The 2023 Women Leaders in Consulting: Rachel Rosenblatt

Rachel Rosenblatt, Senior Managing Director and is the Head of Americas Retail & Consumer Products sector. Rachel specializes in reputation management, crisis communications, corporate positioning and communications training. She was ranked in the top 10 of The Consulting Report's 2023 list of the Top Consumer and Retail Consultants and Leaders and is one of PR News's Top Women in PR. Ms. Rosenblatt provides strategic communications counsel, media relations, presentation coaching, crisis management, corporate communications and public relations expertise to clients. She helps recognizable retail and consumer companies tell their stories effectively. Her sweet spot is developing and executing multidisciplinary communications campaigns to impact stakeholder groups. She is a founding member of the firm's communications training team and has designed and implemented trainings for media, presentation and investor relations. As a senior trainer, she coaches top executives before media interviews, investor/analyst meetings and IPOs.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting in 2005, Ms. Rosenblatt was a Director at Westhill Partners, specializing in communications strategy. Ms. Rosenblatt is a member of the Belizean Grove, a global group of female leaders. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Psychology.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Mentorship and sponsorship have hugely impacted my career, and my goal is to pay that forward to the next generation of talent. When I started as a summer intern in the consulting industry, I worked with senior-level colleagues who treated me as their equal. They provided me with detailed explanations and relevant context for assignments, aiding my ability to contribute thoughtfully. But most importantly, they provided me with opportunities, even when I did not think I was ready for them. That enabled me to rise to the occasion and grow.

Fast-forward more than two decades, and I am now in the position to do the same to others. I worked to mentor individuals who are not only open to this support system but also are eager for opportunities to grow. That being said, one challenge I faced as a mentee was the lack of women who could serve as these mentors for me. Since both of my mentors were men, serving as a female leader for the women on my team is even more meaningful to me. Over the years, I have purposefully devoted time and energy to fulfilling this role, and I continue to keep this idea at the forefront of my actions. I have learned that mentorship relationships become symbiotic: invest in their growth, and the mentee gives back what they receive in their role, which makes it rewarding for both people involved.

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

I used to struggle with the notion that having a five-year plan was necessary for a successful professional career. Whenever people would ask me what my five-year plan was, I drew a blank: I had no idea how my life would look in one year, let alone five years. Then one day, someone freed me from this construct. She said: "Ask yourself where you are today and where you think you will be in six months. Pause and think about whether you are satisfied with that answer. If yes, great. If not, make a change!" This suggestion has not only resonated with me, but it worked. Rather than trying to predict the future, I was able to focus on tangible goals. These manageable, smaller building blocks have ultimately constructed a career that I'm very proud of, and I have a long way to go!

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

1. Always bring your full self to work: you were hired because you are a three-dimensional human being – showing that (in a work appropriate way) will enrich your days and your contributions.
2. Ask questions and raise your hand. It will help you perform better, demonstrate active engagement, your desire to learn, and position you well for the next opportunity.
3. In terms of client work, look around corners: this is what differentiates consultants. Rather than just executing an idea, anticipate and think about how you can take the plan a step farther.
4. Make decisions for the life you have now, not the one you hope to have. Your priorities may change down the line if you find a partner, start a family, relocate…there are lots of things that will impact your career choices, but make decisions today for the life you have now, you can always change course as your life evolves.
5. Finally, be open-minded about mentorship and how it comes in different packages. Speaking from experience, I searched for a female mentor who just did not exist for me at that time. I eventually realized that I already had amazing mentors, they just happened to be men. My mentors believed in me, supported me, and challenged me to step up to the plate. These individuals, who have the potential to hugely impact your career, could be currently staring you in the face. You just may not recognize it yet.

What does this recognition mean to you?

While it may sound like a cliché, the greatest honor is that my colleagues wanted to nominate me. I try to practice what I preach: I bring my full self to work every day, and try to make as much time as possible to mentor, lead and teach. The fact that people within my firm feel that is deserving of recognition is more meaningful than any award. It's hard to measure the full impact of my day-to-day conversations with co-workers, but moments like this allow me to pause and really reflect on those conversations and how others look to me for guidance in their careers. I see it as a tremendous responsibility that I am honored to take on.