My journey so far…
I grew up in Basingstoke with my parents and was the oldest of four children. My parents valued education and encouraged me and my siblings to do well at school. I was good at maths and became the first person in my family to go to university. I studied economics at Cardiff, which seemed like the perfect fit for someone who loves numbers. I also had a passion for nature and the planet, and the Natural History Museum was my favourite day out. As I grew up, I realised how much impact individual actions can have on the planet, and I wanted to make a difference.
During university I took part in Deloitte’s Summer Vacation Scheme in Audit and Assurance, which was brilliant. I learnt so much about business and got an insight into the way lots of big companies operate. I returned after completing my degree to start the graduate programme in the Southampton office. While I loved the culture of the firm, I was keen to do more reporting around sustainability. At the time Deloitte didn’t have a team in place, so I went to a cosmetics company, working on sustainably projects, such as calculating their carbon footprint and supporting their materials sourcing. By the time I’d been there for two years, Deloitte had established its own ESG team, so I decided to go back. I wanted the opportunity to work on lots of different projects.
“What I love most is that every day is different and there’s so much to learn. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects in lots of different industries, and I get to ensure that the companies we audit are held accountable for the sustainability information they provide.”
Work that matters
I’m a director in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) assurance team. We check the sustainability and social data that companies are publicly sharing is an accurate reflection of their business. For example, I’ll look at their carbon footprint as well as things like gender gaps and board structure. I’m no longer financially focused, but I’m still working with numbers. What I love most is that every day is different and there’s so much to learn. Because ESG is an evolving area, it’s really important that we get things right and the public can trust the information that’s being published. We work closely with our audit colleagues to ensure that these firms are being held accountable for the figures they produce.
Away from the main day job I am a people leader, supporting my colleagues to be the best they can be at work. I also support volunteering activities in ESG, for example insight days where we work with charities to help them solve problems.
Highlights from my week
Monday:
I get the train to Amsterdam so that I can deliver a training session for our Deloitte colleagues in the Netherlands. I’m updating them on new government legislation for ESG reporting.
Tuesday:
I’m back in the UK and kicking off the day with a leadership meeting, to discuss all the different projects we’re working on. In the afternoon I meet with one of the companies we’re assuring.
Wednesday:
Today I’m coaching some people who’ve asked for additional support. Afterwards, we have a team dinner in the evening at a small family-owned restaurant in London.
Thursday:
We start the day with a quality catch up, to make sure everything we're doing is the highest standard it can be. I then have a coffee with a new team member to see how they’re settling in.
Friday:
I review some of my team’s project work for the week and then have an induction with the summer vacation students to welcome them to the firm. After work I go rock climbing to kickstart the weekend.
My weekend looks like
I’m a passionate gardener so on the weekend, after I go for a park run, I spend the day outdoors. I grow flowers and vegetables organically and I’ve started an Instagram account called @helenlikesplants, where I share videos to help other people learn about gardening.
I’m also on the National Vegetable Society Committee, to help people start growing vegetables in their homes. I love natural produce and growing plants in the most sustainable way possible.
3 things I've learned
Always give something a go
You don’t know what you don’t know, so I recommend giving everything a try. Even if it turns out not to be for you, you’ll learn something from the experience.
Talk to people around you
Whether it’s your team or your leaders, I’ve always found that most issues can be resolved by talking and sharing. Deloitte is a really accepting place and your colleagues appreciate we’re all human.
Never plan too far ahead
I’ve learnt that you need to be able to go with the flow and be open to changing direction. Things change so fast, and you never know what will be happening in five years’ time.
Becky's book recommendation
Dry by Neil Shusterman
This is a novel about a not too distant future, when the taps run dry and we run out of water. It’s a futuristic and dystopian, but it’s not unbelievable. It shows where we could be if climate change continues to get worse, so it’s like a cautionary tale. It’s a fast-paced read, but it also makes you think about your own water consumption and habits. Since reading the novel I’ve taken positive steps to try and reduce the amount of water I’m using.
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