You’re responsible for your own learning - don't wait for someone to teach you

Meet Lola, a Technology Director in the Risk team in London. Lola has worked for PwC since 2008. After becoming ACA qualified in Audit, she realised her enthusiasm for technology and her career development has given her a variety of experience. Here’s her story….

Tell us about your background and career journey at PwC?

I was born and raised in London, as was my mother, and both of my parents are of Nigerian heritage. When I was a teenager my school was invited to visit the PwC Embankment Place office in London. At the time there was a waterfall in the lobby and I remember thinking “I want to work here”. Fast forward a few years, I joined as an intern at 20 and became a full time employee in Audit a year after.

I qualified as a chartered accountant in Audit and, although there wasn’t anything like the technology we have now, I was interested in the tech side of accounting. From here I had a number of roles moving from accounting tech into data analytics, and later into data protection and governance. I worked in data protection for a number of years, but during the pandemic I felt like I wanted a new challenge. So I took an opportunity to go on secondment into the Markets and Services team, working with the Risk Executive Leadership Team on clients and services strategy.

What challenges have you overcome and how?

I had a hard time adjusting to life in professional services as it was unlike anything I had experienced before. The working culture was different in the beginning, and I felt like I was expected to know how the business worked and how to communicate with clients and senior stakeholders from day one. 

Lola headshot

One way I was able to overcome this was seeking support from mentors. I’ve been lucky to have had some amazing mentors over the years, who have given me great feedback and guidance. I struggled to talk about my skills and achievements, but my mentor and leaders always spoke of this for me. In my journey to becoming a manager, my sponsor gave me advice on ways to tailor my communication approach to the audience, and also some great books to read to help with my own personal development. It was then I found that, in order to get the best out of people, you must understand them first.

Working on your personal development is key when progressing in your career. It’s important to take responsibility for your own learning and to become an expert in your chosen field. While mentors and coaches can offer their support, there is a vast amount of information out there which you can proactively learn about and teach yourself - rather than waiting for someone to teach you. It’s also critical that you build your confidence and make meaningful relationships and friendships within the business - making these connections, with people both in your teams and across different sectors. You need to know people, and people need to get to know you.

Do you have any passions or other achievements?

Stemming from my own personal experience, I wrote a book called ‘The Graduate Code’. It aims to help those starting out in their careers to navigate the corporate world and develop into leaders. I also run a blog and I am a career coach supporting diverse professionals. I am passionate about leadership and inclusion, and I incorporate that into both my career at PwC and in my outside endeavours.

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