Emily Sweigart, who joined Cowry Consulting three years ago, has rapidly advanced within the firm, leveraging her academic background in experimental psychology and behavioural economics. Initially considering a career in academia, she was drawn to consulting for its variety and continuous learning opportunities across multiple industries.

At Cowry, which specialises in behavioural science, Sweigart leads the Experimental Design function. She emphasises the company’s approach of rigorously testing behavioural hypotheses through data infrastructure to analyse impacts, allowing solutions to be selected based on evidence rather than assumptions. This method has yielded notable results, such as reducing unsafe behaviours on construction sites by painting break rooms pink and increasing customer engagement with pensions through the use of birdsong.

Sweigart has contributed to several high-profile projects. In financial services, she collaborated with a leading wealth manager to devise a data-driven response to the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer duty regulation. In the media sector, she worked with the UK’s public music licensing company to shift from a compliance-centered model to one focused on empathy, resulting in significant commercial growth.

She highlights the consulting industry’s strength in integrating diverse expertise, blending technical knowledge with behavioural insights to create transformative client outcomes. Beyond project work, Sweigart is actively involved in efforts to broaden access to consultancy careers. Having joined Cowry through a global summer school for promising students, she now supports initiatives that provide internships and work experience to young people, particularly in disadvantaged London areas where Cowry runs outreach programmes.

Sweigart stresses the importance of attracting talent from varied backgrounds to enhance the firm’s capabilities. She notes that expanding opportunities and ensuring greater cognitive diversity are critical both for social equity and the success of consultancy practices. Through her leadership and advocacy, Sweigart continues to shape Cowry’s approach to behavioural science and talent development.