ALUMNITalks

Why did you join Deloitte originally?

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, an innovator with lots of ideas. I was drawn to Deloitte because it also had an entrepreneurial spirit and it gave me the opportunity to learn about a broad range of topics. From life sciences and the financial services industries to fraud prevention and actuarial modelling, I was fortunate to expand my horizons across several industries and disciplines. I would not have been able to build up such a skill set and develop the relationships I did outside of Deloitte.

Tell us about your career journey at Deloitte

I was really fortunate to have spent almost six years at Deloitte across all of their advisory service lines. In 2015, I joined Deloitte’s risk advisory practice as an actuary with a background in the health and pension funds sectors. Then I gained broad and in-depth knowledge in both consulting and financial advisory as a digital project manager and later as a fraud prevention expert. Being exposed to such a variety of topics and diverse leadership were pivotal to shape the social entrepreneur that I am today.

What did you appreciate the most during your journey? | What are you most proud of?

I enjoyed the opportunity to be the problem solver in the room and always challenge the status quo. One of the projects I worked on had us work with a client in the private banking sector where we were able to shape a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for them. Five years later, the client is still using the solution and we meet up for coffees sometimes to reminisce about the fun times we had during the project.

Where do you see your journey taking you, either professionally or personally?

I am well equipped to tackle the ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity that KimboCare offers. The vision is to address the accessibility gap to quality health services for underserved communities. Leading digital transformation programmes in the health and financial sectors will bring transparent health coverage to millions of people around the world. And Deloitte supported a significant piece of this journey. My final words go out to the people at Deloitte. It is not always easy to find your purpose at all times, but I was always really impressed by the genuine power of sharing amongst my colleagues. Impact that matters is a purpose that we are all live by.

Tell us about your role now

After many years in HR roles in different industries and countries, I currently have the pleasure to lead the HR team at Swiss Life Asset Managers. Swiss Life AM is an European Asset Manager with approximately 2’300 employees globally, headquartered in Zurich and conveniently located right next door to the previous Deloitte office. Swiss Life AM provides services and develops tailored investment strategies for their own insurance companies as well as for third-party clients, such as pension funds, investment foundations, asset managers and private clients. Recently, we implemented a Swiss Life wide HR platform (Workday) and Deloitte supported us in doing so. For me it was a great pleasure to work with Deloitte colleagues again. I lead a strong and diverse team, which I am very proud of. Over the past two years, we have transformed our team to strengthen our European collaboration and implement a new competence center based HR organisation. It was and still is rewarding to see how we have grown together and continue to progress our transformation.

How did Deloitte set you up for your career or finding your purpose in life?

I joined Deloitte in Zurich after living in Frankfurt for eight years and working at an insurance company. Prior to that, I worked at PwC Switzerland so I was familiar with both Switzerland and the Big 4 environment before joining Deloitte. Deloitte Switzerland was different - it felt more international and allowed me to learn a great deal about working with global clients. I also enjoyed the fast paced environment which taught me to prioritise, work efficiently, be results oriented and work to tight deadlines. Looking back on my time at Deloitte, I remember both the professional experiences, and the great and long-lasting friendships I made.

What is one positive memory you have of working at Deloitte?

It’s very difficult to single out one specific memory as I have plenty of positive memories from my time at Deloitte. I’m thinking of the great team events, sporting events, the famous Deloitte Christmas market in the Zurich headquarter’s courtyard, to name a few. From a professional standpoint, I also fondly remember the camaraderie I had with colleagues regardless of grade. I felt supported and respected by colleagues, supervisors and senior management, which is of course always a great memory to have.

Tell us about your career journey

My career journey was relatively straightforward, as I spent more or less my entire professional career at Deloitte in Basel and Zurich. A total of 33 years and 3 months of auditing with a focus on insurance auditing, 16 years of which as a partner. In 2015, I was elected to the Board of Directors of Schweizerische Mobiliar Genossenschaft and in 2017 to the Board of Directors of Schweizerische Mobiliar Holding AG. Due to regulatory requirements, I had to end my career as an auditor at the end of 2016 and have since been able to concentrate fully on my new position as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chair.

How did Deloitte set you up for your career or finding your purpose in life?

It is extremely exciting to move from having an outside view as an auditor at an international accounting and consulting firm to an active role in another interesting, successful and well-managed company. As an auditor at Deloitte, I learned to look at things critically and ask good questions. Also, the principles of ethics, independence and what constitutes as good audit work as well as the insurance industry knowledge were an excellent basis for my new role. Morals, ethics and the tone from the top have become of much greater importance now. It's not what we say and write that matters, it's what we do.

And in my new role, I am actively involved in the important decisions for the company and its over 5’000 employees. It is a great honor for me to help lead this almost 200-year-old company to successfully shape the great opportunities and challenges of the future. With a large and successful company, there is always the danger of resting on one's laurels. But in today's world, where new market players are constantly appearing and disruptively attacking business models, there is no standing still. Actively shaping things is extremely exciting and perfectly complements the critical attitude of an auditor that has been ingrained in me over the years.

What is one positive memory you have of working at Deloitte?

When I look back on my time at Deloitte, I remember not only the professional experiences but also the many personal friendships. The many hours of intensive work, often late at night, during which we were able to carry out extraordinary projects and audits for our clients. The work was never ever boring. I consider that a privilege.

Privately, the liberation from reporting chargeable hours was very nice and enabled me to take on a new hobby. In autumn 2019, I passed the offshore sailing exam. Unfortunately, the corona pandemic has stood between realising my private goals several times since then.

Tell us about your career journey

My journey in life has always been quite natural but very unusual. I followed one opportunity after the other, never fearing the unknown and always quite upbeat about taking on a new challenge because I am a very curious person who loves discovering new horizons (and who gets easily bored!). That is how I went from studying marketing to international finance in Japan. When I repatriated to Switzerland, I was hired by the US tax department at Deloitte Switzerland in Geneva where I worked for three years, before taking on new roles in international mobility at Firmenich and then Cargill.

A few years and two babies later, I left the international corporate world to look after our children and find some real work-life balance. I then started my own company, making bespoke birthday cakes. Two years ago, I turned 40, and that is when my husband convinced me to pursue my life-long dream: to become a published author. In 2020, I published four children books for Auzou Suisse and there are more to come in 2021. It is a dream come true!

How did Deloitte set you up for your career or finding your purpose in life?

Deloitte was my first real permanent job after my studies. It gave me a world of opportunities, plenty to learn and plenty to look forward to. I will always remember Yvon de Coulon, the partner that welcomed me with the words “US tax? Well, fear not, that is an excellent start in life. That is how I myself started at Deloitte.” when I started. It was such a lovely thing to say. I also loved the flexibility of working early or late as our department was very dynamic in that respect, and I was lucky to have great colleagues. The most important thing Deloitte gave me perhaps, was my husband! He joined Deloitte Geneva almost two years after I started and it was love at first sight. We have been together 16 years now.

Where do you see your journey taking you, either professionally or personally?

Personally, I do think I have everything I could dream of (apart from more hours in a day!). Professionally, I would like to also publish for adults, as well as my novels for children.

What is one positive memory you have of working at Deloitte?

I have lots! At Deloitte I discovered "feel good” English novels with one of my colleagues. I also loved the "pizza nights” during busy season when we were working so late to finish as many US tax returns as we could manage. Going horse riding during lunch break is also a fond memory, since I was a very early bird and a late worker, I was able to enjoy the sunshine at midday! And of course, the day I met my husband, but that goes without saying – I still remember it as clear as day.

Séverine writes under the pen name of Philippine de Gréa and you can find her on various social media networks. Some of her recent books include Les Véhicules et Engins de Chantier Suisses, Marguerite et Madame de Staël: Un Espion au Château de Coppet and Les P’tits Atlas des cantons Suisses: Genève.

Our first story features Cedric who recently re-joined Deloitte Switzerland, a so-called ‘boomerang’ after gaining experience in the banking industry. Tune in to hear why he thinks his four daughters might work for Deloitte one day too!

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