In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are spotlighting some of our female Partners who share their unique career advice and insights and reflect on the recent Women’s Forum in Paris. 

Embracing change and entrepreneurial freedom

Romy joined Deloitte in 2019 with a clear business case and ambition, ready to exercise her entrepreneurial freedom to develop her career in the direction she desired. Switching environments to Deloitte pushed her to leave her comfort zone and tested her relationships and business ideas. 

“Reaching out for support is essential for growing as a professional, and sometimes this is forgotten in a leadership position. Meeting colleagues, clients, and networking over lunch or coffee is just as important as delivering high-quality work.”

She believes that Deloitte is the best place to develop and shape your career in the direction you want.

Hevin, Partner, Tax & Legal

Discovering a new perspective on leadership

The pursuit of an MBA stands as a defining milestone in Murielle’s career development. During this period, her encounter with Jim Collins’s Level 5 leadership concept in “Good to Great” transformed her perspective on leadership. It resonated with her introverted nature as this framework identified leaders who were quiet, reserved, and self-effacing, yet possessed fearless ambition and a strong will to drive change and improvement.

“The leadership development program in my MBA showed me that being introverted wasn’t a hindrance to leadership – it could be a strength. This realisation allowed me to develop my own leadership style.”

Your career is a marathon, not a sprint

The transition to Partner tested and strengthened Annik’s capabilities. From her perspective, her adaptability, relationship-building skills, and commitment to continuous learning from colleagues at all levels played an important part in her development. Her advice to emerging leaders reflects this as well:

“Stay curious, embrace learning opportunities, and be proactive. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone, and the more you push yourself, the more doors will open.”

Annik encourages us to remember that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. It is important to stay focused on your long-term goals, but also take the time to enjoy the journey and celebrate your achievements along the way. With the right mindset, resilience, and a willingness to learn, the possibilities are truly endless.

Viktoriya, Partner, Audit & Assurance

Reflections on the 2024 Women’s Forum 

Last October, Hevin and Viktoriya represented Deloitte Switzerland at the 2024 Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Paris. This annual event gathers business leaders, policymakers, and changemakers from around the world to discuss and address pressing issues impacting women’s roles in society, such as violence against women, political and social exclusion, and economic inequality.

Hevin: “Deloitte’s sponsorship for this event, which brought together 50 Partners from across the globe, went beyond our usual business focus. It was eye-opening to engage with challenges far different from our daily corporate concerns. While increasing female representation in our industry remains crucial, this experience reminded me of the broader, more complex issues facing our world. It expanded my perspective significantly.”

Viktoriya: “For me as a Ukrainian, one theme resonated particularly deeply …the impact of conflict on women and their role in peacekeeping… Studies show peace agreements with female involvement have a 64% higher chance of lasting at least two years, and are 35% more likely to last 15 years… We are not involved in these processes directly due to the nature of our job, but we do face various other conflicts within our remit and support clients in resolutions of all kinds, where the same principle should be applied – inclusivity!”

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