Energetic, caring and engaged leader: a woman who puts people at the heart of business transformation

Helping companies of all sizes define their business strategy. Supporting management teams as they execute on their vision. Reviewing operational models. Identifying new paths to value creation. Improving and modernizing the client experience. Designing innovative distribution and business development models.

Project by project, I have grown personally and professionally, overcoming obstacles and seizing many opportunities that arose along the way. But in my 15 years at EY, what I’m proudest of are the teams, trust and relationships I have built that have helped me reach my full potential. Here are three lessons I’ve learned over the years:

Take a leap of faith to build something new

I started my career at EY in Paris, France in 2007. After a few months in the Assurance practice, I discovered that my passion wasn’t in auditing financial statements or detecting deficiencies, but rather in identifying innovative solutions to solve them.

Determined to find my own way, I quickly began asking myself which career path would satisfy my true ambitions. I got involved in new projects, expanded my network and made new connections. This landed me an opportunity with a Consulting partner who welcomed me into his team to try something new. After a few short years, this brought me to the Consulting practice in Montréal. This was a pivotal moment in my career. I went from being on a big, established team in the market to a small team where everything needed to be developed. It was a golden opportunity to try new things, develop my skills, grow leadership capabilities, build new trusted relationships and contribute to establishing and building the high-performing Consulting practice that it is today.

I’ve learned there’s no such thing as the perfect career path — it’s up to you to ask the right questions, know your goals and talk about them to those around you, surround yourself with the right people, step out of your comfort zone and follow your heart every step of the way. You’ll know when you’ve reached the right destination.

Lean on the strength of your network to think about things differently

Working at EY offers a unique opportunity to be part of a global organization, allowing you to expand horizons, develop varied skills, explore industries and work with diverse teams across service lines. What motivates me the most is seeing how we work together to leverage innovative solutions that help our clients implement transformation projects centred around human values. We use our creativity and networks, question the status quo, and help our clients define, design and carry out the necessary steps to address their most complex issues and seize the most exciting opportunities.

While my focus is Québec’s financial sector, I have the privilege of collaborating and working regularly with colleagues from across the world who provide support, share leading practices and brainstorm ideas for innovative solutions. Whether in Canada or abroad, there’s always someone who is ready to share their knowledge and lend a hand. It’s this sense of community that makes a career in consulting so gratifying to me. Each day, I get to observe how the collective work we do transcends borders, industries and cultures, creating a lasting impact beyond monetary gains for our communities, clients and people.

Build a workplace where everyone belongs

Despite the progress we’ve made, the business world still poses its share of challenges to women, both professionally and personally. Just like many others, I have often questioned myself, my skills, experiences and accomplishments. While overcoming these challenges and difficulties has not always been easy, I’m thankful for having inspiring role models, mentors and women of influence who have supported me in my development — advising me along the way and pushing me beyond my comfort zone.

The best advice I’ve been given is to accept that women see things differently than men. More than ever before, attributes that are often associated with women in leadership — like empathy, humility and a sense of compromise — are key assets to positively transform organizations, stimulate innovation, encourage collaboration and deepen relationships. As women, we should not question whether we are deserving, but rather we need to know our strengths and empower one another to achieve success.

Today, it’s my turn to make a difference by taking daily actions, both small and large, to support and accompany the next generation of leaders on their career path. I am committed to establishing a flexible and stimulating work environment, where differences are valued and everyone belongs. I encourage my teams and colleagues to share their ideas, learn from each other, form new relationships and try new things. At the end of the day, what really matters to me is to offer them the tools they need to develop their skills, use their unique talents, do their best every day and personalize their own EY career journeys.

Overall, my biggest takeaway is that, regardless of the field you wish to work in — digital, strategy, analytics, risk management or talent — working in consulting gives you the chance to map out a career path that’s right for you, one project, one collaboration and one challenge at a time.

What will you do today to be part of the solution? Learn more about careers in consulting here: https://www.ey.com/en_ca/consulting