5 Minutes a-connect General 08/07/2025

A partner who leads with heart and focuses on impact

Soyini Coke is an a-connect consultant based in Atlanta, who brings strategy and empathy together, aligning operational excellence with purpose-driven leadership. With a broad background that spans McKinsey, executive advisory roles, and two decades of independent consulting, she helps organizations navigate complexity with clarity, compassion, and results.

A leader who turns vision into momentum

Whether stabilizing teams during organizational upheaval or guiding C-suite leaders through strategic transformation, Soyini serves as a trusted partner to her clients. Her ability to connect big-picture thinking with day-to-day execution has made her an invaluable ally to fast-growing businesses, and mission-driven leaders.

We wanted to learn more about Soyini and her consulting approach, so we asked her a few questions about professional resume and how she brings stakeholder-centric thinking to every client engagement.

Can you give us a quick background on your professional journey?

Soyini:

“After graduating cum laude from Harvard in Applied Mathematics and Economics, I began my career at McKinsey & Company, where I worked across sectors including financial services, pharmaceuticals, and global recruiting strategy, and across geographies, including a rotation in Johannesburg. That experience sharpened my analytical thinking and exposed me to decision-making at the highest levels.

I then founded a strategic advisory firm that I’ve led for over 20 years (sigh, I feel so old!). My work has focused on helping healthcare, life sciences, and mission-driven organizations navigate complexity, leading cross-functional initiatives in pricing, PMO strategy, executive communications, and transformation. I’ve also served as Chief of Staff to multiple C-suite leaders in biopharma, helping translate vision into operational momentum.”

Why do you prefer consulting versus working in-house?

Soyini:

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Even early on, I was drawn to the variety, creativity, and independence that consulting offers. After McKinsey, I transitioned quickly into independent consulting, and I’ve never looked back. The freedom to help build, fix, or scale across diverse organizations fuels both my problem-solving instincts and my deeper purpose to serve leaders navigating transformation.”

What motivates you most about working with a-connect and our clients?

Soyini:

“I’m motivated by the direct, human impact of strategic work. With a-connect, I get to walk alongside senior leaders and help them turn moments of uncertainty into clarity and momentum. It’s deeply gratifying to see the ripple effects of a project, not just in performance metrics, but in morale, alignment, and confidence across the organization.

Especially in times of volatility and change, I believe the best companies are those that align strong financial results with deeply human values. I bring a Stakeholder Capitalism lens to my work, helping clients build not only better businesses, but also better workplaces and communities. That kind of alignment between purpose, people, and performance is where lasting impact takes root.”

Do you have a particular highlight or “win” from working with an a-connect client?

Soyini:

“One of my most meaningful projects was with a rapidly growing biopharma company undergoing significant organizational change. I was brought in to support the Chief Technology Operations Officer during a 40% workforce reduction, a highly sensitive and high-stakes transition. My primary goal was to stabilize the team, maintain morale, and ensure operational continuity during this critical period.

Thanks to the trust and results built throughout the engagement, I was later asked to expand my role and support the Chief Medical Officer as well. Being invited deeper into the organization was a real vote of confidence and a great example of how strategic partnership, empathy, and execution can drive lasting impact across functions.“

When you’re not consulting, what’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

Soyini:

“I host a podcast called Capitalism Done Right, a partnership with Conscious Capitalism’s Atlanta Chapter, where I’ve interviewed conscious CEOs—many from the Inc. 5000 or Atlanta’s fastest-growing companies. What started as a passion project has become a way for me to explore how leaders are building purpose-driven, people-centered businesses. It’s helped me stay connected to the entrepreneurial spirit I love, and it’s reinforced my belief that when you ground strategy in values, the results are more sustainable, and more human.

I’m also deeply involved in arts education. Helping launch the Eastside Atlanta campus of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts has been a true labor of love. We built it from the ground up, vision, community, and all, and it’s taught me as much about leadership as any corporate role ever has.

And just for fun? I’m a salsa dancer. Very enthusiastic, moderately skilled, and always up for jumping in, even if I miss a step or two sometimes.“

Share this article