How would you describe the culture at Deloitte? 

Deloitte has an exciting and forward-thinking culture. The firm also works hard to foster an inclusive environment, and is very honest about any changes that need to be made. I’m part of our Multicultural Network and the Deloitte Black Network, which has been a central unit for change and education this year. We also created a firm-wide Black Action Plan; this involved senior management engaging in ‘reverse mentoring’ with underrepresented colleagues in more junior roles.

There’s a real emphasis on mental health here too. And it’s not just during Mental Health Awareness week; the focus and support is year-round. My service line, Business Operations specifically made mental health a priority during the UK lockdowns, organising firm-sponsored Zoom activities to give people a break from work and the pandemic. My team and leaders are really supportive.

Do you think you've grown since you started here?

I think I’ve grown in a lot of ways, but particularly in my communication skills. Consulting in general is predicated on communication, be it emails, calls, meetings, catch-ups, etc. we’re always connecting. I feel my communication has got much smoother; I’m confident that I could now reach out to a senior leader of a large household firm.

There are standard development pathways for each operating unit, but it’s actually pretty limitless and very much up to you. Apart from on-the-job learning, I’ve had the opportunity to get involved in other areas I’m interested in, such as Google Cloud, AI, Solution Architecture and other technology.

Do you feel you are supported and encouraged to be yourself at work?

Absolutely. My managers create a very relaxed environment – I’m given appropriate time to complete tasks that are both thought provoking and challenging. I’m not deprived of tasks that are ‘too hard’ for me so I feel I’m encouraged to be myself. I’m also given ample support to help me complete my work. This is the best way to learn I think; I’m able to take the time I need to work through the more complex tasks, as well as ask for support if and when I need it.

My manager lets me know about diversity groups and events going on at Deloitte, as well as external conferences. He also sends me reading material so I can keep up to date with the world of DevOps - the area that I work in. I’m also being encouraged to give talks outside of Deloitte so I can develop my confidence with speaking. I have meetings about my objectives and goals once every two weeks which helps me keep on track. I also meet with a coach from Deloitte Digital which has helped me gain a different perspective on things.

It’s nice to be around like-minded people that embrace individuality. Deloitte is a really fun place to work and everyone is really supportive. I feel like I can be myself at work which is great!

Tell us a bit about working in Consulting Assets

We build software businesses, this is a newer way of delivering value to our clients. We don’t have client-specific projects, instead we design, build and run software products that multiple clients will use. As we’re innovating how Deloitte works and building software in an agile process, our culture is less corporate and more like a tech start up. The structure is quite flat in this department so it’s easy to go to each other for help if we need to. We have great access to more experience engineers which in turn enables us to learn from their experiences.

The best thing about working in my team is that they understand that I need time to learn and build a broad knowledge base. I’ve been able to do this by owning small technology automation projects that take a concept all the way from the idea to deploying it live to multiple teams. Equally, I still feel like I’m challenged at work and am given a good level of ownership and responsibility.

How did you find the application process? Any advice?

I thought it was going to be extremely daunting and I didn’t really think I’d make it. The best advice I can give anyone going into it is to just believe in yourself and that you are as good as anyone else. The application is designed so that Deloitte can learn a lot about you, your values and personality, rather than just looking at your grades and what uni you went to. Deloitte want to get to know the real you, so really use the application process as a chance to demonstrate who you are, share your aspirations and the positive impact you will bring to the table.

What’s the most innovative project you’ve worked on?

I think it’s my most recent project where we were developing a health, safety & wellbeing measurement strategy for a client that wanted to really take a step forward in the area. Measuring wellbeing is such an interesting topic which has been bubbling up the past 3 – 5 years, but as it is such a new area it can often be one that many businesses really get wrong. I’m a data analyst, so it was so exciting to be able to dive into the data and start identifying what actually influences an employee’s wellbeing, but also to be able to spot key indicators that will help prevent poor employee wellbeing. This will allow so many organisations to better manage it, identify the risks and, most importantly, help and support their employees.

What’s the best thing about working at Deloitte?

I’m extremely passionate about encouraging girls to think about careers in technology and about apprenticeships. My job here has enabled me to spread awareness about both. I enjoy participating in our women’s network too, an open space, where women from all areas of the firm can give advice, ask questions and share thoughts on things such as imposter syndrome and gender inequality within the workplace.

I also love the work socials. These are all online now due to the pandemic, of course, but during the Analyst Induction Programme, I met friends for life! We’re hoping to go on our second ski trip as soon as we can.

Tell us about your apprenticeship journey

I took an alternative route to get where I am today, and I wouldn’t change it. I first joined the Audit Delivery Centre in Cardiff, which was a great starting point for me. I was able to explore all my options and decide exactly where I wanted to be. After speaking to many people within the firm, I decided on Data and Technology. So I applied for the Analytics & Cognitive BrightStart scheme in London.

As a BrightStart there are so many opportunities to progress and learn new skills. Every two months, I spend a week at university, studying Digital and Technology Solutions. It’s an amazing opportunity to have a full time career and also pursue a degree that’s relevant to your role.

Since joining the firm, aged 18, I have grown immensely, both professionally and personally. I’ve been able to follow my passions, decide my career path, and ultimately grow in confidence. More firms should take on school leavers; it’s such a great way to learn about the world of work. I’m so glad I took the leap!

Do you feel you make a difference through your work?

I believe Deloitte really is trying to make a difference in the world. I’ve seen tangible positive outcomes from initiatives such as our Black Action Plan, five million futures programme, and green projects. I know I’ve personally made a difference too. My first project was for a housing association that provides affordable housing in the south east of England.

Is Deloitte diverse and inclusive?

There are a whole host of inclusion initiatives happening across our firm. I’m working as part of our Diversity and Inclusion team to create a sponsorship programme for female and minority ethnic colleagues, for example. I’ve also been involved in a listening session for our south Asian colleagues. We talked about brown expectations, cultural taboos and our true selves in a really authentic session. We were able to empathise with each other, based on our shared experiences, and one of the highlights for me was seeing the cross-cultural similarities of everyone.

What’s working from home been like?

When the pandemic hit, our managers were really quick to make sure we were all coping well, by introducing lots of virtual socials and ways to connect. Everyone is really friendly and willing to have a chat over a cup of coffee - or tea in my case. It’s also made it even easier to enjoy hobbies outside work. I dance ballroom and Latin at the weekends and evenings, and everyone is very respectful of our free time.

What do you do?

I work in Deloitte Digital, in the Customer and Marketing team. In simple terms, my job is going into a business as part of a team and helping that business improve the way it interacts with its customers. This could be anything from personalised marketing and improving self-service, through to introducing new channels of communication, or even changing the organisation’s structure.

Most of the work I do is in the education sector. One of the best things about delivering university projects is being surrounded by the customers on campus and getting to see first-hand the impact our projects have on them. We make a real difference in people’s lives.

What kind of projects do you get to work on?

My current project is at Coventry University. We’re mid-way through an end-to-end customer journey, transforming the university operating model and implementing Salesforce. This is the largest project Deloitte has ever undertaken at a UK university. The head of customer services said this week that they’ve massively reduced first response times for student enquiries, from three days to just a few minutes – a huge improvement!

And beyond your day job?

Recently, I’ve become a keen gardener (mainly due to amount of time I’m spending at home during the pandemic). In more “normal” times, I enjoy boxing and playing squash.