Meet Will Roddy

When you meet Will Roddy, you quickly sense both his sharp intellect and his easy warmth. Today, he is a trusted advisor to leading private equity investors and executives across Europe, known for guiding clients through some of their most complex leadership decisions. But his path to ghSMART has been anything but ordinary. From early career pivots, including a brief foray into opera, to years at McKinsey, to raising two young children while building a thriving advisory practice, Will’s story is one of curiosity, adaptability, and finding the right place to make an impact.

Finding His Place

Will first crossed paths with ghSMART through friends and colleagues who had already made the leap from McKinsey. They encouraged him to consider the firm – and the timing was right. As he thought about the next stage of his career and starting a family, he was looking for a place where he could focus on the work he found most meaningful: helping leaders make their toughest people decisions.

“What makes ghSMART unique is that you can genuinely pursue that interest in people in a rigorous, concrete way,” Will says. “There’s a methodology. There’s real impact. And at the same time, you can build a family life alongside it.”

Since joining, that’s proven true. Will and his partner have welcomed two children, and he’s been able to grow his career without sacrificing the moments that matter most at home.

Life as an Advisor

These days, Will spends most of his time advising private equity and institutional investors, co-leading engagements with a large infrastructure fund and a major private equity firm. The work ranges from questions of CEO succession to building management teams set up for long-term success.

But what energizes him most is the trust he builds with clients. “What’s probably more fun than the day-to-day project work is being the person a CEO calls when they’re wrestling with a big people decision,” he says. “Whether it’s about their CFO, the structure of their team, or the next step in their own career, being at the top of the list of people they want to talk it through with is incredibly meaningful.”

For Will, that kind of relationship marks a shift from being just a service provider to being a true advisor, and a highlight of his ghSMART journey so far.

Family First, Without Compromise

One of the things Will values most about life at ghSMART is the flexibility to be present as both a professional and a parent. On a typical day at home in the UK, mornings begin with breakfast as a family, followed by quick pop-ins from the home office during breaks from work. More often than not, those breaks involve his kids in full silliness – running around, laughing, and filling the house with joyful chaos. As Will puts it, “That’s usually what I walk into between calls.”

No matter how busy the day gets, he makes it a priority to wrap up in time for dinner, bath, and bedtime. “I’ll log back on in the evening if I need to,” he says, “but the key is I don’t have to ask permission. I don’t have to explain. I’ve been able to just build the schedule that works for my family.”

At one point, Will was able to regularly carve out Friday mornings to take his child to swimming lessons, a small but meaningful way to be present during those early years. “That time with your kids is something you’re never going to get back,” he reflects. “I’m genuinely grateful to ghSMART for giving me that flexibility.”

Looking Ahead

Recently promoted to Associate Partner, Will is energized by both the clients he serves today and the untapped opportunities ahead.

“There’s so much white space,” Will says. “Across Europe, there are entire industries full of opportunity. The exciting part is seeing how much we can build over the next few years – new solutions, new partnerships, and meaningful ways to make an impact.”

For Will, the contrast with his early consulting experience is striking. “At McKinsey, I sometimes felt like I had to narrow and narrow to find a niche. At ghSMART, it’s the opposite. There are so many opportunities to build something new.”

Supported Every Step of the Way

Ask Will what else has made the biggest difference in his journey, and he doesn’t hesitate: the support of his colleagues. From stepping in when unexpected challenges arise to helping think through complex client issues, that support has been both practical and profound.

Colleagues provide day-to-day support, offering perspective, advice, and hands-on help when needed, while partners provide a complementary layer of guidance, trusting him with significant responsibility, giving space to lead, and coaching through the more challenging decisions. Together, this combination of support allows him to grow, take on new challenges, and feel confident in his work.

It’s this combination of trust, guidance, and genuine care that stands out to him. “It’s not just about getting the work done – it’s about supporting each other as people. I owe a lot to the partner group and to everyone here.”

Conclusion

Will’s story is one of balance, between client impact and family life, between responsibility and support, and between career growth and personal joy. As he continues his journey at ghSMART, he’s shaping the future of leadership advisory in Europe while finding ways to make a meaningful impact on the people he works with every day. For Will, success isn’t just about completing projects. It’s about the trust he builds with clients, the relationships he nurtures with colleagues, and the moments he cherishes with his family.

Looking ahead, Will remains curious and energized, eager to explore new opportunities, tackle untouched challenges, and continue growing both as an advisor and as a person.

‍Learn more about Will here.