EY Alumni Spotlight: Catherine Chandler | EY Vancouver 2011-16

Growing up in Vancouver, Catherine Chandler’s expected career path was in the field of medicine. But she turned out to have other goals in mind and forged her journey as a Chartered Accountant — a profession that would lead her through EY and beyond.

We caught up with Catherine, now Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at lululemon in Vancouver, to talk about what drives her, and how her experience with EY has informed her success in the years since and ahead.

After completing my undergraduate degree and after many years working in retail, I joined EY and completed my Chartered Accountant designation. This path was a great way to marry my analytical mindset and passion to learn more about business and operations. At that time, while my destination wasn’t clear, EY laid a clear path and foundation to bring me to where I am now at lululemon, bringing my love for retail, an active and healthy lifestyle and finance together.  

Who stood out to you as a mentor or influence during your time at EY?

I have been extremely lucky to have had so many incredible mentors during my time at EY. I spent most of my EY career working in the Vancouver office with secondments in Calgary and Los Angeles. The majority of my time at EY was spent in the Audit practice with various rotations in Tax and Climate Change and Sustainability Services.

What I find so special about EY is that while I have not physically worked at EY for a number of years, the bonds and mentorship I have formed over the years are as strong as ever. It would be difficult for me to list them all, but to name a few: Lokesh Chaudry, Richard Mockett, Cynthia Orr, Sam Whittaker, Lui Petrolini, Fiona Macfarlane, Louisa Lun, Aaron Shi, Nicole Poirier, Kevin Eck, Rodger So, David Choi, Doug Allan, Elias Hage, Ally Dick, Byron Chard and Ashley Kates.  

Tell us about one of your most rewarding moments at EY.

One of my most rewarding moments at EY was a secondment working out of the Los Angeles office in the Audit practice, specifically with retail clients. I had recently received my Chartered Accountant designation and was at a point in my career where I was determining what was next.

At EY, I was always able to have open and honest conversations about my career path, and it was through the leadership team of the Vancouver office that I was able to secure a secondment position in Los Angeles working in my industry of interest, retail. I had expressed my desire to move abroad and gain more experience, specifically on retail clients, for which EY gave me their full support and opportunity. My year in Los Angeles was a time of tremendous growth, both personally and professionally. 

Tell us about your current role at lululemon and what makes it most energizing or challenging.

I support the North America Digital and Omni business as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. Lululemon is a global athletic apparel retailer headquartered in British Columbia with $6b+ in revenue. What makes my role the most energizing is my love for the brand and alignment with the company’s values and vision.

With digital being a high-growth channel, it’s exciting being able to partner with the business on its strategic initiatives and support in lululemon’s growth. A more recent challenge was navigating the retail landscape during COVID, which presented several unique scenarios.

That said, while challenging, it was a tremendous learning experience and it was inspiring to see the company navigate during this unknown time, in particular related to supporting teams during store closures and providing resources and support to employees. 

How did the pandemic shape your career at the time when lululemon was balancing its digital growth spurt with ongoing operational issues, including store closures and manufacturing disturbances?

During the pandemic, our business-as-usual processes required evolution and it provided a unique opportunity to learn from leaders across the business from cross-functional working groups to scenario planning and modelling. 

You created such a great culture on the audit team you led at EY — everyone was so excited and it was super inclusive. What’s the secret?

I think it’s important to recognize that not everyone works or responds to things the same way as you. The element of inclusion is so important. For me, its also the small things — things as simple as “How are you?” or “How was your evening?” can make a big difference. There’s always more work to do, but leading with kindness and getting to know your teams on a deeper level is so important.

What’s also important? Having fun! Work can be stressful and sometimes things don’t always go as planned. Having a sense of humour can help you get through the stress and it’s so important to learn from mistakes that may happen. I’ve been really lucky to work with such great people who have led in this way, and I think the secret sauce is the team building off each other’s energy and creating that positive and inclusive environment for the team.

What advice would you give the younger you when you were setting out on your career journey?

I would advise my younger self to say yes and be open to opportunities that come your way. My most rewarding experiences have been those that have pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to experience the biggest growth, both personally and professionally.

While I wouldn’t change my path, I wonder how things may have been different had I said yes to other experiences or opportunities.

How can we support you as a member of the EY alumni family?

There are so many great resources EY makes available, such as webinars you email to the alumni network and get-togethers organized to foster connections. I’ve participated in a number of women’s events that have enabled me to connect with other young professionals in Vancouver and learn about their stories and challenges they’ve been through. There have also been a lot of inspiring fireside chats I’ve had the opportunity to attend. It’s been great to feel so connected through these events. So I’d just say keep on doing what you’re doing — it’s working!

I’d like to thank everyone for such a great experience at EY and for all the support you continue to give. It’s so special to continue to feel part of the EY family.