A Win for ethical AI and a win for women

Being an experienced hire, I had the opportunity to look around and choose where I wanted my career to go. The main thing that attracted me to Deloitte was the work culture and best-in-class professional services – things I had heard a lot about during my career. Diversity was a really important factor to me, and with the gender ratio at 45% I felt that this was the place for me, especially considering the fact that previous organisation I have worked have been limited on this space. The opportunities for growth, career progression, learning and development are diverse, inclusive and exciting! I joined Deloitte in 2019 as Assistant Manager and since then it has been a very positive and enriching journey. I have received recognition for the high-quality delivery of the work I have managed at client sites, as well as achieving a promotion in 2020 to Manager, and subsequently receiving 2 Deloitte Impact Awards.

I continue to expand my knowledge and have opportunities for growth at every turn. I get to work on a wide range of projects at multiple client sites - this helps me to expand my horizons and enhance my business acumen. I’ve also found a great tool called ‘Saba Learning’ which is part of Deloitte’s learning portal (all staff are encouraged to access and utilise this). Given that my specialist field is banking and capital markets, this portal has enabled me to develop my knowledge and become an expert in the technical aspects of banking – such as around Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) controls and implementation.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on the financial services industry (and every other sector!) – especially in terms of the penetration/expansion of AI and cloud service technology. The speed of transformation has been exponential and businesses (particularly in the banking sector), must prioritise operational resilience and business continuity. This has created certain challenges as well as opportunities for businesses like Deloitte and professionals like me. Additionally, the recent integration of climate change and ESG factors have brought about paradigm shift in terms of operating model and risk considerations.

I enjoy doing various things in my spare time such as travelling and volunteering, but something I’m really thrilled to mention about is one of the Deloitte’s Respect & Inclusion networks which I co-founded - ‘Women for Ethical AI Network’, the network was launched in February 2021. I was very happy to start a network from scratch especially during the pandemic and I’m currently leading it globally. I’m a self-starter and it was lovely to see the support I received from partners, directors and other colleagues. It feels good to be surrounded by people who are there to encourage and support you. The network has been running for more than 6 months and in a short space of time, it has garnered membership from more than ten of Deloitte’s global locations. The network organises various activities and the monthly & quarterly events are the most sought-after having participation of more than 500 viewers from more than 35 countries.

In my spare time I go running, hiking, cycling and walking because I love being outdoors. I enjoy cooking and baking, so if I’m not outside, I’m experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen after work- which sometimes ends in disaster! In a pre and post Covid world, I enjoy travelling and you can find me planning my next adventurous trip, whether that’s a hike in Austria or a Tough Mudder race. I also like painting and sketching when I get the chance. Luckily a work/life balance is encouraged at Deloitte, giving me time to pursue my hobbies.