My First Year at Deloitte

YEAR 1

Today marks day 1 of my second year at Deloitte, and it comes on the heels of one of the most transformative years of my life. I spent much of my career not really knowing what direction I should be heading in. I had goals without a plan. I had self awareness, or so I thought, but I kept so many of my colleagues at arm's length, unaware that I was doing myself a disservice by not opening up and sharing my wants, asking good questions, and showing vulnerability in growth. Deloitte changed all of that. I have rarely written in any deep way about my own journey, though I have dedicated much of my career to helping others along theirs. Some thoughts as I reflect on the year that taught me more than any other 12 months of my life combined...

1. I am surrounded by high performers at every level. My colleagues in GPS and Future of Work, through their work ethic, intellectual curiosity, drive, ambition, and capability, are constantly pushing me to be my best, simply by being their best. I never knew how much I craved this, nor how much more I could achieve in an environment like this, until I allowed myself to recognize it here. I have not been the smartest person in any room I've entered at Deloitte - virtual or otherwise - and I love it.

2. Expectations are through the roof. For better or for worse, the culture here is one of exceedingly high expectations. We move quickly, and we expect the world of our practitioners. This is not the right environment for everyone, but it's the right one for me. My own dear mother would be the first to point out that I had a period in my life where I consistently chose to coast, rather than to push myself. That doesn't work here, and it shouldn't. There is an expectation that Deloittians (my term, in lieu of the commonly used 'Deloitter'), when a task comes up, jump to take it on, own it, and see it through to completion, no matter the level. We are not meant to sit back and wait to be told what to do if we hope to climb and grow here. To be fair, there is an acclimation period where this is not the case - but the higher your level and the longer your tenure, the more autonomy, accountability, and drive you are expected to demonstrate in every area of your work.

3. Your boundaries will exist wherever you let them. I have never been one to set boundaries between work and life. I have always lived a blend of the two, which meant I had to choose career paths that allowed the two to blend. I didn't know how much that weighed on me until I learned to establish distinct boundaries. I am better for it, and my family is better for it. But, it requires intent and purpose to maintain healthy boundaries - people will push right up against them at every opportunity. The responsibility is yours to hold them up and defend them, and you'll be respected for it, so long as they are reasonable and that when you are engaged, you are meeting or exceeding expectations.

4. Opportunities are endless, but use caution. I have always been a 'yes' person. At my own detriment, I frequently undervalued my own time for the betterment of others. I said yes to everything, and my personal well-being suffered along with the quality of my work. It's untenable, and although it helped me to learn new skills, it did not make me better person or professional. In the past year, I've learned to be far more strategic in the things I accept, and perhaps more importantly, the things I decline. I have been adopted by a great 'tribe' of senior leaders at Deloitte who have put me in position to do great things, to grow and learn, to help others to grow and learn, and to make an impact both internally and on our clients. I know that they are looking out for my best interests, but I also know that they don't always know what the others are asking of me at all times--nor should they. The responsibility is mine to make sure that I'm communicating my bandwidth and capacity to everyone, that I am not saying yes to too many things that will cause my primary responsibilities to be ignored, and that I am choosing opportunities that make sense for my own career development and goals as much as they do for the greater good for Deloitte. I can do the most good for the team when I am able to do my best work.

5. Network and get involved, but with purpose. You'll hear constantly how important it is to network yourself, particularly when you are in search of a new project. But, be careful in how you approach networking. When you set up Zoom calls with other practitioners, have a reason for it. Come with something to say, and set yourself up for a follow up call. As much as it is important for you to know others here, it is equally important for others to know you. I learned years ago the value of being in someone's "Top 3." If an opportunity comes across my desk that needs someone to support it, I likely have in my mind a top 2-3 list of people whom I'd immediately refer for that position. Your goal should be to get into everyone's top 3, so that you are top of mind when a good opportunity comes to them. What I've learned specific to Deloitte is that the best form of networking you can take on is to get involved in firm initiatives, and especially proposal writing. There's no better trial by fire than the speed-of-light pace of pursuits, and if you do a good job on those, you'll be asked back time and again for those and other opportunities. The ripple that set me down the path that I am on at Deloitte started because I joined a proposal team with a 10-day turnaround, made a good impression on the Senior Manager leading that effort, and then was asked to join the project that was awarded as a result. Everything I have done since has been the direct result of a direct result of that accomplishment. If you do great work, the network will come to you.

I have a lot more to say, but in the interests of preserving my own time and yours, I'll end here with a very heartfelt thank you to the many people in my life who have enabled this opportunity for me, who continue to support me through it, and who have put effort and intent into our relationship in ways that push me to achieve more and to grow. I am excited for the next year of learning and impact, and I can't wait to see where it takes me and my colleagues.