PwC Intern and Chief People Officer talk careers, auditing and hopes for the future

In a conference room in Midtown Manhattan a group of interns sat with the chairman of one of the world’s largest professional services firms. You may think the CEO would do all of the talking, but you might be surprised who is learning from whom in situations like this one. Each year, a select number of PwC interns from all over the country travel to PwC headquarters and have the opportunity to shadow members of our firm’s US Leadership Team for a day. The interns get to interact with PwC Chairman Tim Ryan and the rest of the leadership team and we get the opportunity to hear their perspectives, too. As PwC’s Chief People Officer, I firmly believe we should all be learning at every phase of our career. Regardless of title or experience, we can always benefit from the wisdom of others.
This summer, I got a chance to learn from Portland-based Assurance intern Brittney Johnson, a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Oregon. We had a chance to ask each other questions about our experiences at PwC and our perspectives on business, leadership, and life.
Brittney: What exactly does the Chief People Officer do? What does your day-to-day look like?
Mike: My biggest task and greatest priority is to create an inclusive environment at PwC where everyone can achieve their potential. Every day is different, and I love the opportunities I have to make a difference and work with amazing people. Each day I work with our partners, our people and my colleagues in the People function to create the right experience inside our firm, which chiefly means that the PwC experience has to be personalized — based on the unique interests and aspirations of our people, and the clients we are serving.
I also spend a significant amount of time with our clients and other stakeholders like faculty, university presidents, thought leaders and innovators. I meet with clients to both understand their needs and challenges, and share learnings. Driving innovation and change is a significant part of my role, so it’s critical to maintain an “outside in” perspective, and to seek out different points of view so that I can always deliver the best experiences for PwC employees.
Brittney: There’s a lot of talk about robots and artificial intelligence disrupting work as we know it. As someone who is responsible for people and talent, how do you see artificial intelligence changing work for people in the future and for people at PwC?
Mike: The world is changing fast, and advances in technology will continue to transform how we work and the physical workplace itself. We all need to maintain our “digital fitness.” I’m not talking about wearables that measure footsteps, but the need for all of us to deepen our understanding of advances like Artificial Intelligence and RPA (robotic process automation)….and to understand that the digital economy isn’t just about new tools, but also a new mindset, including the essential need to learn throughout our lives. Some view coding as the new “foreign language requirement” for all students. At PwC, we are investing massively in developing the digital skills and knowledge of our people — and in our broader society. For example, our Access Your Potential commitments include our people teaching tech skills to young people in underserved communities.
Brittney: What is one thing you wish you knew when you started your career that you know now?
Mike: I’ve become more aware of my own blind spots, or my own unconscious bias. We all have blindspots. It’s important to identify them and minimize their impact as much as possible.
Brittney: What qualities do you see shared among the business leaders that you most admire?
Mike: First, being clear about your values and striving to live as a role model and as an inclusive leader. Second, the powers of clarity and focus, perseverance, continuous learning, empathy and self awareness…and humility.
Brittney: If you had a day to do anything where would you be and what would you do?
Mike: My family just returned from a trip to Ireland. We love to travel together and experience different cultures, learn more about history, and try to see the world through others’ eyes. Not to mention great food and fun!
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Mike: You had many internships to choose from — why come to PwC?
Brittney: I’m sure this is an answer many might give, but it really came down to the people. When going through the recruitment process, the people at PwC seemed genuinely interested in me and what I had to offer the firm. Whether it was remembering a conversation during an interview or knowing a small detail about me from my resume, each professional at PwC not only wanted to understand my career goals, but wanted to get to know me on a personal level as well. I was applying to core Assurance practice internships, and this thoughtful approach by PwC recruitment made me want to join the PwC Assurance team.
Mike: As an accounting major interning in our assurance practice, what attracts you most to the auditing profession?
Brittney: I am most attracted to auditing because I feel that it gives me a sense of the backbone of a business, or how a business operates. I see so much value in creating a world that is trusting, and I believe that the audit profession promotes practices that directly builds trust in business and each other. Although I am just entering this profession, I am proud to be a part of a trust-building global enterprise.
Mike: You are now halfway through your PwC internship. What has been your biggest challenge so far, and what is the biggest takeaway from that challenge?
Brittney: So far, my biggest challenge has been accepting that I am not going to know everything right away: Learning how to audit and to use different PwC tools will take time. My biggest takeaway is to be patient in the learning process and to try to do every task I am given, big or small, to the best of my ability. It is important for me to remember that everyone starts somewhere, and mastering the tasks I am given will make a difference in my overall client service. Getting frustrated with myself isn’t going to make the learning process any easier!
Mike: Where do you hope to be in five years?
Brittney: From a professional standpoint, in five years, I hope to be on track to making manager here at PwC. I hope to be someone people see as a true teammate and someone people can trust. I hope to be someone who leads by action. Personally, I hope to maintain a healthy work life balance, and I hope to be excelling in my career while feeling a sense of purpose and fulfillment in my personal life as well.
