Sara Yamase has been named one of the Top 25 Women Leaders in Consulting for 2025 by The Consulting Report. Here, she shares insights from her journey, advice for aspiring consultants, and a few surprising glimpses into life beyond the world of consulting.
Sara Yamase, managing partner of Technology, Media & Telecom sector, is a leader in commercial growth and monetization strategies. She has spent her career helping companies bring innovative products to market, optimize pricing models, and scale sustainably. Based in Houston, she combines deep industry expertise with a passion for problem-solving, ensuring businesses stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving digital-first world.
Sara’s impact extends beyond consulting. As a recognized thought leader, she is a sought-after speaker at global events and a contributing editor for the book Monetizing Innovation. Her ability to blend analytical rigor with creative thinking has made her a trusted advisor to some of the biggest players in the tech world. We are thrilled to celebrate her recognition as one of the Top 25 Women Leaders in Consulting for 2025 by The Consulting Report.
Congratulations, Sara! What does this recognition mean to you?
Sara: Being recognized as one of the top women leaders in consulting is incredibly moving. I believe it is an amazing accolade not just for me, but for Simon-Kucher as a whole. It means we have the opportunity to show that we have top consultants and can compete in a landscape of much bigger consulting firms.
You’ve built an impressive career in consulting. Looking back, what was the biggest turning point that shaped your path?
Sara: The biggest turning point in my career was when I pursued a part-time MBA while still working at Simon-Kucher. Not only did my program give me invaluable leadership and presentation skills, but it also instilled in me the confidence to lean into my strengths and use my experience to step up for my teams and clients. Having incredibly smart and successful classmates who aspired to work at Simon-Kucher encouraged me to double down on my career here and appreciate our culture.
Many aspiring consultants wonder about the "secret sauce" to success. What’s one underrated skill that has helped you the most?
Sara: Different people possess different strengths. There is no one path to success at Simon-Kucher. What has really helped me is being someone who listens and does their best to understand others. The ability to read the room and react effectively to what others are conveying is an extremely valuable skill that has allowed me to be a compassionate and relevant leader.
What’s a common misconception people have about consulting, and how would you set the record straight?
Sara: Coming out of undergrad, I believed that consulting was a temporary stepping-stone that would lead me to what I really wanted to do in life. In some ways that was true, but not in the way I expected. Consulting did lead me to what I really wanted to do in life, and that is developing recognition of patterns across companies, solving problems, and helping companies to drive growth. Consulting led me to want to do consulting.
Consulting often means a lot of travel and packed schedules. What’s your go-to productivity hack to stay on top of everything?
Sara: It would be easy to say things like prioritization or appropriate delegation, but I think, counter-intuitively, getting in appropriate exercise, meals, and sleep is my biggest productivity hack. When I let these things get away from me too much, my anxiety increases and my ability to focus suffers. Avoiding getting sick and being present in my work helps me to do other effective things like prioritization and delegation in a way that helps boost productivity.
What’s your secret interest or guilty pleasure that might surprise people?
Sara: My son is very into video games, but I do not have time to play them myself. To understand what he’s doing and to stay at least somewhat relevant with the times, I like to watch video game streamers on Twitch or YouTube. It’s something that can go on in the background while I’m doing other things. It is easy to start watching when I need a break or stop watching when I need to focus.
If you weren’t in consulting, what do you think you’d be doing today?
Sara: I think the most likely answer is product or marketing in industry, but I would like to think that I could be a teacher. I’ve always liked mentoring and helping people learn new skills. It is very rewarding to me and allows me to pass on what I find most valuable: growth and education.
What’s the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
Sara: “Be comfortable being uncomfortable” was a bit of a combination of advice and realization when I was growing up in Simon-Kucher. I realized this when I was nervous about giving a presentation, unsure about how to do an analysis, or getting constructive feedback, for example, and I used it as an opportunity to improve my skills. Leaning into discomfort allowed me to embrace new opportunities and push me in my career.
For someone looking to start their career in consulting, what makes Simon-Kucher a great place to grow their career?
Sara: Simon-Kucher is known for commercial excellence. We always work on the sunny-side of consulting, and helping companies to grow and realize the value of the products or services they are offering is incredibly rewarding.
If you could give one piece of advice to individuals looking to advance in leadership roles, what would it be?
Sara: I honestly cannot give advice on this, because I have not sought leadership roles. My focus throughout my career has been to focus on what I do, do it well, and look for opportunities to improve for my teams and clients. To me, leadership has been a consequence, not the goal.