The 2023 Women Leaders in Consulting: Sherri Barnes

For more than 30 years, Sherri Barnes has focused on the always interesting and sometimes challenging market landscapes and the economic forces that move them. Her professional experience includes more than 20 years in industry where she held various finance, risk management, project development and strategic planning roles for leading energy and utility companies. She also has over 10 years' experience in the college classroom previously serving on the faculty at University of Houston and Lone Star College.

A founding member of ProcureAbility's Market Intelligence practice, Sherri leads a research team of analysts to deeply understand economic drivers and market movements to provide data driven, actionable information for procurement professionals engaged in the practice of strategic sourcing. When not tracking the markets, Sherri can most often be found in the mountains, on the lake or on the trail enjoying the outdoors with her husband, daughter and Labrador retriever.

Sherri earned a BBA in accounting from the University of Houston Bauer College and holds MBA degrees in Marketing and International Business from the University of St Thomas's Cameron School of Business. She is a certified public accountant, licensed in the State of Texas, and a certified internal auditor (inactive).

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Your greatest personal or professional achievement is something only you can determine. It's often a series of experiences that may seem routine at the time or instances where you positively impacted others. Reflect regularly on your life, both personally and professionally, and think about the moments that brought you pride and satisfaction. It could be earning a degree, getting a promotion, overcoming a personal challenge, or making a difference in someone's life.

A deeply satisfying professional highlight for me is seeing the validation of market intelligence in procurement. When I joined ProcureAbility 17 years ago, integrating macroeconomic analysis into data-driven strategic sourcing decisions was uncommon. With the founders, we developed and launched a recognized market intelligence subscription service covering macroeconomic drivers, commodities, spend, and data analysis in the sourcing process.

We spotlighted a team of skilled professionals to elevate procurement, analyzing base commodity and market information to create in-depth sector knowledge. Our achievements include sector-weighted indices, econometric models, strategic business unit market spotlights, index trackers and market news publications. These tools empower everyone in procurement to contribute to their organization's success.

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

Be open, be collaborative, but passionately defend your vision. Everyone must have their own North Star, a touch point that doesn't move, despite outside influences, changing environments or shifting priorities. Establish that compass reading for yourself and you will chart your course to success. What advice would you give to a female consultant just beginning her career?

Every woman has a voice. Use yours for good. You can touch the future by starting today to define your legacy. By that, I mean that legacy is not the preserve of the elderly, wisdom is not limited to the experienced, and your success is not defined by someone else's yardstick. Set your course on your own North Star and don't listen to any noise that stops you from who you want to be and what you want to accomplish, no matter whether that source is internal or external. Within yourself lies all that you need.