Meet Christie Simons
Global Semiconductor Center of Excellence Leader, Deloitte US Audit & Assurance TMT Leader
The Faces of Deloitte TMT is a series of articles exploring the personal histories of our people, sharing experiences that have defined their values, and highlighting why they do what they do. In this story, we learn how Christie’s growth mindset enriches both her personal and professional pursuits.
Whether reading the green on a golf course, tending to grapes in her vineyard, or helping a Deloitte client meet new challenges, Christie Simons adapts effortlessly to any situation. Following her graduation from the University of Colorado in 1990, Christie headed for Silicon Valley, where she called a friend’s couch home until she landed an accounting job with a startup. There, she developed a working relationship with the startup’s auditor, Deloitte. Always open to new adventures, Christie jumped at the chance to join Deloitte’s team when the opportunity presented itself a few years later. Today, she is part of Deloitte US, where she leads the Global Semiconductor Center of Excellence and is the TMT industry leader for Audit & Assurance business.
Why TMT?
My very first audit client at Deloitte was a semiconductor company going through an IPO and I was in charge of counting inventory—in a clean room ‘bunny suit.’ I was hooked,” says Christie. “I thought semiconductors were so cool. Through audits, you become an expert in financial statements and accounting, which is really the language of business. You become a trusted advisor and Deloitte supports and invests in you. The training we get is truly amazing. I love meeting different people and clients.
The fast-growing semiconductor industry must contend with supply chain issues, rapidly emerging technology, and a challenging geopolitical environment. Luckily, Christie comes from a family of farmers, so she knows a thing or two about growth. “I think it’s in my DNA to get my hands dirty,” she says.
It’s no surprise, then, that Christie is also the proud owner of a vineyard, where she rolls up her sleeves and helps with pruning, and grape-picking. Never one to shy away from hard work, she relishes the process and is learning more about viticulture each day. This tenacity carries over into Christie’s work at Deloitte tackling industry growing pains. “We bring a global perspective to clients to solve their most complex semiconductor ecosystem problems,” says Christie. “It’s probably one of the more global sectors—there isn’t any one country that can completely supply their own chips. A resilient supply chain is a must, and the ramp-up of AI will drive even higher demand for chips.”
Christie honed her adaptability during the years she spent serving semiconductor companies in Taiwan as part of Deloitte Asia Pacific. Thanks to the ability to travel all over Asia, she came to understand the differences in how cultures conduct business and approach problems. “To communicate when you have two very different viewpoints, you need to be a good listener and find common ground, both skills I developed during that time,” she says. “Not only was I a new partner, but we were also working with an Arthur Andersen practice that had to adjust to doing things the Deloitte way. We had to bring them along in the journey while also effecting change.”
Christie is a lifelong learner whose skills, curiosity, and can-do attitude are rivaled only by her empathy and ability to connect with others. Her clients at Deloitte enjoy the same easy camaraderie she shares with golf foursomes and her circle of family and friends. For Christie, there really are no strangers—just friends she hasn’t met yet. If you bump into her one day, don’t be surprised if she presses you to accept a bottle of wine from her vineyard, while smiling and saying, “I hope you like merlot!”
