Breaking Barriers: Marlinee Henin’s Perspective on Leading in the Male-Dominated Consulting World

Michigan, US, 11th June 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In the often male-dominated world of business consulting, marketing strategist Marline Henin has carved out her own lane, one not defined by barriers, but by boldness. As a seasoned consultant with over a decade of experience guiding companies through strategic transformation, Henin is speaking candidly about the realities women face in high-level advisory roles and why change, though slow, is finally gaining ground.

“The boardroom wasn’t built with women in mind,” says Henin. “It was built by and for men. We’ve spent decades proving we deserve a seat there, only to find that the chair still comes with conditions.”

According to Henin, the challenges aren’t always overt. Often, they’re embedded in the unspoken rules, clients defaulting to her male counterparts in meetings, assumptions about her role being limited to communications rather than strategic planning, or being labeled as “too direct” when simply doing what her male peers are praised for.

“Soft sexism is what really defines the experience,” she explains. “It’s the raised eyebrows when you take the lead in a room, the sideways glances when you talk numbers instead of branding, the subtle exclusion from informal decision-making spaces.”

Rather than backing down, Henin leaned in hard and focused on outcomes. One of her most high-profile wins came when she helped a midsize firm shift its strategic marketing approach, leading to a sixfold increase in annual revenue. That result-based credibility has become her calling card; with it, she’s dismantled many of the assumptions about what a woman in consulting can or should do.

But Henin also warns against putting the burden of change solely on women’s shoulders. “There’s this dangerous narrative that women just have to ‘work harder’ or ‘prove themselves more,’” she says. “The reality is that no one should have to overperform to be taken seriously.”

Instead, she believes firms must create environments where diverse leadership styles are accepted and valued. “You can’t claim to be a modern business and still rely on 20th-century leadership models,” Henin notes. “And diversity isn’t just about adding women to the roster, it’s about making space for them to lead authentically.”

Her insights come when the consulting industry faces increased scrutiny for its lack of gender equity at senior levels. Despite improvements in hiring, women continue to be underrepresented in executive roles across the marketing and strategic consulting sectors. According to recent industry data, only 23% of senior consultants in North America are women, and even fewer are in leadership positions at independent firms.

Henin is not just challenging those statistics; she’s actively rewriting them. She now mentors young women entering the field, helping them navigate the nuances of consulting culture while advocating for more inclusive practices within the firms she collaborates with.

“Mentorship is about more than giving advice,” she says. “It’s about opening doors, creating safety nets, and helping others walk paths we had to clear by force.”

But Henin’s leadership extends beyond gender. She’s also vocal about the intersection of gender, race, and economics in shaping opportunity. “There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all leadership development,” she adds. “You can’t talk about women in consulting without talking about whose voices are heard and whose are still missing.”

Still, Henin remains optimistic. “The good news is that clients are starting to value different perspectives,” she notes. “They don’t just want another version of the same executive. They want someone who can see what they’re missing. That’s where women in consulting can thrive, by bringing insight, not just expertise.”

When asked what advice she has for other women entering the industry, her response is simple but powerful: “Don’t wait for permission. Don’t water down your point of view to make others comfortable. And don’t mistake resistance for a reason to quit, it’s often the clearest sign you’re on the right track.”

As consulting continues to evolve, voices like Marline Henin’s are pushing the industry toward a more inclusive and effective future. And while the barriers are far from gone, they’re no longer unchallenged.