Justine Greening
After qualifying with Price Waterhouse, Justine Greening became an MP and, since leaving Parliament, has continued her campaign for social mobility and equality of opportunity.
Background
Justine Greening joined Price Waterhouse (PW) in 1991 as a graduate trainee and, after qualification, enjoyed a two year secondment to the Lausanne office as an auditor. After she left the firm in 1996 she spent some time in industry, whilst getting more involved in politics, ultimately becoming a Conservative MP. In the 2005 general election she won Putney from Labour, with a majority of 4.8%, and until 2009 was the youngest Conservative MP. Shortly after her election to Parliament she was quoted as calling for “more accountants in government”, as much parliamentary business is inherently financially focused and driven.
Whilst in opposition, she was appointed to a number of shadow ministerial roles, and following the 2010 general election she became Economic Secretary to the Treasury. She subsequently served as Secretary of State for Transport and then Secretary of State for International Development, before Theresa May appointed her as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, positions that she held until early 2018 when she resigned from government in order to focus on her social mobility work. Justine sat as an independent for her last three months as an MP, and stood down as an MP at the December 2019 election.
In 2018, whilst still an MP, she established the Social Mobility Pledge, a scheme aimed at broadening social mobility and opportunity in Britain which was launched at Brigade, which currently has over 800 signatories (including PwC). Since leaving Parliament, Justine has continued to campaign for social mobility and equality of opportunity and hosts the Fit for Purpose podcast, which considers how business can help to level up the UK.
What is your fondest memory of your time at PwC?
The camaraderie with other trainees, going out the night before our exam results came out. I barely slept because I was so nervous and then got up very early to get my results by finding them in the paper. I’d passed and then as a result could head off on a two year secondment to PW Lausanne in Switzerland - where I improved my French, learnt more about global business and made some fantastic friends. Plus a bit of skiing at the weekend too! What an incredible opportunity.
What did you learn during your time at PwC that you still keep with you today?
That instinct of where to do a ‘deep dive’ into the detail gets brilliantly honed in those early years of auditing. It certainly proved very helpful for my future time spent as an MP on Select Committees and as Secretary of State!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be yourself and don’t worry if you’re different from other people - that’s a good thing! Embrace learning new things - life’s a journey of discovery and doesn’t always go in the direction you expect.
"That instinct of where to do a ‘deep dive’ into the detail gets brilliantly honed in those early years of auditing."
Justine Greening
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