35UNDER THE RISING STARS OF THE
PROFESSION
AGE
28
TITLE:
Manager
AWARD CATEGORY:
Client Service
TITLE:
Principal Consultant
AWARD CATEGORY:
Financial Consulting
OWEN
PRIESTLEY
CAPCO
JACQUELINE
MURPHY
In his five
years at
Capco,
Owen Priestley has demonstrated
himself to be a leader time and
again, from project management
roles all the way up to leading
digital strategy teams. Thanks
in no small part to his efforts,
Capco has vaulted itself onto the
playing field at the intersection of
business and technology.
Priestley says he loves the
challenge of the profession, and
that being on the front lines of
monumental transformation in the
Financial Services industry really
excites him. He also expressed
optimism about the next generation
of young talent entering the industry,
from start-up talent to industry and
consulting professionals.
“What once took a decade to
change an industry, is now not
much more than an overnight affair.
Harnessing that change mentality, the
new way of thinking and instigating
ripple effects, that is very exciting.”
While at Capco, Priestley has
started two new business areas for
the firm; Change Sourcing and
Digital, and has delivered end-to-
end projects in the UK, Europe, Asia
and the United States. He says he’s
proud of taking a leadership position
that allows him to sponsor and grow
talent through the organization.
As for the secret to his success,
Priestley says it all comes down to
hard work and trust. “Understanding
and observing the culture you work
within, is important, and by gaining
the trust of my colleagues and clients,
allows me to exceed expectations.”
Priestley says the Rising Stars
Award will inspire him to continue
to up-end the status quo. “[The
award] will continue to push me to
look for new and innovative ways
of challenging and disrupting the
financial consulting industry.” ★
Shortly
after joining
Bain &
Company, Jacqueline Murphy
transferred to South Africa on a
six-month assignment. There, she
developed a mine safety strategy
for nearly 20,000 mine workers.
After a quick detour to climb
Mt. Kilimanjaro, she returned to
the U.S. and has been advising
technology clients ever since.
So it’s probably no surprise that
she says she’s energized by Bain’s
ability to “push beyond traditional
approaches” to deliver value.
Murphy says she attributes her
success thus far to two factors: Her
Bain colleagues and her approach to
solving challenges.
“I feel fortunate to work with a
brilliant, diverse and supportive
group of co-workers. I’m given room
to stretch my skills and challenge
myself, but I always know I have
their support and collaboration,” she
says. “I value the coaching I receive at
Bain—whether it’s ‘in-the-moment’
walking out of a meeting, or reaching
out for advice about a challenging
situation I’m trying to solve.”
Secondly, Murphy says she is “an
idealistic pragmatist” who stretches
for what could or should be, while
staying grounded in an understanding
of what it will take to execute.
“Often this requires an ability to
adapt. Embedding significant change
in organizations is incredibly difficult
and requires me to adapt my style—
sometimes I need to be a visionary,
sometimes a cheerleader, and at other
times a task master or a data guru,”
she says. “I think acknowledging
that there are ups and downs, and
adapting my style to how my team or
client is feeling, is key to successfully
embedding change. I love rolling up
my sleeves and working together to
determine what it’s going to take to
deliver results.” ★
