Emily Merritt

Feeling valued as an educator in an open-minded culture

There were many careers I considered for myself when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in sociology. But if you’d told me 15 years ago that today I’d be happily working alongside more than 450,000 colleagues at Deloitte, I never would have predicted this path for myself. Surrounded by open-minded leaders, collaborative team members, and so many opportunities, I’m happy to report this new role feels like a fantastic fit.

Discovering a new path

During the pandemic, when I was reflecting on where I wanted to go in my life, I decided it was time to make a pivot from my job in education. I had earned a master’s degree in higher education and spent a significant amount of time in college career centers, helping students explore their career interests, apply for internships, and pursue their professional aspirations. Now it was my turn to practice what I preached and apply my transferable skills to a new setting. I applied for a job in Learning & Development at Deloitte.

Before I joined Deloitte, I had several misconceptions about the corporate culture here. I imagined it might be rigid and formal, a stark contrast to the warm and energizing environment I was accustomed to in higher education. I reached out to Deloitte professionals, heard about their positive experiences, and eventually interviewed with a few teams. After joining the organization, I’m happy to say that I feel they were right. I am proud to be celebrating three years at Deloitte, supporting learning for professionals.

Empowered by leadership

Coming to Deloitte as an experienced hire more than a decade out of school, I brought skills and experiences shaped by my previous roles. My work promoting career services to students, faculty, and alumni translated to informing professionals about our learning portfolio. My time spent designing intern training prepared me for creating learning programs for adult learners. Having a background in coaching taught me to practice active listening and ask strategic questions. While I still had to navigate an initial learning curve, my team eased this transition by providing apprenticeship opportunities across several projects. From day one, I felt supported by leaders whom I admired and wanted to emulate. I knew coming in as an experienced hire, there would be a lot to learn and navigate in an organization that was new to me. I felt guided and mentored every step of the way.

What really sets Deloitte apart for me is the value placed on diverse perspectives. After spending 10 years working in education, I felt I had a unique perspective on how we could make improvements in learning and development here, but I wasn’t sure if speaking up would be accepted. However, the feedback I received from leaders when I offered new ideas was overwhelmingly positive—they appreciated my questions and the fresh perspectives I brought to the table. At Deloitte, I didn’t just feel like a new hire; I felt like a valuable contributor from my first day. A culture of open-mindedness from so many leaders I worked with solidified that Deloitte is a place I want to continue to grow my career.

Discovering a personal passion for pottery

When I transitioned from working in higher education to joining Deloitte, I was looking for a change that would allow me to reclaim my personal time. In my previous role, evenings and weekends were often consumed by hosting alumni career panels or pitching in at campus-wide events. It was difficult to mentally leave work at work because I never wanted to let down a student in need. My current role at Deloitte is a remote role, which allows me the flexibility to do personal things like walk my dog before starting my workday or put in a load of laundry during lunch. This flexibility has left me with more energy and time for fun stuff, and I’ve learned to work more efficiently, prioritizing my time where it can have the biggest return on investment.

After the pandemic, I felt a strong desire to put myself out there and try new things. I decided to take a “try it” class at a local pottery studio, and I was immediately hooked. I signed up for a six-week introductory course and have since progressed through all the courses available at my studio. Now, over two years in, I am officially a “studio member.”

My team at Deloitte regularly shares life updates, like vacations, holidays, and personal hobbies. It’s fun to see what everyone is up to outside of work. I feel like my team leaders see us as whole people with lives outside of work . The levels of trust and accountability within my team help me feel that I can deliver high-quality work while pursuing my passions in my personal life.