The 2023 Women Leaders in Consulting: Michaela Greenan

Michaela Greenan is an accomplished executive with 25+ years of global consulting experience, successfully serving multinational clients across several industries, most notably chemicals and energy. Michaela has managed major business transformation efforts including strategy, business process design and digital enabled transformation. As a proven practice leader, she has built business units with significant P&L, operational and revenue responsibilities. Known for collaborative, inclusive leadership and relationship building,

Michaela remains a committed teambuilder across practices, accounts and engagement teams. Michaela is a Partner at Infosys Consulting leading the SAP Energy, Service and Resources team. Prior to that she was a Partner in the PwC Energy practice, leading multiple practice areas, including Energy Technology and Chemicals, Downstream and Midstream. She also served as a Global Account Partner. Previously, Michaela was a Partner at Ernst & Young, in their Energy and SAP Practice and a Partner at IBM Global Business Services, in the Petroleum/Chemicals practice. As a passionate community and education advocate, Michaela sits on the Houston Grand Opera Board.

For over 10 years she has also been deeply involved with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, one of Houston's leading education-based nonprofits. She is a former Chairperson and member of the Executive Committee.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

In my most recent experience, I managed to triple the headcount of my team, making it one of the biggest of the practice. In this process, I also made sure I was contributing to a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone would feel safe to speak up and ask about development opportunities. I am very proud to leave a legacy of highly successful counselees, with some of them being promoted to leadership roles including CEOs, CIOs or Partners.

What's the best advice—consulting or otherwise—you've ever received?

A career is not just made of successes, but the path can be rough and long. Throughout my career, I had the chance to meet some of the best mentors I could have wished for. As a female leader in a male-dominated industry, I look back and I feel that each mistake I made was actually an opportunity, where giving up is not an option.

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

As previously stated in the question above, I had the chance to cross path with truly inspirational leaders. My advice to a female consultant in her early career would be to not be afraid to seek mentorship, lean in and most of all, say yes to opportunities. Self-doubt will be your worst enemy.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This nomination is a great honor and I see it as a recognition of the impact I have had on the organizations I worked with, but more importantly, not just as recognition of my work, but the impact of the teams I worked I led.