WCS People Profile & BCG’s Olivia Leskinen: Embracing Global Leadership with Courage and Positivity
Meet Olivia Leskinen, the inspiring and vibrant Principal at Boston Consulting Group. With a career that spans continents and industries, Olivia exemplifies the spirit of global leadership and courageousness. Her journey tells a story of relentless pursuit, curiosity, and the transformative power of embracing change.
Shifting Career Horizons
Olivia spent her early years under the golden sun of California. From there, she made the move to Boston to start her undergraduate studies in literature at Harvard University. Captivated by the academic world and her passion for literature, she was driven to expand her academic horizons. This led her to the National University of Singapore, where she continued her studies with a master's degree.
"I initially envisioned an academic path, aiming for professorship. However, my time as a teaching assistant in Singapore unveiled a deeper passion for guiding students’ development and success. This experience shifted my ambitions more towards general management, where I could more directly foster individual growth and development.”
Olivia's experience in Singapore ignited her ambition for a global career, steering her to a role at Shell in London, within their international supply chain division. This period clarified Olivia's career passions: the allure of international work and a profound interest in operations
”Stationed in London, I collaborated with colleagues in China, managed suppliers across Southeast Asia and Europe, and reported to my supervisor in Houston. This role virtually connected me with every corner of the globe daily, an aspect I thoroughly enjoyed.”
From there, Olivia was transferred to work at a plant in Houston, where she started off as a production planner and was eventually promoted to be a shift supervisor managing unionized staff. After nearly four years with Shell, Olivia decided to go back to Boston, pursuing an MBA at Harvard Business School. Olivia emphasizes the importance of being brave and curious in the beginning of one’s career.
“I think, at the start of your career, being curious and open to learning new things is crucial. If you're willing to face any challenge and find solutions, I believe you can accomplish almost anything.”
Navigating new opportunities
After obtaining an MBA degree, Olivia decided she wanted to get exposure to many different industries. This led her to consulting and joining McKinsey, where she would stay for the next three years. At McKinsey, Olivia worked mainly with operations, further developing knowledge and expertise within this field. Eventually she decided to make the transition to industry.
Olivia moved to Yum! Brands, known for Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, where she gained valuable experience, before getting an amazing opportunity at Lennox International, an HVAC leader with €4 billion in revenue. At Lennox, she focused on portfolio optimization and growth strategies, eventually rising to Vice President of Worldwide Supply Chain. It was in this role that Olivia encountered one of her biggest professional challenges during the onset of COVID-19.
“Leading a global supply chain organization when COVID hit was extremely challenging. We were in territory that nobody had experienced before, and there was no playbook for what best practice looked like. Pre-pandemic, encountering just one of these issues could devastate a company. Yet, we faced a barrage of 50 to 60 unprecedented challenges all at once. “
Olivia compared her approach to navigating these challenges to starting a BCG project. She began by comprehensively assessing the situation, listing each issue to understand its impact fully. This strategy enabled her to prioritize efficiently, allowing for a systematic approach to tackling and solving each issue.
"However, the greatest challenge during this period was finding ways to empower your team without the benefit of physical presence," she shared.
"As a team leader, it's crucial to clearly outline the challenges we face, our collective vision, and how we plan to overcome obstacles together, as well as define everyone's role in achieving that vision. Effective communication is essential. Looking back, I'm incredibly proud of what we accomplished as a team and that we managed to have fun and celebrate our successes along the way," Olivia added.
New beginnings and embracing leadership
Olivia met her now husband during her studies in Singapore, and after five years at Lennox, they decided to relocate to his home country, Finland. It was during this transition that Olivia joined Boston Consulting Group in Helsinki. At BCG, she contributes her expertise to both the Nordics operations practice and the industrial goods practice.
“I lead case teams to solve complex business challenges. We work very closely with clients to help them develop strategies to change and drive out costs to achieve results.”
Olivia explains her approach to leadership by quoting the words of her business school professor, Frances Frei: “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that the impact lasts in your absence.”
“That’s my leadership philosophy,” Olivia explained. “it’s about helping someone as much as possible while you’re working together, but also empowering them to go off and do even bigger and better things. “
When discussing the challenges of being a leader, Olivia raises the topic of absorbing other people’s problems and sometimes other people’s mistakes or challenges.
“A leader should bear more weight when things go wrong, and less when they go right, to let others shine. It’s about not letting these challenges overwhelm you but instead, finding solutions together. To me, good leadership means being the person others turn to, staying grounded, and keeping things in perspective.”
Olivia's optimism radiates in conversation, and on discussing the personal traits key to her success, she emphasizes the joy in celebrating achievements.
Olivia, now residing in Turku, cherishes her moments of leisure with her two daughters.
“People often overlook the impact of pausing to appreciate a job well done. Daily success celebrations are important for me, as well as larger celebrations for long-term achievements. Acknowledging and valuing team accomplishments not only serves as a powerful tool but also gives something to always look forward to.”
Redefining success
In reflecting on her career and definition of success, Olivia initially focused more on personal growth, learning new skills, and getting to the next level. Over time, her perspective shifted towards fostering the growth of others.
“There’s a moment when you transition from learner to leader, becoming the expert who guides others. Now, success for me isn’t only about personal achievements but also about contributing to the growth and advancement of those I work with. Witnessing their development and knowing I played a part in their journey is incredibly rewarding”
She further explains her view on professional success through an idea from Sheryl Sandberg’s book of viewing your career more as a jungle gym than a ladder.
“This idea has always resonated with me for some reason,” she explains. “It’s about finding the next challenge and the next way to stretch yourself versus always trying to get to the next level.”
Reflecting further back on her career, if Olivia could give advice for her younger self knowing what she knows now about her journey, it would be to always take on roles that nobody else wants to do.
“Take on the hard tasks everyone else avoids, because they're where you can truly stand out and make a difference. It's the tough, seemingly impossible challenges that allow you to drive immense value and be appreciated, helping you shine in areas others might not dare to venture.”
Concluding her insights, Olivia has a message for young female professionals looking up to her career path.
"Always dream big—the sky's the limit, especially at the start of your career. You can make anything possible. Chase what excites you, even if it appears impossible now, because you have the power to make it a reality."
