Pavan Khiyani’s Post

Twenty years ago today, a very nervous 23-year-old walked through the doors of 1 Embankment Place on her first day of working at PwC UK. She had no real plan for her career. She didn’t know how long she’d stay at PwC. She didn’t know what direction her life was heading in. There was a lot about the world that still felt unclear. Two decades later, she’s now a 43-year-old hitting a milestone. 20 years of working for PwC. About to see her fourth Chairman and Senior Partner. Two promotions. Multiple roles and teams worked in. A complete culture shift from having a desktop and not being able to work from home to being able to stay connected via mobile phone. She is me. I was recently asked why I’ve stayed here so long. The answer to that was two-fold. The people and my life. They’re intertwined really. Because at all stages of my life be it celebratory or heartbreaking, the people have been there. I can’t pretend every single second of the last 20 years has been easy professionally. That I haven’t faced challenges and frustrations. That I haven’t considered leaving and exploring other opportunities. That I haven’t wondered what life would be like outside of PwC. But something always keeps me here. A change of role. The people. My life. Four years ago, when my personal life imploded, started heading in a new direction and my world once again became unclear, PwC was there for me. In a way that surpassed my expectations. Staff, clients and alumni. It is something I will never, ever forget. I don’t know what the next 20 years have in store for me. I don’t know where my life will take me. I don’t know what’s next in my career. Who knows whether I’ll be writing a status in 20 years marking my 40th anniversary. All I do know is how proud and grateful I am to PwC for all the opportunities (including a selfie with Jason Donovan) afforded to me and the amazing people I’ve had the fortune of working with during my PwC career to date. It’s special.

Calling all EY Alumni! 🌟 Reflecting on your journey, what advice do you wish you knew when you started your career? Share your wisdom with fellow alumni and inspire each other to navigate the twists and turns of professional growth. #BetterWorkingWorld #EYAlumni

I received an offer from PwC, but I chose not to accept it . You might wonder why?? The primary reason was my parents' concerns regarding my safety, the long working hours, and managing responsibilities independently in a new city. They preferred that I either work from my hometown or take up a work-from-home opportunity. It’s not that I never lived away from home—I completed my articleship while staying in a PG. However, for this job, I would have had to relocate to a metro city, which they were hesitant to agree to. After 5 months of constantly convincing my parents, I have finally made it to the city of dreams. Here are a few key points on how to convince your parents in similar situations: 1. Communicate Respectfully: Always address your parents with respect, even if their opinions differ from yours. A respectful tone fosters constructive discussions. 2. Listen to Their Concerns: Understand their reservations and reasons for disagreement. Address their concerns with well-thought-out solutions. 3. Identify Influencers: There may be a family member or relative whose opinion carries weight with your parents. Seek their support to bring about a positive shift in your parents' perspective. 4. Demonstrate Confidence: Reassure your parents that you are capable of managing your responsibilities and adapting to new challenges independently. 5. Trust the Process: Be patient and persistent. Good outcomes take time, and as the saying goes, what is meant for you will find its way to you. Share your thoughts on it in the comment section.

To my former PwC Colleagues who got notice yesterday or are getting notice today, this is but a moment in time and it too will pass. You are worth so much more than one position and you have acquired invaluable knowledge and experience to transfer to the next position. Reach out to connect and we can discuss some potential next steps in your career journey. #timesensitive

Thore Lingel, this post is for you 😉 Under my "90 day at EY retro post" (https://lnkd.in/emF8vZfY), you asked to elborate on my first 3 points there: Structures, Processes, Focus Now's 200 days almost, and we have our big celebration 🎁 🎉 on 22nd of May in Basel - who is coming btw? 😊 Drop me a note! So here come my reflections on the 3 topics: Last time I said "Structures drive behaviours – do the new structures around us develop or support the behaviours we want to see in our team? Which not and do we truly look at the system with a mindset of abundance?" I think the most interesting reflection of some in the team, like Britta, was that we always played as one team, we win together, we lose together and we stand in for each other. We still do that. And at the same time there is this paradox that we all have some individual KPIs, which we didn't have before. Again, we still do what we think is the right thing to do and not the "best KPI thing" - and yet, these thoughts come up, especially in time when there's not an abundance in the market. It does feel that it is important to talk about some of these felt paradoxes, so we keep being aware what's in the system. The other point of the 90 day post was "Which processes can we and should we give feedback on to improve or let go". Here, I think, many of us have thoughts and we're all passionate about humans@center and many other topics. The question didn't really come up yet where we want to drive proactively really, because it felt that we get pulled into so many topics here internally where we can bring in our thoughts and share what we love. I've facilitated "tension meetings" like we do with our team, with leadership. We're supporting townhall designs, make workshops a bit crazier, get asked for being part of recruiting and promotions panels and all. So I guess we can say we're really happy to see all this and of course there's always more to do 😉 Self-set salaries at EY are not yet on the list unfortunately 😂 And the 3rd topic, maybe the hardest one was "Focus – so many things happening here around us; so many that look interesting". Quite honestly, this is what the team and certainly myself is struggling most with. Many opportunities, many new things to learn, a lot of exposure to new clients and teams, is very enjoyable and really what excites me every day, but at the same time it's not always healthy for focus, working times and all. I'll have to learn here... 😁 Conclusion...it still sometimes feels like I am in that strange maze and not sure where to go and how to go there, but it's an enjoyable journey. Thanks to the lovely individuals that make it enjoyable, first and foremost "the old team", but also the new friends 😊

The Viral EY letter! I was not shocked to read this letter but was sobbing in my bed thinking that yes I made a right decision. Anna, a freshly qualified chartered accountant left the world due the high pressure she faced at work. We all know that at Big4s, there's a lot of work pressure but we to live the dream join them and face mental and physical health problems. (Not in all the departments) Many people asked me for the reason to leave the firm before getting offer letter for Industrial Training, here's the answer to that question, I was about to slip to the depression period. Long working hours and the culture there made me felt helpless. I cried every day at work hoping that at least today Will be a good day and I'll be able to survive atleast till I get industrial training opportunity. But everyone has patience limit which once crossed doesn't see what to do next. It is hurtful that even after dedicating yourself to the work, you never get recognition and rather you are humiliated everyday. Everyday becomes a hard day for you, stress, anxiety surrounds and eats you. Revolting also doesn't work here, I revolted but there was no improvement rather it was about to get worst before which I left the firm. People suggest that why don't you say no? Let me ask my fellows working at Big4s, is it easy to say no? I have been felling to share my experience with you all since a long time but I never got the courage and I know that this post also won't make a difference, might be this letter also won't. EY is a great firm and offers a great learning opportunity and is dream firm to many of us but not all teams can offer you a good place to be in. I'm not against EY or another Big4, I'm against the team who make people work without being concerned about their health, their personal life. May Anna's soul rest in peace and the family gathers strength.

Yesterday I had the chance to attend an alumni event of the #EYfamily. I was lucky enough to be part of EY between 2011 and 2014. Despite the heartwarming feeling of chatting with friends and old colleagues it was great to share stories and business ideas: they are great sparring minds to talk with! I feel very lucky about these connections even though a decade (!!) has already passed by. So here three thoughts that came up during my flight back home, for you, regardless of your job and background: 1. Don’t let anyone put you inside a box, unless you want to be in it. “Finance people are boring people”. No they (we) are not. It can be fun to joke about it but the moment you accept it, you start behaving like it. 2. ⁠Big4 and such corporate organizations are a great place to work and build robust professionals, no matter how long your career within the company is, you will be put in situations from which you will learn, grow and use that knowledge and expertise in the future. 3. ⁠You are the Chief of your life and responsible of your decisions. Be honest with yourself in what you want for your future, draft your own plan and go for it. It's okey to make mistakes as long as they are YOUR mistakes. Or someone else will end up choosing for you.

It’s a wrap. After an incredible 31 year run at the only place I have worked post college, I am officially retired from PwC. As I reflect on my time, I am filled with happy memories, gratification in what we accomplished, and pride in knowing we did this with the highest degree of integrity. This Firm has meant so much to me. I met many of my best friends, including my wife, navigated tough life challenges, and worked with the smartest & best clients across the world (Blackstone at the top of that list). On an Amtrak journey (all too familiar NY-DC corridor) a few days ago , I reflected on my time with the Firm: 1. I saw my career as a series of 3-5 year experiences. Gaining different experiences gives us perspective, and obviously, skills. I am grateful for the experiences that PwC has given me #Consulting, #Clients&Markets, #Financial Services, #PE, #NY, #Chicago, #London, #Deals, #Audit. Ultimately in a company, you reach the point where the opportunity for growth becomes limited, and you need to look elsewhere for your next challenge. 2. Another critical ingredient for long-term success is building a strong network of mentors, sponsors, and advocates (aka your personal board of directors). The last 31 yrs have given me the unique ability to foster these relationships and to build a powerful network - critical through peaks and valleys (especially valleys). Straight talk, a willingness to share, and loyalty are key traits to prioritize within your network. 3. Lastly, look to keep things simple. Focus on Clients and People. Obsessing about both is critical for long term success - never lose sight of this. Let me sign off by saying best of luck to Paul Griggs and the new leadership team at PwC. I know we will all see big things, and I will be cheering for you. A heartfelt thank you for all that have made my long journey a success - there are simply too many to name here but you know who you are. To my family words can’t even begin to express my gratitude of your unwavering support. As for me, expect to hear shortly about my next Chapter.

- I Quit 15LPA+ job at Deloitte as a senior auditor, after serving for 5 years. - I cleared 3 out of 4 exams in Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) and then dropped out. - School topper, graduate from top DU college, and now... Just doing Voice Acting! Do you think a clever person would do that? Haha, I bet not. Only a sheer passionate person having faith in his skills and perseverance to give it all, will have the courage to do it. No one in my entire family, even in their distant dreams, would have thought about venturing into this industry. I was repeatedly reminded that passion doesn't earn you well. My general answer was Happiness >>> Money which is true in its own sense. But... If your passion isn't sustainable monetarily, you won't be able to survive for long. And so I started finding out ways how I can earn well while doing what I love. Hence, my journey began... In this journey, I learned how we can wisely transform our 'Passion' into "Profession" if we follow the right steps. Comment "Yes" if you would like to know about these steps and tips. I will reveal more insights in one of my upcoming posts then. Btw, here is one of my print interviews that got published back in 2021. I could not share it publicly then as I was employed with the other firm. After three years, I am able to share it here because now I am... "Self-employed" How cool, isn't it? #passion #startups #business

I know our careers shouldn't be defined solely by the company we work for... Yet there is just something undeniably compelling about the pride that comes with our affiliations. Today, I found myself comparing the physical presence of the Big 4 accounting firms, Especially how EY and PwC showcase their logos. I think it's more than just architectural choices. It is a reflection of brand confidence and the boldness to stand out. But this made me realize how easily we might become biased towards our own "team." We often view our company in a more favorable light simply because it is our own. Is this bias blinding us to other opportunities and perspectives in our careers? Or does it simply reflect a deep-seated loyalty? What do you think? How does your company shape your view of your career? #teamEY --- P.S. Love these insights? Sign up for my newsletter 👇 https://lnkd.in/etNUK8Sj