A day in the life: Moniza Syeda, Global Mobility Content Manager
Moniza has been with LexisNexis for 5 years and is responsible for the global mobility tax content in TolleyLibrary and helping?to?find new international opportunities to develop Tolley’s tax content. This could mean taking Tolley to new global markets or writing commentary on international tax of interest to our existing readers.
Read about a typical day in Moniza's life...
My alarm goes off...?
Quite literally at the crack of dawn! As a practicing Muslim, I wake to read the dawn prayer. I find it to be a really good way of starting my day. It helps me centre myself and prepare for the day ahead with a sense of calm and mindfulness.
I got my job...?
By some unknown means! I have no recollection of applying for a position at Tolley, although I obviously must have done. I do remember receiving a call from a recruiter who asked if I could write about personal tax, part time, for two years on the TolleyAdvance project. I am a sole practitioner (which means I’m licensed to practice independently), at the time my practice was at its peak, and I was bored. So I said yes.
Four years on, my role has changed considerably and I’m loving every minute of it. I still have my practice, but it is much reduced (partly due to Covid and partly because my time is now mainly devoted to Tolley). But it helps me keep my ‘toe in the water’ when it comes to practicing tax.
My typical day...?
Involves research and writing commentary on some aspect of international tax. I love it because I’m constantly learning. Those that know me will know I have a real problem with boredom -?I get bored far too quickly, and I am always looking for a new challenge. International tax is something that always has, and probably always will, keep me engaged and interested because it is so vast and so different. It’s interesting to see how cultural norms in regions can influence tax policy and vice versa. I end up learning about different peoples and their different points of views, and I love it!
One transferable skill I wouldn’t have expected to use in my job…
My multicultural heritage is something that I have always taken for granted and never really considered to be a ‘skill’. I have a mix of Arab and Indian bloodlines, but my family has been in the UK for so many generations that I am very British in my outlook and upbringing. My wider family has a real mix of nationalities ranging from Columbia to Fiji. So growing up I have just taken it for granted that people can be wonderfully different. It is only recently that I‘ve realised that I will unconsciously ’switch gears’ and change my behaviours to respond to different cultures and different accepted norms. I think this is one of things that allows me to work so well in international tax.
My most memorable work moment...?
When I heard that our amazing Go To Market team had made their first sale of our new global mobility content that I had worked on. My managers had trusted me to run with the new content development and it was really rewarding to see it literally pay off for the business. At the end of day being trusted is the most wonderful way of being valued.
Within private practice, I have to say that securing my first client was probably my most memorable work moment. Being trusted by someone to take care of their personal and family tax affairs is a huge responsibility.
The worst part of my job...?
I find having to limit my entrepreneurial desire to just ‘get on with things’ and match a pace that works well in a large corporation can be frustrating at times. But it’s all part of how even businesses can be wonderfully different!
The best part of my job...??
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I love forging relationships with local experts, and I love the technical challenge that my work brings. So much of the world’s problems arise because we simply don’t understand each other’s points of view. Meeting people from around the globe, learning about their fiscal systems and navigating the language and cultural differences, really helps me appreciate that we are all the same despite our differences.
In my practice, it’s got to be client relationships. I’ve been serving some of my clients for over a decade. I’ve seen their families grow and travelled alongside them on their bumpy roads of business fortunes. That’s both a responsibility and a privilege that I value very much.
One mistake I’ll definitely never make again at work…
I’ll never be afraid of being myself. I’m nearly 50 years old but looking back at my younger self I can recall moments when I was worried that being Muslim, having to pray during my working day, not taking alcohol, etc, would offend someone else. I’m too old for that now!
After work...?
I am a mum of four grown up children, two of whom are married. After work I spend time with my husband and family, and I am very grateful to be able to do that.
My dream job as a kid...?
I wanted to be a teacher but was seduced by the larger salaries being offered by the Chartered Accountancy profession. To some extent I’ve come full circle within my role, as writing commentary requires the ability to make difficult concepts accessible.
In your career, what or who supported you in your progression and how??
I’ve been blessed with many great managers over my career. I’ve got to give a shout out to Claire Hayes, Leigh Petters and Helen Boardman for their indefatigable ability to put up with my natural overexuberance when I get excited about a new idea!
The best career advice I’ve ever been given...?
“Don’t expect praise when you do something well because excellence is expected. But do expect criticism when things go wrong, and learn from it.”
“This too will pass”
This is from Arabic folklore about a king who suffered from what we would now diagnose as bipolar.
All his viziers and doctors couldn’t find a cure. So, he was presented with ring in which was engraved ‘This too will pass’.
It’s a poignant reminder of our temporal existence and the importance of being patient. No known author to credit I’m afraid.