EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
Strolling past a coffee shop last year, Caroline Sullivan noticed a man in the window, knitting. On her walk back 90 minutes later, he was still there with his yarn. Caroline, not one to pass up an intriguing opportunity, popped in to say hello. Hearing how much joy and relaxation he got out of knitting she went straight home and signed up for Sunday afternoon knitting lessons.
Now, after wrapping up work for the day, at home or in the office at Moody’s Corporation, Caroline follows a new evening routine, in what has become a form of meditation. “I have a cup of tea. I listen to music. I follow a pattern. There’s a little bit of math involved,” she says of her new hobby. “It is helping my mental health. I find I’m sleeping better as a result of this. Who would ever think you would get this from knitting? And all because of the guy in the window.”
Today Caroline beams, standing in her New Jersey home, showing off the blue cardigan she’s just completed. It’s the latest in an extensive list of personal and professional accomplishments for this lifelong learner.
Caroline serves as the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) and Corporate Controller of Moody’s. She leads the financial accounting and external reporting activities, tax compliance and strategy, and treasury. She is also executive sponsor of Moody’s Minds, an employee resource group that encourages employees to manage their mental wellbeing by cultivating a community that supports mental health conversations in a stigma-free environment. “I’ve seen a transformation happening in organizations that wasn’t there 20 years ago,” she says. “We have gotten much more comfortable talking about these topics.”
As someone who prioritizes her health, embraces ambitious moves and understands the value of relationships, Caroline shares advice for leaders who are looking for opportunities to gain experience and grow into C-level roles. It’s the same advice she shares with her family.
“When I dropped my oldest son off at the University of Georgia, I told him, ‘Your job here is to take care of your mind, your body and your learning. To be successful, we all have to take care of all these aspects of our life.’”
1. Be open to change and growth
Caroline grew up in Dublin, Ireland, one of five children, and the first one to go to college. She decided to study elementary education to become a teacher, like her father and brother-in-law. When she graduated, Ireland had high rates of unemployment and few jobs for teachers, so Caroline left teaching behind and moved to the US, where she had earned a scholarship for graduate school.
Although she told her mother she’d be back in two years, Caroline stayed in the US after earning her MBA in Accounting at Seton Hall University. She began her career at Ernst & Young LLP, where she worked as a senior auditor for four years before moving on to the banking industry. She looks back fondly at her teaching degree. “We learned the basis of education, communication, psychology and the development of the mind,” she says, “all very important aspects to be successful in any career.”