Hi, I'm Kareena.
Apprentice in Sustainability Assurance, London
Read it, like it, share it...
My journey so far…
I was born in West London and I’m part of a large Sikh family, who are originally from Punjab in India. I grew up with my parents and siblings and spent lots of time going to events held at my grandparents’ house. We used to be known as the party animals of the street. I really enjoyed school, and had a strong interest in maths, logic and problem solving, as well as business. I was also very sporty and joined as many clubs as I could. I played volleyball, football and netball which helped me to learn teambuilding skills.
For A-Levels I studied maths and economics as I have a real head for numbers. I considered the idea of university, but I was keen to get stuck into the world of work. I knew I wanted to do accountancy and Deloitte’s BrightStart Apprenticeship Scheme seemed a great way to do this. I could still gain my qualifications alongside work experience, which really appealed to me.
Work that matters
I’m part of the Sustainability Assurance team, where we look at the environmental, social and governance data that companies share. It’s our role to challenge firms to understand and report their impact targets appropriately. This includes analysing their gender and ethnicity gap data, water usage, carbon footprint and much more. I enjoy being able to look at different types of data and seeing the progression of a project as you work your way through it. Sustainability reporting in an important part of societal growth, to help us meet targets and improve.
Throughout my apprenticeship I’ve received lots of support from my team. I have regular check ins with my manager and talent coach, who both help to manage and monitor my performance. As well as developing my soft skills like communication and presenting, I’m also going through college to study for ACA exams over a four-year period.
I’m part of the Sikh Network and I try to go to lots of events. I want to deepen my faith and being part of the network supports me to do that. I also enjoy being able to share the experiences and special occasions that are important to me with people I work with. We did a Vaisakhi event last year and lots of my colleagues were asking me about it. Deloitte has a really inclusive environment and I like getting the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the morning my team catches up to discuss what we’re working on. It helps us all to stay aligned so we can focus on our tasks. | I meet with a company to discuss the data we are assuring, and they offer some insight into their operations. I also grab lunch with a friend. | I dedicate the morning to e-learning and compliance tasks. I also add it all to my learning journals so we can track my development. | It’s a team day in the office and we have an arts and crafts teambuilding session, followed by a learning workshop. After work we have team drinks. | I get some nice feedback from my manager, which is great. In the afternoon I catch up on some admin before having a meal with my family. |
My weekend looks like
I play football on the weekends and I’m training to join a local team. I also love watching sports with my family, especially football, boxing and cricket. Sometimes I’ll go out with my friends, or spend quality time with my grandparents, aunties and uncles and cousins. When I get some time to myself I play video games to relax or curl up with a good murder mystery novel.
3 things I've learned
It’s ok not to know the answer
Asking questions isn’t a weakness- it shows curiosity and drive. It’s important to be patient as well. I worried I was behind the graduates when I started, but we’re on different pathways.
Keep asking for feedback
It really helps you to grow and shows all the areas that you can improve. There might be areas you didn’t even realise you were doing well, so it can be a confidence boost, as well as helping you strengthen your skills.
Make an effort to introduce yourself
I felt shy when I joined, but since getting to know my team it’s really improved my confidence. Everyone is there to help you grow and develop. Getting to know people helps them to learn your strengths so you get more opportunities.
Opens in new window
Kareena's book recommendation
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before, Julie Smith
This book is all about challenging self-doubt and perfectionism. It helps you focus on making good, manageable decisions rather than trying to do everything at once. It’s a great lesson for both life and work, especially when you’re starting out in a career.
