Celebrating Transformative Women: Part 3

As we wrap up our International Women's Day celebrations, we are thrilled to showcase the the talents of Melissa-Anne Boschmans, Director in our APAC team. Melissa answers three questions highlighting her career journey, the projects that made an impact and her advice for women in consulting.

‍

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?  

I’d say the first pivotal moment happened before I even started my career. In my final year at university, I worked part-time, supporting one of my professors on a project for a small NGO. The organisation was focused on improving education standards in South Africa through teacher interventions. Coming from an actuarial science background—typically a more back-office-oriented field—I was inspired by the direct impact of our work. Seeing tangible improvements in teachers’ understanding and students’ academic performance made me realise I wanted to work directly with people to solve real-world challenges. That experience steered me toward consulting rather than a traditional actuarial role.  

The second pivotal moment has been more of an ongoing realisation—that careers are flexible and skills are transferable. Consulting has reinforced that what I bring to the table is a skill set: analytical thinking, problem-solving, statistical expertise, and data-driven insights. This has allowed me to evolve my focus over time, shifting from actuarial science to data analytics and now into broader technology-driven transformation programs. It’s liberating to know that you don’t need your entire career path mapped out from day one.

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?  

Transformation happens at different levels—sometimes on a small, personal scale and others on a broader societal level. Both are equally impactful and fulfilling. Two projects come to mind. Early in my career in South Africa, I worked with a government entity on population projections, analysing migration, fertility, and mortality trends to forecast future demographic shifts. This work directly influenced budget planning and infrastructure development, helping to determine where new schools, roads, and clinics would be needed most.  

More recently, I’ve worked with a childcare management organisation in Singapore, supporting them as they scale their business. Thanks to the diverse capabilities within our team at Lancia Consult, we started with tactical ERP automation projects and then expanded into low-code web application development to help them grow more sustainably. Over time, we’ve also guided them in reviewing their internal IT systems and operations, ensuring they have the foundation to support their continued expansion. Today, we continue to partner with them as they take new steps to enhance the experience for parents, employees, and, most importantly, the children they serve.

‍

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?

1. Seek what inspires you and turn those into opportunities. Not every project will be a career highlight, but consulting firms are often entrepreneurial. If you’re passionate about a particular area, you can create opportunities to work on what excites you.  

2. Find the right mentors for the support you need at that moment. Sometimes, this will be leaders within your firm; other times, it will be mentors outside your business. The key is finding the right person with the right chemistry at the right time rather than searching for one ideal leader in your business.  

3. Give back to those who supported you and to those who come after you. We rise faster when we build strong, capable networks around us. Supporting others doesn’t just help them—it strengthens the entire industry.

‍