Anna Clevenger: Consultant, Creator, Connector

Anna Clevenger: Consultant, Creator, Connector

When Broadway went dark in 2020, Anna Clevenger’s theater internship disappeared overnight. What could have been a dead end became a detour that reshaped her career. Instead of waiting for the curtain to rise again, Anna pivoted into consulting. Today, she’s not just advising clients on IT sourcing strategies; she’s raising money for causes she cares about, mentoring interns with humor and heart, and yes, occasionally baking elaborate cakes for colleagues and family. Her story proves that leadership isn’t about following a script, it’s about writing your own.

Finding Belonging at GEP 

Anna didn’t grow up dreaming of procurement, but a chance encounter with fellow GEP consultant May Zhou, our very first She Shines feature, at an NYU career fair gave her a vision for what consulting could look like.

That moment set the stage for her career at GEP, where she’s carved out a reputation for blending strategy with authenticity. “I’ve been told that people appreciate that I talk like a human being and not a consulting dictionary,” she says. “It makes people comfortable asking questions, and that makes us all better at our jobs.”

Beyond Client Work: Building Community 

On paper, Anna’s focus is IT sourcing. In practice, her impact stretches far beyond client deliverables. She’s a driving force in GEP Cares and Pride@GEP, bringing creativity to causes close to her heart. If you’ve ever noticed QR codes taped to every table at a Clark happy hour, that was Anna making fundraising impossible to ignore. 

Her efforts have supported everything from The Trevor Project to period equity drives. She even blends her passions into professional moments, teaching interns Excel through a Taylor Swift dataset or connecting colleagues with Broadway shows. “I want to add value in ways people didn’t even know they needed,” she says. “Sometimes that’s a workshop. Sometimes it’s cookies.”

Lessons in Strength and Resilience

Anna is candid about the challenges that shaped her. She recalls early days at Launchpad, surrounded by suits, calling her sister from the bathroom in a moment of panic. “She told me, just pretend you’re not scared. No one will know,” Anna laughs.

That lesson stuck. Today, Anna sees authenticity as her greatest strength. “Some spiffier version of this is what I’d tell anyone: having your authentic self at work is always a strength, even when you think it might not be.”

Her approachable style has turned what she once saw as a liability into an asset. “I thought my approachability, wanting to have light conversations, would be a weakness. But it’s actually been my biggest strength.”

Life Outside the Suit 

When she’s not advising clients or organizing fundraisers, you’ll usually find Anna in the kitchen. Baking has become a creative outlet she pours her heart into and experiments with elaborate, theme-based cakes for family and friends. Her motto? If it’s baked with love, calories don’t count.”

Family anchors her just as much as work. Every Sunday she joins her parents and sister for dinner in New York. “My mom begs me to stop baking because she’s on a diet, but my dad and sister always overrule her.”

Why She Shines

Anna Clevenger shines because she reminds us that consulting isn’t just about strategy decks and sourcing events. It’s about people. She brings warmth, humor, and creativity to her work—whether she’s negotiating contracts, mentoring associates, or raising money for causes that matter.

At GEP, we’re proud to celebrate Anna’s story, because she proves that being yourself isn’t just enough. It’s the very thing that makes you shine.