Laura Juliano, managing director and senior partner, didn’t plan for an almost 20-year—and counting—career in consulting, but her curiosity and love for problem solving led her to BCG, where she’s become a leader in operations and cost transformation, now based in the Houston office. Her passion for getting to the heart of the matter has allowed her to create tangible impact with her clients, within BCG, and in her community.
When I was nearing the end of college and trying to figure out the beginning of my career journey, consulting was not on my radar. Then BCG came to campus and invited me to a women’s dinner, and that changed everything.
I’d spent years in math and science classes as one of the only women—almost always the only loud, extroverted woman. That night, I found myself in the company of successful women thriving in analytical fields—women who not only loved diving into complex problems but also had great conversations and seemed genuinely supportive of one another. BCG seemed like a place where I’d fit in and thrive, and it has been just that for almost 20 years now.
Cost Transformation, Operations, and Setting Up Others for Success
I’ve always been fascinated by how things work. As a kid, I’d spend hours watching How It’s Made, mesmerized by the production lines churning out lollipops or sneakers. That curiosity is what drew me to operations management. I love understanding how to make processes more efficient, achieving the same outcomes with fewer inputs.
In my early years at BCG, I worked on several merger integrations, which helped develop my expertise in the “currency” of business: costs, dollars, and margins. I became particularly interested in operational costs: what we buy, how much we use, and how we convert what we put into final products. I went on to lead BCG’s global end-to-end operational transformation and cost excellence business.
Today, I run the North America Operations practice, a role I took on as the global economy was turning from a position of strength to questions of recession. I had to steer the ship in a way that responded to an environment full of uncertainty. Working closely with a team of sharp, adventurous BCGers, we worked hard to figure out where to pivot and where to stay the course.
Despite the volatile landscape, I wasn’t nervous about coming into the job, and I have to thank my predecessor for that. He was deliberate in his succession planning, bringing in a few BCGers to work closely with him for more than a year before he moved on. It was a lesson for me I hadn’t thought much about before—how to set people up to succeed as they advance.
Making an Impact with the Houston Food Bank
Moving to Houston wasn’t on my radar until my husband’s academic career brought us here. As a consultant, luckily all I needed was a major airport, but I wanted to connect more deeply with my new city. That’s when I found the Houston Food Bank.
The food bank’s mission to tackle food insecurity resonated with my operations-driven mind. I was fascinated by the logistics: how do you distribute food to nearly 1 million people when 90% of your workforce is made up of volunteers who only work four-hour shifts? I visited the facility, expecting a quick tour, and ended up staying for hours, diving into their trucking software and learning about their operations. After that, I helped launch a pro bono project, so BCG’s Houston office could partner with the food bank and help it reach its goals.
But before we could even get started, Hurricane Harvey hit. The devastation was overwhelming in Houston, and I reached out to the food bank to ask how BCG could help. We created a hub-and-spoke model to triage the influx of donations, developed new disaster response plans, and helped the organization scale its efforts. I joined the board of the Houston Food Bank a few years later and served as its chair for two years. Bringing my skills and experience to my community has been deeply fulfilling.
Leadership, Inclusion, and Learning
At BCG, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible teams and pushing for change where it matters most. Inclusion is one area where I have a long-standing passion. About 15 years ago, I was part of a small group that founded our Operations Practice Network of Women, or OPS NOW, and kept a leadership position in the network for ten years. I was thrilled to be able to help shape that network, building community and affiliation opportunities for more junior consultants in the Operations practice. We have also helped create an environment that attracts a greater number of women at all levels into the practice. As a result, we can bring more balanced perspectives—and greater value—to our clients.
I’ve learned so much in all my roles and projects at BCG, and I try to bring that spirit of continuous learning into my home. I have three daughters—ages ten, eight, and six—who are full of energy and curiosity. The baby years are behind us, and now our weekends are packed with softball games and family DIY projects, as well as regular volunteer shifts at the food bank.
One of my favorite things about parenting is sharing my love for how things work. Whether it’s fixing something around the house or solving a tricky problem, it’s so exciting to show my kids the joy of learning and collaboration, bringing that passion into every corner of my life.
