International Women's Day

#BREAKTHEBIAS

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

In a patriarchal society, rules for success in the workplace are rarely defined by women. This means that women’s achievements are often judged with bias and against a background of outdated cultural nuances and societal constructs. For more women to thrive in their careers, businesses need to throw out any stated or implied rules and accept that success is contextual and individual. At Oliver Wyman, we want to create and sustain environments where all women succeed, both within our own walls and in the wider world.

What success looks like at Oliver Wyman

Sumati Sharma

Partner

Like many women, there was a turning point in Sumati’s career when she realised working hard and delivering great results was not going to lead to progression. In a male-dominated industry like aviation, what mattered most for the next stage of her professional growth was confidence and the backing of friends in high places.

Wei Ying Cheah

Partner

As a partner, Wei Ying Cheah feels it’s her duty to pay it forward. She sponsors women engagement managers and principals, and discusses everything from childcare options, mom guilt, and the cost of raising a child, to managing the boundaries between work and home.

Kathryn Weismantel

Head of Marketing, Americas

Rising in her career, Kathryn Weismantel broke norms by embracing a more inclusive and collaborative leadership style while allowing herself to be herself — to show compassion and never take herself too seriously.

Claire Jarrety

Principal

Claire Jarrety balances a demanding job with a being a Mum of two. When she started at Oliver Wyman, she was six months pregnant with her second child. Claire’s aim is to encourage young professionals to choose the career they want, without self-limitations. 

Claudia Wang

Partner

Throughout her career, Claudia Wang has been determined and resilient. But she doesn’t want other women to face the same challenges. Claudia is adamant that it isn’t up to women to be more vocal and stand up to themselves, but for men and workplaces in general to give women enough psychological safety to openly share their opinions.

Klara Jandova

Partner

If there is one bias that Klara Jandova would like to break, it’s that consulting isn’t a long-term career option for women. She has witnessed the steps forward companies like Oliver Wyman have taken on gender equity and is excited about what the sector will be like when more women reach the most senior ranks.

Catherine Brown

Partner

Catherine Brown believes there is still a long way to go before there is gender equity in consulting. To address this, she is creating change herself by showing other women how to break unwritten workplace rules, such as: Accept the system as it is; behave as others expect you to; and limit yourself to the job you were hired to do.