2024 Top Consultants: Christina Churchill

Christina has more than 25 years of experience, including nine years as a consultant with RSM working with clients on critical projects that help them assess, strategize and drive digital finance transformation and innovation.

Prior to RSM, she worked for global manufacturing and banking organizations in a variety of financial and technology roles related to the offices of the CFO and COO. She joined RSM as a management consultant, holding various leadership roles and being named a principal in 2015. She is currently the strategy and operations leader on the Management Consulting leadership team, the consulting leader on the enterprise family office executive committee and in 2021 joined the RSM US Board of Directors. She is a national speaker at various industry conferences and internal events, writes numerous articles and has been highlighted in industry publications. She is a founding member of the Consulting Women's Advisory Council and Chairperson of Consulting's Inclusion Committee.

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

Motivation comes in many forms. As I reflect, it was the opportunities with the steepest hills to climb that have both inspired me and led me to success. The ability to work with new people, across a diverse set of industries, within a new subject matter expertise is what truly excites me most in my career. It has been through my willingness to embrace challenge and embrace change that I've reached my greatest accomplishments. During my time at RSM, I have had a lot of "new" and many "firsts." I have led the ground-up creation of new consulting product offerings, developed brand-new teams of all backgrounds and sizes, and championed change for women through the launch the Consulting Women's Advisory Council. I dedicate time to making an impact through our first-ever Consulting Inclusion Committee with the goal to generate opportunities for our under-represented team members. The common thread through all of my experience has been the ability to remain inspired by evolution and innovation to the status quo.

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

My career began in industry working as an accountant and technologist. Those early years provided lessons learned that have, in turn, made me a strong consultant. Those experiences allow me to understand firsthand the immense impact a consulting team can have on an organization and its subsequent communities. Knowing what it's like to be on the other side of the table as a client, with uncertainty on how to resolve an issue or which vendors to trust, brings great purpose to our role and to me as an individual.

Showing up with a competent and collaborative project team to get the job done and ultimately doing it well is extremely rewarding. Even further when clients reach back out down the line, years after the close of a project, to reengage or ask for advice. Seeing the light in their eyes when we can make their lives better is beyond gratifying. It is moments such as these that define why I love my career as a consultant.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

There is no greater achievement in the workplace than watching people grow. My proudest moments to date are the ones where the people I have mentored, trained or advocated for, reach new heights in their career. As a consultant, I have been fortunate enough to play a mentoring role not only to my internal teams but to my external clients, as well. I have coached all levels – from recent graduates to experienced professionals. It has been fulfilling to watch each of them progress throughout their careers, find their passions and in turn, pay it forward by helping the next generation. Though I may have played just a small part in their journey, I am continually humbled to have the opportunity to positively impact them in some way. These mentor-mentee relationships are my greatest achievements.

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

When I was working my way through college, I cleaned house for a HR Executive. Each time I went to work, his wife would clean alongside me. I asked why she was helping me, when she was paying me for the task. She said, "Never ask someone to do something you won't do yourself." That moment has always stayed with me. I am a servant leader, I think it is important for our teams to know that every job is important to the betterment of the organization. It's impactful for people to see that you care not only about what they do but who they are. Spending time working alongside others creates learning opportunities for you both, creates deeper relationships and understanding. While many years have passed since those college jobs, the lessons I learned have helped me be a better leader.

What does this recognition mean to you?

In consulting, there is always a balance between client service, billable hours, growth and finally talent development. I believe acknowledging talent leaders is a step is raising the awareness and importance of our people. It's not just one more thing that needs to be done but the foundation of all that we do. Taking the time to train, mentor and advocate for people helps our teams to become stronger and to bring the best to our clients. Developing teams with diversity of thought and experience enriches everyone. This recognition provides acknowledgement that consulting is evolving and it's not simply those who bill or sell the most that impact the team, but those who prioritize their people are vital to our overall success.