Championing the leaders of tomorrow: Our daughters

All parents hope their children will grow up without obstacles in their way. However, we understand this is not possible in the world we live in. As the father of a daughter who is a senior in high school, I find myself reflecting on the last 18 years and thinking about the future. My wife and I have encouraged Hannah that she is capable of anything she sets out to achieve, and to always do her very best. We are so proud of the young woman she has become. We, like many parents, will do all we can to support her on her journey.

This is why it’s so important to me to join with Deloitte colleagues and professionals around the world to #ChooseToChallenge this International Women’s Day. Now more than ever, we must challenge and call out gender bias and inequality, seek out and celebrate women's achievements, and help create an inclusive world where all of our daughters will flourish, without limits.

Recently, I have been helping Hannah with her college applications. As she considers her future career path, we’ve had conversations about what she is interested in long term. I have encouraged her to learn from her own successes, of which there are many—above 4.0 GPA, member of the National Honor Society, and an accomplished dancer—and to remember that to succeed in a professional setting, she must apply the same behaviors and qualities she’s applied to her schoolwork and hobbies such as hard work, dedication, and commitment. I’ve also learned about her hopes and dreams for the future. At the moment, those include aspirations to major in business and have a successful career—possibly in accounting—one day. I have also shared with her success stories and examples of the many women leaders I have been fortunate to work with throughout my career at Deloitte.

As a father and the leader of Deloitte Tax LLP, I am thrilled that Deloitte is a firm I can be proud of when it comes to opportunities and career growth for women. Our track record as a top career destination is well-known, but my more than 28 years here have allowed me to experience and champion Deloitte’s inclusive culture and pioneering programs, including those that support the development and well-being of women leaders.

Deloitte was first among the Big Four to name a woman as both Chair of the Board (Sharon Allen in 2003) and CEO (Cathy Engelbert in 2015), and we have been named as one of Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies for 27 years, and counting. I am especially proud that, most recently, our pipeline of female Deloitte Tax LLP partner promotes was the highest it’s ever been, which opens the door to even more accomplishments in the future.

 Words of wisdom

During the college selection process, Hannah and I have had candid discussions about the challenges she may face ahead, and how to remain resilient and achieve her goals no matter how daunting or far-reaching they may seem or the obstacle she encounters. I’ve encouraged her to:

1. Prioritize time management and balance. Understanding the relationship between the two is imperative. It is important to get up early, get into a routine, and take the time necessary to study and prepare for classes. Equally important is attaining the right balance of school and life. College should be a fun experience, with time for friends, a part-time job, and volunteer activities. Often, the lessons learned outside the classroom will be as impactful as those learned within.
2. Stick to fundamentals. When things become difficult – which they invariably will – you have to work through it. You have to confront challenges head on, with a view of: How do I get around obstacles? What do I need to do to persevere and get through difficulties?
3. Always do the right thing, treat people with respect, act with honesty and integrity, and find the courage to stand up for what you value and believe in!

In honor of International Women’s Day I asked fellow Deloitte Tax parents to share the words of wisdom they hope to impart on their daughters—at every stage—as they step out onto their own future paths:

Valerie Dickerson – Tax Partner, Washington National Tax and Legal Business Services, Deloitte Tax LLP

My daughters are still young (8, 9, and 10), but in our current work-from-home environment, I often wind down from calls to find them emulating me standing at my desk and engaging in conference calls (sometimes to my humor, sometimes to my chagrin). While it is bittersweet for me to already be thinking of career-advice while still cherishing their younger years, I am supremely reminded of the role of influence from any position – including the dining room office. My best advice for my daughters as they seek to fulfill their career destinies is:

1. Start each day with a sense of gratefulness.
2. Don’t be afraid to make decisions without perfect information.
3. Embrace what makes you different (sometimes it is best to trust your gut!).
4. Invest in listening to others.
5. Always do your best whether or not you like the immediate task at hand, as those who do well with the small things are often entrusted with more.  

Chuck Kosal – Tax Chief Transformation Officer, Deloitte Tax LLP

I try to focus on ensuring the advice I provide to my kids helps them with whatever current challenge they are facing and also the future challenges we all know will come. One example of advice I shared has become a mantra with my three daughters and my son. It was the night before my daughter was going to compete in the school science fair. That evening, she was preparing a presentation to support her project. She worked very hard on the project, but had also worked up anxiety about the presentation. After several rehearsals, she started to tear up, crossed her arms, and stated, “I am going to fail!”

My advice was simple: I explained that during her lifetime she would have many opportunities to succeed or fail, but she should never confuse the words “success” or “failure” with the words “win” or “lose.” Rather, she needed to understand that winning or losing was a byproduct of what was much more important: her effort and attitude. I told her that, as with most challenges she will face in life, if she contributed her maximum effort and had a positive attitude, success and winning would be realized. And if, by chance, she still came up short in the win column, it would never mean she failed. 

 In the end, knowing she put forth the effort, she confidently delivered her presentation (and yes, she did win the science fair!). But the larger lesson clearly stuck. Still today, as I drop her off at school, practice, or other activities, she looks at me and says with enthusiasm, “effort and attitude.” And, I look back at her and know, she has already won! 

Alicia Janisch – Tax Partner, Health Care, Deloitte Tax LLP

My daughter, Anna, is only two, so she has many years before science fairs and college applications. However, there is something she has now that I hope she never loses: she knows she can do anything her five-year-old brother, James, can do. If you meet Anna, you will undoubtedly hear “Me do it!” as she sets her mind to something we may think she’s not yet old enough to try. As she grows, I hope she always keeps a “Me do it!” attitude and that the shifts we are currently seeing towards more inclusion of women become even more a reality for her success, whether it be in school, work, or life in general. Anna reminds me daily that I shouldn’t shy away from a “Me do it!” attitude, and I encourage the women I work with to do the same.

Stephen Metoyer – Tax Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Deloitte Tax LLP

Maria and I have three children, two older boys (24 and 21) and our 18-year-old daughter, Sierra. Sierra is in the middle of deciding which college she will attend and finishing her final varsity soccer season. From a very young age we always told Sierra to “be a leader.” Most mornings, the last thing she hears before walking out the door is, “I love you…be a leader!” For us, this has never exclusively meant being class president or wearing a captain’s arm band. It has meant leading by example and encouraging her to have the courage to not just follow the easiest path, but rather to live the example that others will want to emulate.

Colleen Bacchus – Las Vegas Office Tax Managing Partner, Deloitte Tax LLP

I have three grown daughters, so I thought that the best way to figure out what “good advice” I had given them was to go straight to the source. I was surprised at how quickly all three responded to me and with what they each had to say. 

 Hannah (24), my “feeler,” remembered these words: “Don’t worry about what you cannot control, instead focus on hard work and remain positive. Be unafraid to speak up with confidence. Treat each person with kindness and respect – they deserve it. Finally, it is possible to “do it all” as a woman – I have led by example – you can have a career, family, friends, pets, and time to yourself.”

Riahna (27), my “integrator,” recalls this advice: “Women are meant to be at every table. Be an advocate and pave the way for other women. Our success should be paid forward to make it easier for future generations. Relationships matter, both in the workplace and outside the workplace.”

Finally, Lauren (29) my “driver,” shared that the following has stuck with her: “No problem is as big as it seems at first and there is always a solution. Don’t give up on yourself – you are as capable as the person next to you. Help others when able. Do the right thing even when others aren’t playing fair. At the end of the day you must look in the mirror, like yourself, and be proud of what you see.” 

Fiona Chambers – Tax Partner, Deloitte Tax LLP

I have a son, Liam (19), and two daughters, Ailish (18) and Clare (17), so discussing colleges and majors have been our lives over the past couple of years. Along with advising them not to go to a school just because their friends are going there, or not rushing to choose a major, we have talked a lot about continuing to be themselves. My daughters both went to an all-girls high school, and during their four years they both had amazing opportunities to take leadership roles, excel in athletics, and participate in entrepreneurship activities. They were fortunate to participate in STEM for girls where they met several female leaders that have been successful in their fields. Both felt they had permission to be vulnerable which empowered them to believe that they can be successful in anything they attempted. My advice as they head to a co-ed college environment is to not lose their confidence and empowerment. Continue to believe you should be the leader, raise your hand to lead a group or organization, and don’t lose your voice. When they enter the workforce, these skills will be essential to helping them advance and navigate their careers in whatever fields they decide to pursue. 

#ChooseToChallenge 

Whether age two or twenty, I trust that with hard work, dedication, and a dose of fearlessness, our daughters will feel empowered to make big changes in the world, but it will not be without challenges. I encourage all Deloitte professionals, and anyone reading this, to #ChoosetoChallenge and elevate female voices to create a more equitable workplace, for everyone.