Meet Gillian Crossan

Since joining Deloitte in 1995, Gillian Crossan has worked in both the UK and the US in industries as varied as energy, health care, and consumer products. Through all of those experiences, it became apparent to her that technology was crucial to how each of those industries was changing. “I saw first-hand how tech was, and still is, disrupting those fields and driving their evolution,” Gillian explains. “In light of that, it seems inevitable that I would migrate to the tech industry.”

Today, she leads the Global Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) industry group. Her up-to-date knowledge combined with experience across a range of industries gives her an advantage when it comes to serving clients. “As an industry, TMT really is anchored in convergence,” she says. “Being able to bring perspectives from all the different industries I’ve worked in has been very useful.”

But Gillian is also very much aware of tech’s pitfalls and the potential for adverse consequences—and keeps this balance in mind. While technology such as Generative AI can open opportunities for clients, it may also create systemic problems. “Ethical leadership is important,” she says. “A question I often ask myself and my colleagues is, while it may be true that we can do something, should we, and if so, what’s the right way to proceed?” 
Gillian’s views on responsible leadership also inform her workplace environment. Her early experiences at Deloitte were with leaders who believed strongly in empowering team members to make decisions and prioritizing the well-being of both team members and stakeholders. “I follow the same philosophy,” she says. “Not only service to our clients, helping them solve the big problems, but also service to our people by guiding and developing them to grow as individuals.” Gillian has also taken a special interest in mentoring young women leaders to excel. 
Gillian also enthusiastically encourages members of her teams to explore the varied career prospects at Deloitte. She stresses that the “right” connections or university are not prerequisites for success here. And she’s living proof-she was the first in her family to go to university, her father was a welder and her mother a receptionist, but they encouraged her to blaze her own trail.

One important piece of advice Gillian offers to those new to professional services is to gain a broad set of experiences. “You never know what you might enjoy—and the breadth of knowledge you gain could become your biggest asset,” she points out. That’s especially true in tech, she maintains, where work with a client may expand to encompass multiple areas, tapping into Deloitte’s vast array of services and capabilities.

“It goes back to service,” says Gillian. “Helping clients grow while enhancing customer relationships. We meet a client where they are, see things from their global perspective, then roll up our sleeves and get to work.” And while she enjoys traveling and learning about new locales and cultures, she doesn’t approach visits to global client locations as a tourist. “We are a team working together to bring new ideas and solve our clients most challenging issues. And through that collaboration we build trust.”