Management and Operations Expert Shares Her Career Story and Advice for Women in the Industry

Idoia Hidalgo, Client Solutions Executive at Clarkston, shares her career story and why she chose Clarkston Consulting 8 years ago.

1. What is your role at Clarkston?  

I’m currently a Client Solutions Executive at Clarkston, with a strong focus on our Management and Operations (MOPS) practice across both CPG and Life Sciences. I’m passionate about partnering with clients as they navigate critical business transformation decisions — helping them identify the drivers of their next phase of growth and defining the concrete actions needed to achieve it.​

2. What led you to accept a job at Clarkston? What was your career journey before?

I started my career in brand management in CPG, working at Danone and Unilever in the Netherlands. When we moved back to the U.S., I found myself at a crossroads—do I go back into brand management, or do I explore consulting, something I had been interested in since business school?

As I got to know Clarkston, I realized we really were a sweet spot in consulting: highly strategic work with clients, combined with real operational, executable experience that actually drives change and implementation. To me, that’s really what makes us unique.

At the end of the day, though, it was the people and the culture that made the decision. I was hesitant at first — this was still the Monday-through-Thursday travel model — but once I met the people at Clarkston and experienced how genuinely people-centric the firm is, I knew I wanted to join the firm. Our culture is what makes Clarkston unique, and it’s also what enables us to deliver brilliant client service.

3. How long have you been at Clarkston? And, what has kept you at Clarkston?

I’m coming up on eight years with Clarkston, time truly has flown by. As I mentioned, it was the people and our culture that ultimately swayed me to join the firm, and it’s also what’s made me stay.

We have a really unique approach to consulting — both in how we serve our clients and how we support our stewards. We’re genuinely people-centric. We value authenticity, we recognize individuals for who they are, and we give people real opportunities to grow and lead. That’s something I’ve deeply appreciated over the years, and it’s something I’m excited to continue contributing to as Clarkston evolves into the future.

4. In your experience, what qualities make someone a good consultant?

I think a good consultant is someone who’s always eager to learn, who enjoys being challenged, and who genuinely likes solving problems; someone who doesn’t take no for an answer. Those qualities make for a strong analyst.

But as you grow in your career and step into more of a strategic advisor role — both to your clients and your teams — other skills become just as important. You need influence. You need strong listening skills. And you need the ability to position recommendations in a way that clients will actually activate, delivered in a way that feels natural and aligned to them.

To me, it’s that combination of sharp analytical thinking, curiosity, and the softer skill of influence that truly makes an excellent consultant.

5. What advice would you give to someone starting at Clarkston?

I think the advice I would give ties back to the very reasons I joined—and have stayed at—Clarkston: how truly people-centric we are. We’re in a unique position as a firm. We’re not a small boutique, but we’re also not one of the massive consulting giants. We’re big enough to offer incredible opportunities and exposure, but still small enough that relationships really matter.

And I genuinely believe that building those relationships is critical to being successful here. Because we’re so people-centric, it benefits you to meet as many people as you can—learn from them, understand their career paths, know who the SMEs are, and figure out who to go to when you’re starting something new.

At the same time, make sure people know what you’re great at and what you’re working toward. In a firm like ours, your internal network will truly serve you throughout your career. I always encourage people to start building that from day one. Get involved in different communities, raise your hand, connect across different industries and service, because those relationships will make all the difference.

Women’s History Month 2026

In celebrating Women’s History Month, Idoia shares encouragement to women in the industry based on her experience and learnings from strong female mentors in her life.

6. Tell us about your involvement with Clarkston’s Women’s Empowerment Network? And, how can women support other women in their organizations? 

As I’ve grown in my career — and especially since becoming a mom — having strong female mentors has been incredibly important to me. When I became a mom for the first time four and a half years ago, it was invaluable to connect with other moms who had children around the same age. I wanted to understand how they navigated that transition at Clarkston, how they stayed successful, and what mattered most to them when it came to balance and priorities. Hearing their experiences made such a difference.

Now that I’m a few years into motherhood, I feel a strong desire to support the next generation of moms going through that same transition. And beyond parenthood, there are uniquely female challenges that women face in the workplace. Having mentors you can look up to — people you can talk to openly and who help you feel heard and understood — reminds you that you’re not alone in those experiences.

That’s why initiatives like our Women’s Empowerment Network are so important to me. And more broadly, I always encourage women to find a mentor who is further along in their career or life stage—someone you can truly bounce ideas off of and learn from.

7. What advice would you give to your younger self or young women entering a similar profession? 

When you look at the last 50 years and how much women have grown and evolved in business, it’s truly incredible. There are so many strong female leaders and role models we can look up to—within Clarkston and beyond. That progress is real and meaningful.

And yet, there will still be moments where you’re the only woman in the room. That will happen. My advice would be: don’t let that fact alone intimidate you. Show up prepared, confident, and focused on the value you bring. Your perspective belongs in that conversation.

At the same time, build your support system—find mentors you can turn to for guidance and peers you can be open with and learn alongside.

Above all, stay authentic to yourself. Regardless of gender, authenticity is what ultimately positions you for long-term success.

Learn how you can develop your career at Clarkston here.