation. I take satisfaction in working with clients to uncover root cause challenges, diving into the details with data scientists, and brainstorming with colleagues on innovative solutions.

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

Be yourself, always be curious, and focus on the business impact. We do our best when being true to ourselves—whether it's pursuing our passions, expressing our personalities, or advocating for what we feel is right. After over 10 years in consulting, I find there's always more to learn. Being curious not only advances your own understanding, but often excites those around you. As consultants, we're hired to deliver significant results, often under intense pressure. Taking an outcome-oriented approach with analytics, iterating quickly, and measuring results ensures we deliver. The work is most fulfilling when the team is innovating, experimenting and having fun.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Being honored as a Rising Star is a recognition of the growth and impact of our analytics practice. As head of Kearney's Analytics practice in the Americas, I have worked hard to help accelerate our commercial growth, embed analytics more deeply within other Kearney practices, and advance our solutions with new techniques and insights. We've excelled on all fronts, and this award is a testament to the entire team's hard work, commitment and perseverance.