After spending more than a decade in healthcare strategy at Northwestern Medicine, Brenden Heiberger joined Oliver Wyman to broaden his perspective across the healthcare ecosystem. Following the birth of his third child, he returned to industry in search of greater balance — but quickly realized there were aspects of consulting he deeply missed. Less than a year later, Brenden rejoined Oliver Wyman with an even stronger appreciation for the firm’s people, flexibility, and mission.
We caught up with Brenden to discuss his boomerang journey, what he learned on both sides, and why returning felt like the right decision.
Tell us about your career journey and what first brought you to Oliver Wyman.
I graduated during the 2009 recession and began my career in strategy at a small health system outside Chicago, which was later acquired by Northwestern Medicine. Over the next decade, I worked in healthcare strategy while completing my MBA at Kellogg.
Although I loved the work, I found myself wanting exposure to different organizations and market contexts. I enjoyed being an internal consultant, but I was curious about tackling a broader range of strategic challenges. That curiosity ultimately led me to Oliver Wyman in 2022 as an engagement manager in the Health and Life Sciences practice.
What was your experience like during your first chapter at Oliver Wyman?
Coming from industry, I immediately appreciated the pace, the variety of work, and the opportunity to solve problems across multiple healthcare organizations rather than focusing on a single system. My provider-side experience also allowed me to contribute quickly because I understood the operational realities our clients faced.
What stood out most, though, was the caliber of the people. Everyone brought different expertise, and there was an incredible willingness to collaborate on solving complex problems together.
What led you back to consulting industry?
The timing was largely personal. When my third child was born, I realized I wanted more predictability while we navigated life with a newborn. Returning to Northwestern Medicine allowed me to spend more time with my family while continuing to work on meaningful healthcare strategy.
The move was absolutely the right one for that stage of life, and I brought back a much broader industry perspective than I'd had before joining Oliver Wyman.
What did you learn during your return to Northwestern Medicine?
Working on both sides of consulting gave me a much richer understanding of healthcare. At Oliver Wyman, you're constantly looking across the entire healthcare ecosystem. When I returned to Northwestern, I found myself thinking much more broadly about how providers fit into the larger industry and how external forces shape organizational strategy.
I also gained an even deeper appreciation for the operational and organizational dynamics that influence whether strategic initiatives actually succeed. Understanding those realities has made me a better consultant today.
What ultimately brought you back to Oliver Wyman?
I realized there were aspects of consulting that I genuinely missed. I missed the pace and solving new problems every day. I missed being able to tap into an incredible network of colleagues and clients across the industry to understand emerging challenges and innovative approaches. Most importantly, I realized that consulting and family life didn't have to be an either-or decision.
During conversations about returning, I had very open discussions with firm leadership about flexibility and what I needed to be successful. Those conversations gave me confidence that I could build a sustainable career while also being present for my family.
Has your perspective on work-life balance changed?
Absolutely. One of the biggest lessons from my journey is that the firm has far more flexibility than I appreciated the first time around. Those resources were available before — I just wasn't comfortable using them.
Now I know they're there, and I encourage others to take advantage. The firm wants to retain great people, and there are ways to make consulting work during different stages of life. That perspective has made all the difference.
What excites you most about healthcare today?
Healthcare is at an inflection point. For years, organizations focused on growth through acquisitions and expansion. Now the industry is shifting toward realizing the value of those investments by better integrating care, improving operations, and creating a more seamless experience for patients.
At the same time, new capabilities around automation and AI are creating opportunities to rethink how healthcare organizations operate. There's still a tremendous amount of work ahead, but it feels like the industry finally has the momentum — and many of the tools — to tackle some of its biggest challenges.
What do you appreciate more about Oliver Wyman the second time around?
The firm's willingness to tackle ambiguity. We don't wait for perfect answers or a defined roadmap. We start with difficult questions, explore them from multiple angles, and build solutions collaboratively. That kind of strategic thinking happens at every level of the firm, and after spending time back in industry, I appreciate just how unique that culture really is.
Outside of work, what helps you recharge?
Right now, it's my family. With three young kids, most of my free time revolves around soccer games, skating competitions, and everything else that comes with raising young children. That's exactly where I want to be.
Whenever I have a little extra time, though, I return to another passion: writing and recording music. I've played instruments since childhood, performed in bands during college, and still enjoy creating music whenever I can.
This page was originally published on August 26, 2026.