Michelle Lanier
Contract Management Lead, Accenture Federal Services
Michelle Lanier spearheaded a leadership enrichment initiative for the contract management team and revamped federal government contracting training for contract management and program personnel while stabilizing the contract management team during leadership transitions and guiding them through a significant acquisition.
“By investing in the leadership program, I want to develop the next generation and beyond of strategic thought leaders in contract management, which is crucial, as the demand for experienced contract managers continues to rise,” she said.
Continued training in federal government contracting ensures teams stay current with evolving regulations, enhancing their ability to anticipate how they affect their contracts, upcoming acquisitions and proposed solutions. This initiative is helping to solidify the partnership between the company’s program teams and contract management personnel.
Why Watch
Looking ahead to 2024, Lanier’s team is heavily focused on exploring what AI tools are being developed and their application across industry and government. Their goal is to leverage these tools to streamline administrative tasks in contract management with precision, freeing up contract managers to better focus on customer relationships, contract execution and the company’s strategic growth initiatives.
“I’m continually inspired by my team’s resilience and their adept handling of ongoing changes,” Lanier said. “It motivates me to evolve as a leader.”
Accenture Federal Services General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer Deborah Ringel said Lanier has made a huge impact in her short time as director of contract management.
“She is a dedicated advocate for continuous learning and believes in the value of investing in the next generation of leaders,” Ringel said. “Michelle truly understands the business imperative to have contract managers at the table and continues to invest in her team to make sure they deliver strategic and relationship value to both internal and external clients.”
Fun fact: “Outside of work when I have time, I’ve found joy in cooking, particularly my daughter’s basketball team’s favorite dish — lasagna, which has gained a reputation for its deliciousness,” Lanier said. “I’ve also paired this passion with volunteering for Lasagna Love, a nonprofit organization that supports families in need.”
