Our People - International Stories: Olga Iaroshevska (Commercial Advisory & Transactions - Infrastructure, Assets & Places)

Q1. What was the motivating factor that made you move to Australia and what made you choose to join KPMG originally? 

Olga: I moved to Australia from Ukraine in 2014 to do a Master’s Degree at the University of Melbourne. Before that, I travelled a lot and visited Australia in 2012 and Canada in 2013. I was choosing between these two countries to decide where to go studying. I chose Australia because it is a very special country – country with a focus on people, their quality of life and wellbeing. I feel like in Australia people have an opportunity to be truly themselves without a need to pretend or fit in. I think I did not understand this fully – what kind of freedom Australia can provide – when I made the decision to move, but since then I’ve realised how lucky I am to be here.

I decided to join KPMG because I was looking for a challenge and dynamic environment where I could grow professionally. And, more importantly, I was looking for experts in my field I could learn from. The KPMG Energy team and my manager were the main reason I decided to join the firm. I was looking forward for an opportunity to work so closely with senior energy experts.

Q2. From a lifestyle perspective how has the change been? What are 2 things that you expected and 2 things that you didn’t expect?

Olga: My lifestyle has changed for the better since I moved to Sydney. Primarily, because now I spend significantly more time outdoors – long walks along the coast is a usual plan for the weekend. I think great weather, ocean and connection with nature make people happy here. Personally, I worked for an extended period of time without taking an annual leave because every weekend feels like a holiday – the ocean re-charges.

Two things that I expected:

1. I expected that it would be hard to live so far away from my family - this remains the biggest drawback of my move to Australia. On the other hand, it has some benefits for Australia to be so far away making it more self-sufficient and safer compared to other parts of the world.
2. I expected Australian lifestyle and work/life balance to be pretty relaxed. Moreover, there’s less hierarchy and less bureaucracy. Australians value family time and respect family responsibilities. To organise work around kids’ pick-up from school or soccer games is absolutely normal.

Two things that I did not expect:

1. It was so cold in winter in Melbourne! I came from Ukraine and I know what a cold snowy winter is, but I have never felt so cold in Ukraine as I did in Melbourne. No central heating, +1°C and very poor window quality are something I did not expect. It looks like Australians are more adapted to low temperatures than Ukrainians!
2. I found it interesting that many Australians start their day so early. People get up early even on weekends, go for a walk, have a coffee. At 8am it could be already busy at a café on a weekend. Recently, I went back to Ukraine to visit family and could not find a coffee before 11am! In Australia, by this time I usually already on my way home from a morning walk. I guess this is due to the different climate and people trying to get out in Australia before day heat.  

Q3. How do you feel your time at KPMG Australia has influenced your career direction?

Olga: Since joining KPMG my career progression has accelerated rapidly. I believe this is because consulting is a very dynamic environment. We usually work on multiple projects in parallel so there are more opportunities to learn, take responsibility and demonstrate initiative. KPMG provides many opportunities to take a different direction in one’s career without leaving the firm. This is because we provide a broad range of services - from commercial to policy and engineering advice. While focusing on policy projects, I am also exploring opportunities to gain more experience in commercial advice.

Q4. What has been your most rewarding experience with KPMG and on that note the most challenging experience?

Olga: The most challenging experience is often the most rewarding. Consultants are usually hired for projects where the answers are not straightforward. I worked many times on challenging projects I was not sure how to proceed with. However, when our team successfully delivered those projects, I always felt proud for what we have achieved, usually in quite compressed timeframes. To complete a complex project and receive a positive feedback from a client is very satisfying. At KPMG, I feel how I grow professionally. 

Q5. What would your general advice be for anyone abroad that is on the fence or looking to relocate to Australia? 

Olga: I would say that you need to be ready to work hard. It takes time and effort to settle and establish new social and professional connections. However, hard-working people are always rewarded here. In return for your efforts, you would get one of the best lifestyles in the world.

Feel free to reach out to other expats, including myself. People are often friendly here and generous with their time and advice.

If you are interested in joining KPMG Australia's Infrastructure, Assets and Places team please reach out directly to myself or search our careers page for opportunities here and a big thanks to Olga for sharing this story.