Gráinne Bryan, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
15th July 2024
This week we hear from WMB Diversity Ambassador Gráinne Bryan. Gráinne is Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, where she leads the Technology segment in Ireland along with being the Technology partner responsible for Continental Europe. On role models, Gráinne says: “Their influence alone serves to bring positive change, break down barriers and pave the way for future generations of women to achieve their own full potential.”
As a WMB Diversity Ambassador, how important are female role models?
In my own experience, female role models play a crucial role in empowering women by providing inspiration, guidance and encouragement in various aspects of life. Throughout my career, I have had the incredible privilege of working alongside some great leaders, mentors and coaches who have not only guided me but also sponsored me to reach new heights. Their wisdom and support have been and continue to be invaluable, shaping me into the professional I am today.
Female role models truly serve as sources of inspiration, showing others around that yes it is possible, and with that inspiring us to dream big and aim high in both our personal and professional lives.
Female role models challenge the stereotypes and traditional gender roles, really demonstrating that women can succeed in any field, occupation or leadership role.
I have seen first-hand strong females help to empower other women by instilling confidence in their abilities and potential. Seeing other women succeed can absolutely boost your own self-esteem and push you forward to believe in yourself. Role models are essential for fostering gender equality, empowering women and creating a more inclusive and diverse world. Their influence alone serves to bring positive change, break down barriers and pave the way for future generations of women to achieve their own full potential.
What DE&I initiatives are in place at FTI Consulting?
Globally, FTI Consulting has a robust set of programs to support diversity, inclusion and belonging among our employees. We have a number of employee resource groups designed to provide support and community for our people. For example, our FTI Consulting’s Women’s Initiative (FTI WIN), helps address pay gaps, recruit and retain top female talent and reach a firmwide goal of 100 female Senior Managing Directors. FTI WIN has provided mentoring and career development for dozens of women within FTI, at all stages of their careers.
‘CEOs overwhelmingly see generative AI as a catalyst for reinvention that will power efficiency, innovation and transformational change.’ Do you agree?
There’s certainly tremendous potential for generative AI to improve work output, productivity and solve challenges.
That said, as important as it is to innovate, it’s equally important to establish controls that govern the use of advanced technology and ensure it is adopted in a way that is ethical, compliant and fit for purpose.
Our experts are focused on working closely with clients to strike that balance between positive disruption and responsible governance, so they can fully tap into the value of new technology while appropriately mitigating the risks to their business, employees, industry, customers, etc.
‘Ireland has experienced an alarming 10% decrease in the number of women in senior management roles’. Why is this the case?
Progress is fluid, so I think we’ll continue to see movement in the right direction on this front, as well as setbacks.
There are many organisations doing the right thing to create workplaces that value and support women leaders, and I think it’s important that organisations look closely at what’s working — either in their own workforce or across their peers in their industry — so they can build upon that and move diversity, equity and inclusion in the right direction. Additionally, senior leaders need to be diligent in making sure DIB programs are held consistently as a top priority, with dedicated resources and attention from the top, otherwise, progress will stall. I think that’s one reason why we’ve seen momentum for women here at FTI Consulting, because supporting women and other underrepresented groups has been a consistent and ongoing priority of our leadership collectively.
What two traits helped you most in your working life?
Two traits that have served me well throughout my career to date are adaptability and persistence/tenacity. Both have been instrumental in shaping my professional success and have likely contributed significantly to my accomplishments and growth of my career.
Having the ability to adapt to different environments, circumstances and cultures has been crucial for me in navigating challenges and taking opportunities in my professional journey.
Being adaptable allows me to thrive in diverse settings, take on change and effectively respond to new situations.
On the other side, I would say that my persistence and tenacity have also played a significant role in my success by helping me overcome obstacles, stay focused on my goals and persevere through setbacks over the years. That relentless drive to achieve my personal goals and refuse to give up has really enabled me to push through challenges and achieve what I perceive to be the right outcomes.
As women, can we have it all?
Great question! This really is subjective. What “having it all” means to one person is not the same as the next. In the context of women balancing career, family, personal life and other responsibilities, the idea of having it all may mean success and fulfilment in many areas of life simultaneously.
Striking a balance can be challenging and often requires trade off, prioritisation and acceptance.
Ultimately, while we can strive to achieve success and fulfilment in various areas of our lives, it’s essential to recognise that perfect is absolutely not realistic – recognising and accepting this is important.
It’s also important to define success on personal terms and never feel pressured to conform to expectations or stereotypes. Each person’s definition of success is unique.
What are your guiding principles?
My guiding principles would have to be respect, impartiality and kindness.
All foundational values that have shaped me over the years in my interactions and decisions. By prioritising respect, I can appreciate a diverse perspective, treat others with courtesy and uphold a culture of mutual understanding.
For me, embracing impartiality allows me to approach situations with fairness and objectivity. I try always to make decisions based on merit, removing bias where I can and foster an environment of equality and fairness.
Finally, kindness fosters positivity. Through kindness I work to offer support and create a welcoming atmosphere that nurtures trust and goodwill for those around me professionally and personally.
