Gabrielle Novacek is a core member Boston Consulting Group’s Consumer and People & Organization practices and is the former leader of the Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice in North America. In addition, Gabrielle is currently serving as a fellow at the BCG Henderson Institute, where she is working to develop breakthrough solutions to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace.

Since joining BCG in 2007, Gabrielle has worked extensively on topics relating to people strategy—organization and operating model design, new ways of working (including Agile@Scale), culture, the advancement of digital capabilities, and change management. While she works in numerous industries, she focuses on these topics in the consumer goods sector.

Gabrielle’s work often sits at the intersection of people topics and large-scale strategic transformation. Her experiences include leading the go-to-market transformation for one of the world's largest food and beverage manufacturers, helping a Fortune 100 company transform its operating model, and realigning the organization of a global consumer packaged goods company against a set of new strategic ambitions. In addition, she has deep expertise in post-merger integration.

Prior to joining BCG, Gabrielle received her PhD with honors from the University of Chicago, where her academic research focused on the archaeology of the Middle East in the fourth millennium B.C. As an archaeologist, Gabrielle’s field work took her to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • PhD, Near Eastern languages and civilizations, University of Chicago
  • MA, University of Chicago
  • BA, Harvard University

Publications and Videos

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The So What Podcast from BCG:
When a Paycheck is Not Enough

Pay, promotion, and benefits have been the traditional carrots for hiring, exciting, and retaining employees. But feeling safe, challenged, and valued at work can be even more important than a paycheck, says Gabi Novacek, a BCG Henderson Institute fellow researching diversity, equity, and inclusion on this episode of "The So What from BCG" podcast.
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Reinventing Gender Diversity Programs for a Post-Pandemic World

When money no longer buys happiness, companies must rethink their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
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Why the First Year Matters for LGBTQ+ Employees

The first 12 months at a new job are a critical time for LGBTQ+ people to present their authentic selves in the workplace. Those who don’t come out professionally then are likely to remain closeted.

Gabrielle’s Story: Discovering What Matters Most

Gabrielle Novacek explains how a life-threatening medical diagnosis led to a powerful breakthrough in reimagining diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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It’s Time to Reimagine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

To take DEI to the next level, look beyond broad categories of race, gender, and sexual orientation to discover what truly shapes employees’ experiences at work.
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Amplified Calls for Racial Equity Need Amplified Responses

Despite efforts to promote equity, many employees say companies haven’t done enough. Creating an equitable environment goes beyond hiring a diverse team—and benefits the entire company.
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A New LGBTQ Workforce Has Arrived—Inclusive Cultures Must Follow

LGBTQ employees have changed, and companies need to upgrade their HR policies to match. The main challenge? Creating the right working environment.
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Diversity Is Just the First Step. Inclusion Comes Next.

Companies can’t capture the real value of a diverse workforce until they create an organizational culture that welcomes everyone—truly everyone—to participate.
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Organizing for a Digital Future

Digital does not change the principles of organizational design and governance. But because the capabilities and cadence of digital and traditional ways of working can be so different, leaders must approach digital thoughtfully.
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Organizing for Agility in Consumer Companies

Large consumer companies must learn how to balance size with speed to compete with a new breed of smaller competitors.
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Digital Insurgents, Emerging Models, and the Disruption of CPG and Retail

Even as CPG companies become more engaged in digital commerce, their perspectives on new competitors can be dangerously narrow. Winning requires a deep understanding of digitally influenced business models.
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The Winner-Take-All Digital World for CPG

For consumer packaged goods companies, success in digital channels breeds exponential success. The winner-take-all digital game means refocusing efforts, organizations, and budgets toward digital channels now.
Deep Expertise, Broad Experience