Although Challenges Remain, Yet Women Consultants are on a Rise

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Thursday, 10 August 2023

There has been an upswing in the number of women consultants across the world. According to reports the last 20 years have seen the number of consultants grow by 191 percent. Although their numbers have not come to par with their male counterparts, yet the growth has been consistent. The change is also reflected in the top consulting and strategy companies. These firms have been focusing on onboarding more and more women in a bid to build a gender diverse workforce.

However, it has been estimated that it would take 40 years to reach gender balance boards in the consulting sector. An increasing number of women are pursuing careers in consulting. Another challenge is the disparity in income and gender-based discrimination in the consulting field. In the US a large number of women said that they have had to face discrimination on their job because of their gender. According to recent Census Bureau data, women of all races earned on average 18 percent less than men.We can hope that consulting firms will create women-friendly work environment and growth structures. Perks such as flexible working hours, emotional & physical well-being and exemptions from un-planned travel can aid in bringing more women into the world of consulting. The current edition of Women Entrepreneur magazine focuses on celebrating women consultants who have gained success in their respective fields.

In this issue meet Latika Raina, Founder & Director, Anthrocorp Consulting. Latika has lived and worked in over seven countries in Europe, North America, and APAC with multiple global brands. Her experience spans across multiple industries and sectors including IT, banking, government, manufacturing, and distribution to name a few. She shares advice for aspiring women leaders, “Ask and you shall receive. I have learned the benefits of seeking help and guidance, and I promptly do so even at this stage of my career. And the same message I would like to convey even to the new comers. We have a great ecosystem around us.

Build your network of mentors, trusted peers, and advisors from day one, as this network proves to be an invaluable resource as we go forward.” Neha Sharma, Partner & Leader – Social Impact, Executive Access is another leader in consulting featured in the magazine’s current issue. An experienced Executive Search professional with rich experience in leadership hiring, career coaching and transition, talent management, and leadership advisory. At Executive Access, Neha is building strong teams and coaching leaders from various sectors who are keen to transition to the Impact & Development sector. Her advice for aspiring women leaders is, “For young leaders and entrepreneurs, it is important that they take initiative, meet new people, travel, experiment, fail, and learn, as that will help them understand their own selves. Once you are rooted in your own ‘Self’, you can have a fair chance to lead others.” Read through the issue to know more about these women leaders and their success journeys.

Do let us know your thoughts.