Do what you love – authentically – to thrive at work

Each of us brings our own unique flavour, perspective and capability to our work. With my creative mindset, I realized I could play a vital role in  EY tech teams, one that’s all about innovation and creativity and aligns so well with my personality. I’m the one who ideates data stories our clients can digest, understand and — most important — act on. When one mentor called me a “data artist,” I jumped on that title and began to define a role of my own. Doing so made me comfortable bringing something different to the table and it has fuelled my trajectory ever since.

Still, my different skills and creative mindset are just one aspect of the diversity I bring to my practice. I am a data artist among the scientists. I am also a woman in technology, one who is often the youngest person in the room. Stakeholders have sometimes questioned whether I’m too young to contribute, while juniors have wondered how I could coach or lead them.

But as I grow in my career, I’ve learned to embrace my age and stage. By doing so, I can be an important advocate for my generation, bringing their thoughts, ideas and concerns to the leadership of our practice. I can use my voice to create more inclusive conversations with our teams, on client sites and everywhere else I operate. That diversity is important.

We don’t choose what makes us different, but we decide how we channel it. I am young and female and have a great deal to offer. Celebrating my own intersectionality gives me the confidence to contribute every single day — no matter who is in the room or how old they are.

Above all? I allow my passion for my work to help me shine. We’ve all heard that saying: when you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. I am living proof that this can, in fact, be true. I’m sincerely passionate about what I do, and that differentiates me in one more positive way. To be successful, we must all pursue what we love. When a former counselee told me she was moving on to a different kind of role, I encouraged her to embrace that as a positive step forward. If something doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s not a failure. It’s a valuable insight into what makes you tick. That’s something we should all recognize as we seek to cultivate careers that are purposeful, fulfilling and productive. Refuse to settle for anything less.

In my wildest dreams, I would never have imagined the exponential career path I’ve pursued so far. I never thought I’d accomplish all that while exploring, learning and having fun. Above all, though, I’m carrying my work while staying true to myself and channelling my own diversity into sustainable progress. I come to work committed to being authentically, genuinely me. I let that be my strength.