Hi, I'm Pritesh.
Senior manager in Technology & Transformation and PROUD ambassador
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My journey so far…
I was born and brought up in Leicester with my family. We spent a lot of time visiting local Indian restaurants in the town and going for countryside walks, which was the best of both worlds. I was good at maths and writing, so I went to university to study marketing when I finished school. After graduating I started a job designing online services for consumers in London.
I’m from a South Asian family and when my parents moved to the UK, they settled in quite a conservative area. Going to London opened my mind to new possibilities, and it’s where I began to explore my sexuality. I always knew I felt different, but I never understood why or how until I began to learn more about LGBTQ+ culture. It wasn’t something that was openly discussed in my local community, so it took time for me to accept myself. Through meeting new people, I learned about different ways of life and that it’s ok to be yourself.
I applied to join Deloitte a few years after moving to London. As well as the great career opportunities, one of the things that appealed to me was the open, inclusive culture.
Work that matters
As a senior manager in Technology & Transformation, I’m responsible for creating content for digital platforms. I work with lots of clients to ensure that their services and platforms are user-friendly, with content that’s easy to understand and navigate. The work is quite different day to day, and I like speaking to people who use the services to find out exactly what they need. We also ensure that the apps we’re creating are inclusive, for example for people with visual or hearing impairment.
Outside of my main role I’m part of the PROUD Network, where I help to run or attend educational events. For example, we recently did an LGBTQ+ tour of the Royal Opera House. We have regular socials and work closely with LGBTQ+ charities, including Just like Us, an organisation that supports young people who might be struggling to be open about their sexuality. Lots of our graduates go to primary schools to share their experiences of being gay in the workplace. I support in organising these events. We also offer pro bono advice and support to some of these charities.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I join a team meeting to understand our plans, aims and objectives for the week. I then break down the tasks that need to be done, establish what sessions to have and get my team up to speed with what we need to do. | I have a client workshop, where we try and work out what they need for a new project. We show them examples of our previous work and talk to them about the needs of their customers. | I plan our next PROUD Network social for Deloitte Digital. After work I join some of my colleagues for a very sweaty and intense bootcamp session. | We have a town hall meeting with wider Deloitte Digital teams. It’s a great way to get different studios coming together across Europe, where we find out what’s been going on and what’s coming up. | I head to an early morning fitness class, before joining a project wrap up call to identify any key risks. In the afternoon I catch up on emails and admin at home before starting the weekend with a few drinks and dinner with friends. |
My weekend looks like
To keep fit I enjoy, running, bootcamps and circuit training. I also spend lots of time socialising and I love going out to the theatre or concerts with friends. On Sundays I go to the Hackney markets for something to eat, then head for a long walk. I’m a big foodie, so I’m always trying out new restaurants or hosting wine and cheese nights.
3 things I've learned
Accept yourself as you are
You can only be yourself so it’s important to embrace that. Most people are very accepting and eager to build relationships, no matter who you are or where you come from.
Build a network
It’s important to find like-minded people who you can rely on. When I first came to the city, I joined LGBTQ+ groups in London. I’m now running one of those groups and helping others who are just starting their journey.
Prioritise your mental and physical health
When life gets busy and it's easy to put your wellbeing on the backburner. To be efficient and happy you need to take time out to keep fit and do things you love.
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Pritesh's TV recommendation
Made in Heaven
This show talks about the real-life issues that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are facing, many of which might be considered taboo in their culture. This includes finding love at a later stage of life or identifying as LGBTQ+. The show highlights the importance of acceptance and the role it plays in people’s wellbeing. I think it’s a really good lesson, both for work and life.
