Looking forward, the biggest changes to our
organisation in the post Covid era will be
Our ability to collaborate whilst adjusting to not having
everyone under the same roof. We have proved that we can deliver
for our clients remotely but most of our teams agree it is just not
the same as meeting up in person. We are a people-centric
organisation and we all get our energy from being around one
another so will need to adapt by doing this less frequently. The
Glasgow office however is more than a place, it's a community and
we have the tools to continue to add value to our clients and to
collaborate through technology when face to face is not
possible.
The future vision for our organisation in Glasgow
is
to be the leading firm in the market in the west of Scotland for
professional services - and I don't just mean in terms of
traditional measures. We want to live out our purpose of helping
our clients to recover from the recession and we will do this by
teaming together to bring the best the firm has to offer in terms
of a range of services, whether it be through deals, assurance, tax
or consulting services.
The three best things about working in Glasgow
are;
Diversity - perhaps not in its purest sense but
we truly have a diverse workforce of talent and people who care for
each other and want to make a difference in everything they do.
Accessibility - living in the city means
no big commute - it is a treat to be able to travel home in 15
minutes, and I also have the ability to wake up in the morning,
take a flight to London and be in our head office before most of my
Londoner colleagues - though thankfully I don't have to do that so
much these days.
Connectivity - whilst I have travelled for much
of my career, I have lived in Glasgow for all of my life, so
popping out at lunchtime and bumping into former colleagues,
classmates and friends is a great reminder of how connected
Glaswegians are.
My favourite part of Glasgow is
The West End. I will admit coming from the West End. I am
biased, but a walk through the Botanics with my wife Katy and the
dog, and then a coffee in Byres Road or a catch up with friends
over a beer is something I often take for granted but
shouldn't.
The most satisfying thing about my job is
No two days are ever the same - and there is no such thing as
routine at PwC so variety is the spice of life but it doesn't come
close to the best thing about PwC - my colleagues. I have been
lucky to work with so many great colleagues who surprise me
everyday with their passion in serving our clients, their
resilience and their creativity to deliver value and go above and
beyond.
Financial services is a great career choice
because
I haven't always worked in Financial Services but have done for
the last seven years - I have worked in consulting for 20 years
across government and private business which has been fascinating
to understand how the different cultures impact behaviours. In
Financial Services, the level of change since 2008 has been
fast-paced, and the M&A activity in the market has meant there
have been so many opportunities to help our clients with
integration and transformation. Technology has been the biggest
change to impact the industry in the last 20 years.
The biggest challenge I have faced in my career to date
was when
things didn't go to plan. Without going into detail, a former
client's business didn't turn out the way we had hoped. It is
difficult not to take it personally, looking at what I could have
done differently. But that's when you realise working in
professional services is a team game, and the team at PwC rallies
round to support each other and do the right thing for our clients.
It is always a good feeling to get back up and fight again when you
have been on your knees and learning from mistakes is a painful but
important experience in order to succeed and continue to grow.
The businessperson I most admire is
probably not one single person but someone who shows a number of
qualities. I admire anyone who works hard, acts as a role model, is
prepared to take risks, looks after their team and puts others
above themselves. For that reason, whilst it sounds corny, that
would be my father. He has done all of the above and provided a
very nice life for us when we are growing up as a family.
Outside of work, I am passionate about
my family of course - but other things - too many things
probably! As a sports fan, I am the eternal dreamer with season
tickets at too many rugby, football and golf clubs. I would also
like to fly planes once again - something I did in a previous life
at the University Air Squadron - a long time ago!
My approach to achieving work life balance
is
give it your all every day but only do your best without running
out of energy - you can't sustain it and can't be at your best if
you don't feel great physically and mentally. Maintain regular
exercise and have the non-negotiables in your calendar and never
remove them. I missed my daughter's birthday once and have
regretted it ever since.
First ever job?
A hotel hall porter at One Devonshire Gardens - carrying the
suitcases to the rooms of the likes of Billy Connolly and Joan
Collins.
Favourite boxset?
Selling Sunset (try it if you dare and don't judge me).
Favourite band?
All of the 80s electronic revolution - now played out best by
Calvin Harris and David Guetta (you are never too old)
Sunshine or snow?
Both! In particular, Les Gets in south east France - a perfect
summer or winter destination.
And, finally, what three words best sum you
up?
Team first, always.