WCS People Profile & BCG’s Tiia Sinisalo - A Young Female Consultant Breaking Barriers and Advocating for Women’s Careers

Meet Tiia Sinisalo, the former President of the Women's Career Society and current Associate at Boston Consulting Group. Tiia Sinisalo's unique educational and professional experience provides strong support for the idea that not everyone involved in management consulting shares a similar background. If you have ever believed otherwise, her expertise is a testament to the diversity of experience that exists in the management consulting industry. Tiia's story serves as a compelling illustration of how taking chances and opening yourself up to new experiences may take you down unexpected paths and ultimately point you in the direction of your true calling.

From Mixing Cocktails to Crafting Strategies: Tiia’s Transition from Bartending to Consulting

Tiia's career began in the restaurant industry, where she worked for six years in a variety of positions, including part of the founding team of a nightclub as a VIP hostess, bartender and a waiter. She changed careers to become a real estate agent after moving from Turku to Helsinki in 2015. Her talent and drive quickly caught the attention of a fitness company, where she was headhunted for the position of a Business Developer. 

“In this position, I managed the company’s expansion in Finland, oversaw its strategy and negotiated contract terms.” Tiia says. 

Tiia's success as a Business Developer persuaded her to think about a career in business even though her original dream was to attend law school. 

“I started working as a Trainee in 2018 at a Real Estate Investment and Asset Management company, and nine months later, I was promoted to Junior Analyst.” 

Considering that she was the first Junior Analyst in her company without a university degree, her promotion is all the more impressive.

 Tiia made the decision to pursue her interest in business while working at the Real Estate Investment and Asset Management company by applying to Aalto University. Determined to progress, Tiia continued to work full-time while pursuing her open university studies. 

“I had the mindset that I only want to do this once”

“I had the mindset that I only want to do this once.” 

This mindset paid off as she was accepted to study at Aalto as the best applicant through the open university route. In the fall of 2019, she began studying Finance as her major and continued to excel in her academic pursuits.

Even after entering business school, Tiia did not slow down, as she completed five internships during her studies. 

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in management consulting in two different companies, the other one being a Visiting Associate position at BCG.”  

In addition, one particularly noteworthy experience was her impact consulting internship for Ambitious Africa, where she consulted for a Zambian start-up dedicated to combating maternal mortality in Zambia. Tiia cherishes this experience and the chance to make a positive impact through her work. Through these several consulting internships, it became increasingly apparent to her that management consulting is an area she intends to pursue after graduation.

During her time at university, Tiia also made a significant impact as a key member of the Women's Career Society. 

“When I first joined, the society was still a sub-organisation of Aalto Finance and HankInvest. Together with Iina Storm, we recognized Women’s Career Society’s potential to grow and decided to spin it off into its own independent organization.” 
Tiia became the first official president of the Women's Career Society, and under her leadership, it became the organization it is today. 

“I remain excited to see the work that the current board will achieve” says Tiia, while talking about how rewarding it has been to see how far WCS has come over the last few years. 

Despite her busy job, Tiia cherishes her free time and loves to travel. Last year alone she had the opportunity to explore eight different countries.

Curiosity is the Key for Effective Management Consulting

When Tiia graduated in 2021 in a truly impressive time of just two and a half years, she decided to continue working at BCG in an Associate role. Tiia's decision to join BCG was an easy one, as she had an instant feeling of belonging during her internship. She sincerely admits, 

"I know it may sound cheesy but at BCG I immediately felt at home and I like going to the office every single day."

So far, as an Associate, Tiia has focused on large CapEx project management cases and she has her eyes on transformation programs in the near future. In her previous cases she has been responsible for providing comprehensive support to clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, from scheduling to risk management, by effectively identifying bottlenecks and possible challenges. 

Tiia believes that to succeed in her role, it is crucial to possess an analytical mindset and strong observation skills. 

“Consultants need to be able to break down complex information, identify correlations, and draw meaningful conclusions. Critical thinking and logical reasoning are essential, along with the ability to provide feedback on any area of concern or interest. Additionally, strong communication skills are necessary, as consultants engage in a lot of oral and written communication with clients and team members.” 

Tiia also emphasizes the importance of being able to structure thoughts and present them in an understandable and effective way. 

“However, I would say the most important quality to have in consulting is a curious mindset and eagerness to learn since the learning curve is steep.” 

Overcoming self-doubt and finding inspiration from other women

Tiia reveals that one of the biggest challenges she faced early on while working in the field of management consulting was presenting in English. As a consultant, Tiia often presents to executive management, where clear and concise communication in English is crucial.

"With Finnish, I have always been comfortable giving a presentation, but I was insecure about using English and thought that people might not understand what I am trying to say," Tiia explained.

However, she was able to overcome this fear and improve her communication skills in English with determination and the platform provided by BCG.

“Presenting in English is the thing I have grown the most in my professional side, and BCG has offered a great platform for it. My first case at BCG I worked with a German colleague who only spoke English in the workplace. I was very nervous at first but this experience initiated a strong beginning to get over my fear of presenting in English. Our official language at our office is English, and my English speaking colleagues have been extremely supportive of me.”

“I was insecure about using English and thought that people might not understand what I am trying to say”

Despite initial struggles with self-doubt, Tiia believes that anyone can turn perceived weaknesses into strengths with practice and perseverance. This has helped her become a more confident and accomplished professional. 

"Overcoming my fear of presenting in English has been a significant achievement for me," Tiia concludes.

In terms of finding meaning and inspiration in her work, Tiia explains that working at BCG has been an incredibly rewarding experience. She is continually inspired by the knowledge and skills she acquires on a daily basis, and feels a sense of satisfaction in being part of a company that has a significant impact on society. 

Tiia values the relationships she has built with her colleagues, which have allowed her to develop professionally and personally. Kaori Uehigashi, BCG’s Office Leader, stands out as one of the most inspiring people in Tiia’s career. Her strong leadership and passion for driving diversity topics were key reasons why Tiia decided to join BCG. 

“Kaori values knowing her people and her team and on top of that puts effort into creating a diverse working environment which is truly inspiring.” 

Embracing Your Unique Path is the Way to Go

As a passionate advocate for women in business, Tiia has taken on an active role as the Communications Manager for the Women at BCG Helsinki core team at her current workplace. This global initiative, present in every BCG office from Bangkok to Buenos Aires, is designed to create a more inclusive and diverse environment for women and everyone. Tiia's involvement in this initiative reflects her commitment to supporting women on their career paths and promoting gender equality within the workplace. 

"With my background in Women's Career Society, it was a natural step for me to support the women of our company. In addition to my role as the Communications Manager for the Women at BCG Helsinki core team, I am also proud to be a member of the female recruiting team. Attending female recruiting events allows me to serve as an ambassador for BCG and connect with amazing students.” Tiia notes. 

When reflecting on what she wishes she had known or done sooner in her career and studies, Tiia offers valuable advice for all. First and foremost, she emphasizes that it is important not to fear failure since everyone experiences it and learns from it. 

“I myself was once a big perfectionist who didn't want to make mistakes but learned that mistakes are what makes you grow as a professional and as a person.” 

Secondly, she emphasizes the importance of speaking up and sharing one's thoughts, ideas, and inputs. Lastly, Tiia encourages individuals to embrace their unique paths and not compare themselves to others. 

“My non-traditional background was initially a source of doubt for me when applying to jobs in this field, but I will always remember how one BCG representative assured me that my unique background is something they truly appreciate.”