Cornerstone Research Finance Leaders Honored as Top Women in Consulting

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Sara E. Gilley, Jennifer Marietta-Westberg, and Ellen Paulus are recognized for outstanding strategic operations, client service, and leadership acumen, respectively, among women leaders in the consulting profession.

Consulting Magazine has named three Cornerstone Research leaders to its 2025 list of Women Leaders in Consulting, celebrating their significant contributions to the firm and the broader profession. The honorees are Sara E. Gilley for Excellence in Strategy and Operations, Jennifer Marietta-Westberg for Excellence in Client Service, and Ellen Paulus as a Future Leader.

“Sara, Jennifer, and Ellen exemplify what it means to be a leader at our firm,” said Yan Cao, cohead of Cornerstone Research’s finance practices and herself a past winner of Consulting Magazine’s Future Leader award. “Without question, they have been instrumental in driving the growth and success of our finance work. But their impact goes far beyond that—as mentors and role models, they embody our firm’s core values and commitment to developing the next generation of talent. On behalf of the entire firm, I congratulate them on these well-deserved honors.”

As mentors and role models, Sara, Jennifer, and Ellen embody our firm’s core values and commitment to developing the next generation of talent.

Consulting Magazine’s Women Leaders in Consulting recognitions showcase “the character and leadership that make a measurable difference,” both for the consulting industry as a whole and for up-and-coming women leaders who are building their careers within it.

Honorees and Their Achievements

Headshot of Sara Gilley

Sara E. Gilley
Excellence in Strategy and Operations

During her two-plus decades at Cornerstone Research, Ms. Gilley has developed a deep understanding of the firm’s operations and has leveraged this expertise to design and execute initiatives that advance business success. As cohead of the firm’s market-leading securities litigation practice for over five years, she has expanded the practice’s client base both in the U.S. and internationally, meaningfully increasing revenue and solidifying the firm’s preeminence in this field. Ms. Gilley has also helped transform the practice operationally, implementing innovative methods and new technology to drive efficiencies, streamline processes, and optimize the delivery of the highest quality work.

Jennifer Marietta Westberg

Jennifer Marietta-Westberg
Excellence in Client Service

As a former deputy chief economist and deputy director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, Dr. Marietta-Westberg provides specialized knowledge to clients navigating high-stakes economic and financial disputes. As a senior leader and testifying expert at Cornerstone Research, she brings a notable ability to meet clients’ and experts’ unique needs and synthesize their contributions to case strategy. Blending technical expertise, understanding of client priorities, and a collaborative approach, Dr. Marietta-Westberg consistently demonstrates her commitment to client success across a spectrum of complex matters.

Headshot of Ellen Paulus

Ellen Paulus
Future Leader

Honored for her leadership potential and for consistently exceeding the expectations of her position, Dr. Paulus has emerged as a driving force in Cornerstone Research’s finance and financial institutions practices. Through her work consulting for counsel and supporting testifying experts on large, high-profile cases, she consistently demonstrates incisive understanding of financial markets, financial institutions, investments, and valuation issues. In addition, Dr. Paulus’s commitment to identifying and developing the next generation of testifying experts has strengthened the firm’s reputation for delivering best-in class expert services to its clients.