Inclusivity is at the heart of where we want to be
Meet Gemma, a Technology Director in our Consulting practice who advises our Transport clients on tech enabled transformation. Gemma joined the firm in 2013 as an experienced hire after spending eight years in IT outsourcing delivery for global IT firms. She shares her career journey so far and unexpected journey into tech…
Tell us about your career journey so far
I’ve been in PwC since 2013 when I joined as an experienced hire having spent eight years in IT Outsourcing delivery for global IT firms. Moving into Consulting was a bit of a change from IT sales, account management and delivery but one that’s given me lots of learning opportunities and the chance to work with superb teams both from PwC and our clients.
I’m now a Technology Director and a working mum so my day starts with dropping off my boys before getting started on my day working with my engagement teams on client projects. I am typically running 2-3 client engagements as well as some internal activities like People and Community workstreams. My day is a blend of client and internal meetings, keeping up-to-speed on what’s happening across my team, supporting people to deliver high quality work and resolving challenges we encounter along the way.
I’m a coach and mentor to female team members (and some students external to the firm) to help support and develop them more broadly. Inclusivity is at the heart of the firm.On my engagements, we do ColourBrave moments in our team meetings and also bring our Diversity and Inclusion perspectives to our clients through briefings, presentations and other methods.
How did you find yourself working in Tech?
Getting into Technology was a bit of an accident. I studied European Studies and French at University before doing a postgrad course on European Business and Management. I was pretty stuck trying to decide on a career during my postgraduate year. I don’t come from a professional family so I didn’t have access to the guidance and experience to help me decipher the job descriptions I was looking at.
Luckily I had a brilliant mentor through a university industry mentoring scheme who told me that “you’ll never know what you want to do, just get out there and try something. If you like it, you carry on; if you don’t, you change.”
So I applied to a graduate scheme with a global technology firm, and I got through - and that was the beginning of my tech career (and spoiler, I did like it!).
Tell us about some of your best lessons so far?
I’m a strong believer that every day is a school day and that you can learn from anyone and everyone. I have some formal mentors but often the biggest insight or opportunity for personal growth has come from working with people who are different to me. I try to be self reflective and encourage feedback and different opinions in my teams and it’s fascinating how that can take you in totally different directions.
Looking after my people on a personal and career level is one of the best parts of my job. I try to be curious about the individual and what makes them tick, to understand their background and interests and how they can bring their best self to work. I also want them to bring their ‘true’ selves to work and I try to role model my authentic self in all my glorious imperfection!
Meaningful feedback is also important - and making it timely - so people can reflect in the moment how something went and what they could do again or do differently.
I’m also a mum to two small boys so work life balance is important. I try to pause my working day to do teatime and bathtime with them a few times a week, and then finish off my day after they’ve gone to bed. Generally people are very accepting of the different commitments people have outside of work and we find ways to make the working day fit around our diverse lives - whether that’s children, caring commitments, Friday prayers or getting to a Monday night pottery class.
Lastly, what’s the best piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
I’d tell myself to think really carefully about my values and the kind of organisation I want to work for. I’ve found, through the moves I’ve made in my career, that the culture around me is far more important to me than the work I do day-to-day. PwC’s focus on doing the right thing for society, the caring culture I see in our leadership and my teams and the pursuit of quality and excellence are the things I come to work for.
Learn more about technology careers at PwC.
