Celebrating Transformative Women: Part 2

Happy International Women's Day!

As part of our series to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are thrilled to continue our interview series with transformative women at Lancia Consult. Today, we feature Nichola Adam, our Chief Revenue Officer. Nichola shares her journey, the pivotal moments that shaped her career, and her advice for those considering a career in consulting.

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Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your journey in consulting? What was the challenge, and how did you overcome it?

One of the most pivotal moments in my career was my very first consulting project—where I was truly thrown in at the deep end. I was the lead solution architect for a field sales platform that needed to integrate with a central CRM—long before Salesforce existed. Back then, syncing data meant waiting until salespeople could reconnect via dial-up internet!

I was surrounded by great leaders and experts, and I quickly learned that the key to navigating challenges was simple: be curious and ask questions. Every task and deadline became more manageable when I focused on learning from those around me. I also discovered something else—the power of teamwork.

From long weekends in the office to shared houses at the client site, we faced every challenge together and celebrated the milestones together.  And there’s no such thing as a bad project - always something to learn and take away to the next experience.

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How have you leveraged your expertise to drive transformation for your clients? Can you give an example of a project where your work made a significant impact?

One of the most rewarding projects I led was a strategic transformation programme I took over mid-delivery, right when it faced serious roadblocks. The biggest challenges were:

• Overwhelming complexity

• Lack of alignment across teams and suppliers

• Weakening senior sponsorship

To turn things around, I focused on bringing people together, aligning stakeholders, establishing clear priorities, and reinforcing strong governance. Tough decisions had to be made, and not everything went perfectly. But, we restored momentum, delivered the programme’s core outcomes and passed some gruelling scrutiny from external bodies.

The real lesson I took away? Transformation is never just about the plan; it’s about the people. You can have the most detailed roadmap, but if those impacted don’t understand why the change is happening and don’t feel part of it, the outcomes won’t stick. Change management isn’t just a step in the process; it’s the foundation.‍

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What advice would you give to other women aspiring to build a successful career in consulting? What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you had known earlier?

First and foremost, consulting is for everyone. At university, I initially set out to become a doctor (even starting medicine as a second degree). But somewhere along the way, I realised it wasn’t the right path for me. I stumbled upon consulting almost by accident while flipping through career brochures in the university library.

That’s why my first piece of advice is to study something you truly enjoy. Your degree does not define your career; your mindset and willingness to learn do.

My second piece of advice is that being a woman makes no difference. The industry today is far more inclusive than when I started, especially when balancing work and family. But not every consulting firm is the same. Culture, flexibility, growth pace, client work, and travel requirements vary. Do your research and find a firm that aligns with what you want.

Finally, build and maintain your network. It’s easy to lose touch when moving between projects or firms, but the people you meet, colleagues, clients, and mentors, will go on to fascinating roles. Some will become your future clients or colleagues again. Others will be great people to catch up with and swap stories about past projects! Stay connected. You’ll be glad you did.