Allison Westrup-Pianka is a distinguished senior strategy and operations professional at Montrose Environmental Group, where she plays a pivotal role in onboarding, hiring, human resources functions, finance, budgeting, annual planning, optimization, and continuous improvement. Her expertise and leadership have established her as a trusted figure in the consulting services industry, where she consistently delivers strategic solutions and operational excellence. She earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, equipping her with advanced business acumen and leadership skills. She also holds dual bachelor’s degrees in English literature and finance from Florida State University, reflecting her diverse academic interests and intellectual versatility.
Throughout her career, Ms. Westrup-Pianka has navigated a range of roles across industries, demonstrating adaptability and a keen ability to drive impactful change. Her career trajectory includes serving as an acquisition technology senior consultant at Montrose Environmental Group and as a workday implementation subject matter expert in business transformation at 11:59. She brought her strategic vision to Crowe as a senior management consultant and later applied her project management expertise at Charter Communications. Her earlier roles include management consulting in risk and controls at Wire and Plastic Products plc and project management within the program management office at Gilded.
One of the most formative chapters in her career was Ms. Westrup-Pianka’s tenure at Bridgewater Associates, where she held multiple leadership roles over seven years. As co-chief operating officer and business unit controller, she spearheaded the department’s first-ever standardized planning and budgeting process. She successfully united senior leaders to conduct an annual business planning process and presented her findings to the company’s three chief executive officers. Her proposal to formalize the department’s planning and budgeting system gained the full support of the senior leadership, underscoring her ability to lead transformative initiatives. Her roles at Bridgewater also included overseeing operations, finance, and technology and serving as a liaison and program leader for Workday implementation projects.
Ms. Westrup-Pianka attributes her success to a combination of hard work, determination, and the values instilled by her parents during her upbringing in Westport, Connecticut. She emphasizes the importance of resilience and strategic thinking in overcoming challenges and achieving professional goals. Her success also reflects her ability to balance operational details with big-picture strategies, ensuring the alignment of initiatives with organizational objectives. Her career highlights include her adeptness at engaging with diverse teams and stakeholders, including senior executives and individuals with differing viewpoints. She has a remarkable talent for fostering collaboration and building consensus, which she leverages to champion initiatives and secure buy-in for transformative projects. Her ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and influence decision-making has been a cornerstone of her professional achievements.
Reflecting on her experiences, Ms. Westrup-Pianka values the guidance of skilled managers and mentors who have shaped her career. These relationships have provided her with tools and methodologies to address complex challenges and a strategic perspective that informs her decision-making. She finds immense satisfaction in operational roles, where she can witness the tangible impact of her work. Her contributions often serve as the backbone of organizational success, even if they remain behind the scenes.
As a woman in the workplace, Ms. Westrup-Pianka has observed and navigated gender disparities, particularly in male-dominated environments. During business school, she noticed differences in how women were treated, especially in diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions. Her experiences revealed persistent inequities, such as compensation gaps, even for women in comparable roles to their male counterparts. These challenges have reinforced her commitment to advocating for herself and mentoring other women. She seeks to empower those balancing professional aspirations with family responsibilities, particularly single mothers who face unique challenges in achieving work-life balance.
Outside her professional endeavors, Ms. Westrup-Pianka cherishes spending time with her family, especially her daughter. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Westport, she values the lessons learned from her upbringing and strives to pass them on to the next generation. Her experiences as a single mother have deepened her understanding of the importance of resilience and adaptability in personal and professional contexts.
Looking ahead, Ms. Westrup-Pianka aims to continue contributing meaningfully to organizations, whether through leadership roles in established companies or by supporting the growth of startups. She draws inspiration from her accomplishments at Bridgewater Associates and seeks opportunities that allow her to make a similarly significant impact. Her dedication to strategic operations and her ability to drive change and align stakeholders ensures she will remain a key player in the consulting services industry.