Ian Wright’s Post

“The Dance of Freedom” After 19 fulfilling years, I am announcing my retirement from Partnership at Deloitte. My journey at the world’s largest professional services firm has been enriching and fulfilling, in 2005, when I first stepped in, I never imagined that I would stay this long and when I made a Partner, I knew I would retire from here. I loved each day of building relationships with CXOs and connecting the globe to solve their most complex problems. Grateful to all those who played a pivotal role in my journey, all along. But today I am going to give myself the permission to not hide any more, give words to the painful world of politics and stress that we as senior executives must deal with to survive at the top. Especially as migrants when you are not part of the so called ‘club’ it is so easy to be stabbed at the back because you have no idea who is a 'mate' and who is a 'foe'. And we need to watchful of where we stand and make the next move ‘faster than we should’ without becoming complacent because those who don’t like you are always making a move to eliminate you. Be watchful and make #noexcuse I also don’t want to just announce my new position and share that my last six months of reflection was just a break, I have healed during this time of reflection. I am leaving the firm because my role was made redundant due to market conditions and restructuring, but I know that wasn't the only reason. Personally, this experience was extremely unexpected. I felt shattered, disrupted, and reached out to everyone who I thought could give me that ounce of hope and strength. I gathered all of that to reconstruct myself, embracing my vulnerabilities to become stronger and gain clarity about my passions. I've made the choice to move forward in a direction I previously denied myself. Now, nothing can hold me back. I am prepared to welcome the future with the excitement of a 19-year-old leaving home. I hope you too ‘give yourself the permission to not hide anymore from the truth, have the courage to share your vulnerability and use it as an opportunity to grow and become more powerful" #noexcuses #reflection #partner #big4 #deloitte #politics #redundancy #power #seniorexecutivechallenges #strengththroughvulnerability #embracingchange #personalgrowth Must read book- The Choice by Dr Edith Eva Eger

After 19 incredible years, your reflections on the highs and lows of your journey at Deloitte resonate deeply. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve navigated both the enriching and challenging moments with grace and determination. Your courage to share the realities of senior executive life, particularly the added complexities faced as a migrant, speaks volumes about your resilience and authenticity. Transitions like this can be both daunting and liberating. It’s admirable how you’ve used this period of reflection to heal, grow, and gain clarity on your passions. Embracing your vulnerabilities and turning them into strengths is a testament to your remarkable character. Your message about giving oneself permission to confront the truth and share vulnerabilities is a valuable reminder for us all. Wishing you all the best as you embark on this new chapter. Your journey forward will undoubtedly be just as impactful and fulfilling.

Agree. While it could be generally dismissed as a fault of the person with regular jargons, Office Politics plays a crucial part in the mental health of employees. Until there is a fair and genuine recourse made available, silent exits continue and social media becomes a mode to vent out. The remedy could be regular Skip Level Meetings by the leadership team (without the presence of HODs) and exit interviews diligently conducted by the leadership team to assess the undercurrents in the organisation. It doesn't end here. Most Important is the Action Initiated based on the above remedies to be made visible across the organisation. It would then set the tone for culture in the organisation.

Reflecting my journey with Deloitte USI as I completed 3 years with the firm. 👩💻 In the era of hating 9-5, I actually love being at my job and the routine it provides. From almost leaving the firm in 2022 and firmly believing that I am not cut out for #itaudit, here I am, 3 years down and with the top rating for the last performance year. I still can’t believe I sustained after dreading to login in my first year of job. I really am proud of my journey because it has taken a lot of efforts.✨ Here are my fav tips (no one asked for): 💁♀️ Stay Relevant. Ask questions and keep up with the change in your industry the way we keep up with the social media trends. 👩💻The real growth comes when you know your strengths and blend them with your work. Stop trying to fit into the system like another cog in the machine. It took courage, time, stares, and confidence to bring my whole vibrant & loud self at work. 👩💻Never be a ‘know it all’ & ‘perfectionist’. Make ample room for mistakes and curiosity. 👩💻Look for genuine healthy relationships with people. Not every work relationship should be latched to an incentive. 👩💻Know your job. Know your skillset. Stack up on that. That’s the only survival plan. 👩💻Learn how to sell yourself. Learn how to praise yourself. Celebrate your wins. Discuss your defeats. 👩💻Try helping out people and not indulging in office politics. The former will get back to you in multifold ways. (Well, so the latter 😁) You are more than your Employee ID. But since we are spending a substantial amount of our life at work, why not make it a worthwhile roller coaster? ✨ Deloitte #deloitteusi #workanniversary #careergrowth #careergrowthandlearning #careerjourney #careerbuilding #insights #deloittecareers #team #wellbeing #womenintech #lifeatdeloitte #wellbeingatwork #consultantlife #mondaymotivation #trips

Earlier this year, I celebrated 5 years at Deloitte, and it's the people - all incredibly smart, talented, and kind - who have made my experience so special. Watch the below video to see what connection feels like here. #LifeatDeloitte #DiscoverYourImpact

Walking through the doors of Deloitte on my first day, I felt like I had arrived. It was the culmination of a dream that had started in front of the TV years ago. But as I took my place among the ranks of eager consultants, I quickly realised that achieving the dream was just the beginning. The reality of the dream is far more complex.   The corporate world is a maze, a network of unwritten rules and unspoken expectations. It requires more than hard work and enthusiasm; it demands emotional intelligence, the ability to read between the lines, to understand what is not said out loud. It's about knowing when to push and when to yield, when to speak up and when to listen.   These lessons were hard-earned, coming from mistakes and missteps as much as from successes. They're lessons I now pass on to the young professionals I mentor. I tell them that to thrive, not just survive, in their careers, they need to be as adept in managing emotions as they are in managing projects. It's a lesson I wish I had learned earlier, but one I am grateful for every day.   In this post, I want to open up a dialogue about the unexpected lessons of the corporate world. What has your career taught you that you never expected to learn? Ps. My first day at Deloitte may have been some time ago... #CareerGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkplaceWisdom

"Dare to dream" and go full throttle to chase it. Because the only dreams that come true are the ones that you chase; if you do nothing, you get nothing. Make #noexcuses. Reflect on whether you are dreaming big and if your actions today align with your aspirations for tomorrow. I have come a long way both personally and professionally by absorbing, learning as my periphery vision opens up when I meet leaders who are excelling in their respective fields- they are not super stars, nor born with a silver spoon but they have a vision and they back it up with ACTION. If you are not waking up everyday and working towards achieving your goal with precision and focus then it will remain a dream. In 2007, I scribbled 'Become a Partner with Deloitte' on my vision board. At the time, I was leading national programs for over 10,000 of Deloitte’s employees in India. Becoming a Partner for a Big 4 firm seemed unrealistic, and I didn’t have a clear roadmap. Did I doubt myself? Yes! Did I stop? No. Did I face roadblocks? Many. Did I succeed? Yes! Because I never gave up. I continually sought feedback, and matched it with performance, never gave up until I achieved my biggest career milestone in 2022 despite all possible odds of being in Australia, new migrant, just doing what I do best - serving our largest global clients. I was hell bent to create my own destiny and I did it. So, can you. Start taking small steps 'TODAY' towards your goals and soon those steps you take today will become a BLUEPRINT for a life beyond your imagination. You will face failures, dust off, and start again. Eliminate all those people and unneccessary actions that don’t serve any purpose. Personal tip- my resolve doubles each time someone smirks and says that I can't do it because then I want to “so prove them wrong” 😂. You can too. Let's do it. #noexcuses #noexcuses #dreambig #goalsetting #partner #partberpath #perseverance #successjourney #big4 #Deloitte #EY #KPMG #PWC

Inspiring connections. Impactful work. All here. All waiting to be discovered by you. Learn more about what it is like to be an executive-partner, principal, or managing director (PPMD) at Deloitte. #deloitte #deloitteleadership #womenleadersindeloitte

The same day I posted this photo with Matt Widmer from Deloitte, I got a call from EY "Your business case came in! You still want to work here, right?" It wasn't intentional on my point, but I did learn something... #quinnsights The "rest of the story?" I'd outgrown my role at ProSphere approximately 8 months into the job - completed all the tasks the CEO gave me, filled a bunch of gaps, saw additional things to do...but couldn't because there was no room to grow So I reached out to my network It started with a Partner at EY that wanted to bring me on during my transition and kept in touch with me...to make sure I was ok (the Partners at EY really were amazing) He got me right into the process - they made me an offer, but it was as a Manager...and I felt that was too much of a step down from what I was doing at ProSphere I said that I wanted to be a Senior Manager, spoke with a few Partners, and they said they needed the "Business Case to come back" so they could make me an offer "Could take 1 month, or it could take 6 months" they said So I considered it a #lotteryticket and started networking Sid Goodfriend from American Corporate Partners (ACP) was/is a mentor for me and introduced me to Matt Matt, a Senior Partner at Deloitte, brought me in for a meeting at their Rosslyn office...spent 1-2 hours speaking with me...and introduced me to leadership on their Army account Before leaving Matt showed me this AMAZING wall art representing the #veterans at Deloitte Each line of the flag was colored dog-tags with Deloitte veterans' names 🤯❤️❤️ It inspired me to share... Went a bit viral because it IS a really cool mural And EY just so happened to get the business case back that day 😀 #militarytransition My point? Don't lie when talking to recruiters or hiring managers But you appear more valuable when you have several "irons in the fire" Don't be afraid to let them know who you are interviewing with (and update when offers come in) Questions? Has something similar happened to you? P.S. Matt, Sid and Marc Andersen (from EY) still check in on me ⭐ And both Deloitte & EY are amazing places to work ⭐

Grateful for the opportunity that Diverse Futures gave me to visit Deloitte and hear from Vice Chairman William Higgins about his incredible journey from humble beginnings. His story exemplifies the power of perseverance and dedication. Truly inspiring! There were 3 things that stood out or resonated with me: 1.Make sure your career is coherent with who you are and what you like. It's essential to ensure that your career path aligns with your personal identity and passions. When your career reflects who you are and what you enjoy, it becomes more fulfilling and sustainable. He repeated several times “ Love what you and be passionate about it”. Take the time to explore your interests, values, and strengths to make informed decisions about your professional journey. This coherence between your career and your authentic self not only enhances your job satisfaction but also contributes to long-term success and contentment. 2. No matter how mundane a task is do it to the best of your ability. William Higgins insight resonates deeply. Even mundane tasks offer opportunities to showcase our dedication and commitment. By consistently delivering high-quality work, in seemingly routine tasks, we build a reputation for reliability and excellence. This reputation opens doors to new opportunities and fosters trust among colleagues and clients. No task is too small when approached with diligence and professionalism—it's the foundation upon which great careers are built. 3. Make time for the things you really care about In one of his life lessons, William Higgins shared a poignant experience about his journey balancing work and family. He recalled the strenuous days when he would leave for work early in the morning, returning long after his daughter had already gone to bed, leaving him with little energy to spare on weekends. After receiving a heartfelt scolding from his wife😭, he realized the importance of prioritizing family time. Determined to make a change, he committed to spending every Friday morning accompanying his daughter to school. He approached his boss, requesting to keep that time slot free on his schedule, emphasizing his unwavering dedication to this commitment. This decision marked a pivotal moment where he chose to prioritize family amidst the demands of his career, ultimately enriching both aspects of his life. #Deloitte #Inspiration #Leadership"