New Partner Bhavin Shah Speaks to the Alumni Network
Bhavin Shah, a newly appointed Deloitte Partner, shares his career journey and insights for aspiring leaders.
“The ability to navigate uncertainty calmly and confidently while providing solutions and leading teams effectively, is crucial.”
Tell us about your career to date.
My career began in audit and assurance as a graduate. I’ve primarily focused on audit assurance within the TMT sector, working with large, listed UK companies. This involved working on high-profile, global audits, leading to opportunities to travel internationally. In recent years, my focus has shifted towards US capital markets, supporting companies with US audits or IPOs, leading to my current role within Deloitte's Global Capital Markets Group.
What does being a Partner mean to you?
Being a Deloitte Partner means acting as a role model, upholding the public interest for investors and the companies we serve. It's about being a leader and coach, getting the best from our people. It's a role that requires effective leadership and mentorship.
What role have client relationships played in your journey to Partner?
One of the real joys of coming up through the firm, is being given the opportunity to own some key one-on-one relationships, and really understand some of the challenges our clients face, the pressures they’re under and what drives them. These relationships, built over time, have enabled me to provide valuable expertise and guidance, leading to increased opportunities and recognition within the firm.
What does GenAI mean for you and your career?
Generative AI presents a significant opportunity to transform how we work, particularly in helping our junior audit staff work differently, freeing up time for more strategic and insightful work. I see my role as encouraging junior staff to embrace these tools and foster innovation, leading to new approaches to auditing and problem-solving.
What one piece of advice do you have for those aspiring to move into a senior leadership role, particularly those from an ethnic minority background?
Embrace uncertainty. Senior leadership often involves tackling complex problems with no easy answers. The ability to navigate uncertainty calmly and confidently, while providing solutions and leading teams effectively, is crucial. My experience has shown that support and guidance from senior colleagues is invaluable, regardless of background. Building a strong network is key to accessing this support.