Esther Harper

Tell us about your career to date:

I started my career at BT Global Services on their Professional Services Graduate scheme which was an amazing introduction to the world of work, and tech-led transformation.  I then joined Deloitte as a Consultant in Human Capital as the people side of transformation has always fascinated me.  I’m all about partnering with clients to unlock the value of change they make in their business, putting people and commercial outcomes at the heart.

What does being a Partner mean to you?

I'm thrilled to become a Partner at Deloitte, and incredibly grateful to my amazing team, clients, and family who helped me reach this level. This is more than just a personal achievement.  Being a Partner is a responsibility of stewardship; mentoring future generations of leaders, fostering a culture of innovation, and continuing to have a relentless focus on delivering value to our clients.

What role have client relationships played in your journey to Partner?

Looking back, my career progression has been built on strong client relationships. I’ve worked with clients who have really challenged my thinking, clients who have helped me see the world in different ways, and even clients who have served as mentors.

Some of my most valued client relationships have evolved over years. I have a few clients where we started in junior roles working alongside each other and today, we still seek opportunities to partner at senior levels. 

What does GenAI mean for you and your career?

Generative AI has the potential to reshape how we deliver services and create value for our clients. Our role as consultants is to not only demonstrate AI's value proposition to clients, but also to build trust and confidence in its application.

Looking ahead, investment in the right technologies is crucial, but even more important is upskilling and reskilling our people to empower them to confidently leverage AI tools, enabling them to deliver even greater value to our clients.

What one piece of advice do you have for those aspiring to move into a senior leadership role?

It’s all about relationships. Building and nurturing your network – both internally and with clients – is key. Someone once told me, "You're only as good as your team," and that has resonated with me throughout my career.

What will you do differently now that you're a Partner?

Being a Partner means scaling my impact. I'll be more strategically involved in shaping client relationships, leading larger, more complex engagements, and bigger more diverse teams. The core values that have helped me be successful to date – trust, collaboration, and authenticity – will remain with me throughout my career.