People Series – Alex speaks to us about his move from New Zealand to Deloitte Real Assets Advisory

Alex Saifiti discusses his transition from the public sector in Auckland, New Zealand to the Real Assets Advisory Team in London, United Kingdom.

Hi Alex! Thank you for taking part in the People Series blog.

Tell us about your career to date and what brought you to Deloitte?

I grew up and studied in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, New Zealand. After graduating, I began my professional journey at a public sector organisation responsible for Auckland’s transport infrastructure.

After four years and having obtained my Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) qualification, I contemplated an Overseas Experience (OE) - often considered a rite of passage for Kiwis. Inspired by my older siblings' experiences, I decided to pack my suitcase and explore Europe. After three months of traveling, I found a place to settle and work, and I was fortunate to secure a role with Deloitte Real Assets Advisory in London.

During the interview process, I was impressed by the calibre of the people I spoke with and the breadth and depth of projects and work they spoke about. Moreover, Deloitte's commitment to making a positive impact aligned well with my own values, making it an ideal fit for the next stage of my career.

What is your favourite part about being in Real Assets Advisory?

My team itself, Land Assembly and Compulsory Purchase, is one of the country’s largest and most experienced advisors on land assembly and compulsory purchase. I have benefitted greatly from being in a team which values collaboration and shares a common vision to be recognised as the number one professional team for regeneration and infrastructure land assembly.

I particularly appreciate the support I receive from my team members and the encouragement to continually develop myself. I received great mentorship to achieve my RICS Registered Valuer status and inspired by my team members, I took up a role on the British Property Federation Futures Advisory Board to give back to the industry.

What’s one key difference you’ve found since transitioning from the public sector?

In the public sector, accountability to the public often results in a deeper sense of purpose, as the impact of the work directly affects the community.

At Deloitte, purpose is both collectively and individually driven but it can sometimes be harder to see the results. I was glad to be involved in and support the launch and implementation of our team's Purpose Strategy. This is important to me personally, and aligning our purpose with our values and the work we do is crucial to the team's drive and overall success, as we strive to make an impact that matters in everything we do.

What advice would you give to an experienced hire joining Real Assets Advisory?

As an experienced hire, I have navigated (hopefully relatively successfully) the transition from the public to the private sector and from one country to another. As a relatively introverted individual (even writing this blog is daunting), I have pushed myself to ask questions and show initiative. One piece of advice would be to continue to be yourself when you join Deloitte, it is ultimately the reason you were hired. However, remember that being yourself is an evolving journey and to be the best version, you often must get outside of your comfort zone, take a leap of faith and back yourself!