What does it take to lead?
Nicola shares her experiences as a Director in M&A
Leadership demands the ability to navigate complexity while developing talent and driving business growth. Nicola Gibbs, Director in Strategy, Risk & Transactions Advisory (SR&TA), shares how a career that began in Audit evolved into a leadership role spanning client delivery, practice development, and talent cultivation in M&A.
What initially attracted you to a career in professional services, and specifically to Deloitte?
I thrive on variety and challenges, so I was looking for a role where I could work on complex projects across diverse industries and clients. My first experience was in Audit, which gave me a fantastic technical base for understanding how business and financial reporting works, but my favourite part was always the discussions about how changes in strategy during the year had driven big impacts such as topline growth and cost improvements. I got the opportunity to support an audit client who was making an acquisition, and this opened up the world of M&A where I work now.
I joined Deloitte after making the move from the UK to Switzerland. I was attracted by the opportunity to work with both large, iconic clients as well as smaller businesses, such as watchmakers, who make up Switzerland’s dynamic industrial and consumer sectors.
How has Deloitte supported your professional development and growth throughout your career?
Deloitte has been the perfect place for me to develop my technical and soft skills. We have the amazing Deloitte University facility which provides on-campus training in Paris for business development and leadership skills, as well as access to a whole host of on-demand online learnings and in-person trainings for technical and management topics. Most importantly though, I have been able to continuously learn from the talented people who I collaborate with, both in and outside of Deloitte.
Deloitte provides all the tools to help shape your career and invest in your personal growth, and it is up to each individual to take advantage of these opportunities.
I’m proud of the culture that we create every day, both in the small moments of respect and collaboration, as well as bigger, more intentional programmes.
Mentorship and sponsorship can be crucial. Have you had mentors or sponsors at Deloitte who significantly impacted your journey, and if so, how?
Absolutely. I've been fortunate to have mentors and sponsors who believed in my potential before I fully saw it myself. They challenged me to take on bigger roles, provided candid feedback, and opened doors to high-visibility projects. What made the difference wasn't just their seniority—it was their genuine investment in my success and their willingness to advocate for me when opportunities arose. That's something I now try to pay forward with my own team.
What are the key responsibilities and challenges of your role as a Director, and what do you enjoy most about it?
As a Director in M&A, I balance three main roles:
1. Delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients on complex transactions
2. Continuing to build our successful M&A advisory practice
3. Developing the next generation of talent
The challenge is juggling these simultaneously as we are often working on multiple projects at different stages of intensity. At the same time, business development requires constant relationship-building, and you need to be genuinely present for your team and create an environment for them to thrive. It sounds like a lot, but the variety is what I enjoy the most. For our work, a high level of technical capability is crucial but what really drives success is the people, and I love to see my team grow and deliver for our clients.
Are there any specific achievements or projects you're particularly proud of during your time at Deloitte?
I'm proud of transactions where we've really had a positive impact for our clients. Sometimes this is a corporate M&A team tasked with divesting a difficult business, or a business owner who is realising the sale of their company after many years of hard work. It is a real privilege to work alongside clients in these crucial moments to make sure a deal completes.
I’m also proud of the culture that we create every day, both in the small moments of respect and collaboration, as well as bigger, more intentional programmes, such as the Deloitte CARE programme for the integration of refugees, which I was able to be a part of.
What message would you like to share with someone considering a career at Deloitte, particularly in the SR&TA practice?
If you want to work in a dynamic environment, on real challenges, then the SR&TA team in Deloitte could not be a better place. You can build skills including business strategy, valuation, financial modelling, negotiation and project management, alongside brilliant people who push and support you to be better every day. The journey isn't always easy, but it's very rewarding. Come ready to learn and contribute, and the opportunities available to you will be vast.
