KPMG US’ Post

An inspiring start to 2024: last night we hosted an informal get together for 10 Chiefs of Staff over sharing plates, green juice and red wine to discuss the evolution of the role and share perspectives and war stories. What did we learn? Where do we start! ⚡️That while the responsibilities of the role vary widely between organisations, the idea that this person is a ‘force multiplier’ or even ‘ultimate activator’ is the common thread. ⚡️There is often the perception that the CoS is Robin to the CEO’s Batman, whereas the more accurate representation is that the roles are similar, simply with an external vs internal focus. ⚡️You play at least one of these parts at any given time: priest, teacher, parent, therapist. ⚡️There is a danger you become a lightning rod for everything happening within a business, but simultaneously this is an essential part of the job. ⚡️It is possible to lead without building a team - metrics around managing people do not need to be the only measure of success. ⚡️That the route you navigate to get to this role can be varied and includes accountancy, law, people / talent and the founder journey. ⚡️Once you get there, the most common career progression can take you to COO, but can also include GM and head of international expansion. ⚡️CoS share some of the same personality DNA: relentless desire to execute, common sense and the ability to join the dots. ⚡️Biggest challenges discussed over the table included optimising remote operations, solving toxic culture, restructuring and being boundaried when faced with the ‘constant ask’. ⚡️What are the essential superpowers for this role? Extreme resilience and the ability to be both brutally honest and incredibly diplomatic all at once. ⚡️In a number of instances, people had found themselves executing this core elements of the job way before officially assuming the job title, so had essentially fashioned the function from scratch. The conversation was enlightening and it feels like we only scratched the surface. Thanks to friends from Birdie, Divido, Griffin, HSBC, Olio, n Industries and Qwilt amongst others for joining us at Caravan - we're looking forward to building this community and holding more events so if you're a current or aspiring Chief of Staff, do get in touch.

🚀Greeting the New Fiscal Year with versatility and Precision🚀 As we step into the new financial year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey of the past year and eagerly anticipating the opportunities that lie ahead. As a sales professional, this moment marks not just a new chapter but a chance to realign my goals, refine strategies, and fuel my ambition for growth. Last year was a whirlwind of learning experiences, and I'm grateful for every challenge and triumph. From mastering new sales techniques to expanding my network and fostering meaningful connections, each moment has been invaluable in shaping my approach and refining my skill set. One of the most rewarding aspects of the past year was immersing myself in the dynamic world of IT Technology Event. Participating in that event provided me a platform to engage with industry leaders, exchange insights, and forge partnerships that are instrumental in driving success. As I gaze into the horizon of the new financial year, I am fueled by a sense of purpose and determination. My goals are clear, my vision is unwavering, and I am committed to pushing boundaries and surpassing expectations and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. In the coming months, I am eager to continue my journey of growth and development, seizing every opportunity to learn, connect, and innovate. With each interaction and every challenge, I am confident that I will emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sales. Here's to a new financial year filled with endless possibilities and boundless opportunities for success. Let's make it count! #NewFinancialYear #SalesExcellence #GrowthMindset #ITInnovations #Networking #GoalsAlignment #ProfessionalDevelopment

Authority magazine has run an in-depth interview with me about how I approach the consulting industry, hard lessons I learned in my career, how I've made tough choices, and how we manage New Markets. If that's a topic that interests you, give a read: https://lnkd.in/eucfebXz

Happy new year! 🎉 In my trip around the sun, I experienced a year of learning and priming for new growth. •This little munchkin blessed our lives, and I re-learned how to be a newborn mom. 😴 This time, we had help from our older kids, and it was a game-changer. •My dad got into a serious accident, so I learned how to navigate legal and medical challenges and how to be a daughter in this new context. •We purchased another home, where we have created lasting memories, and we hope to leave it as a legacy for our children. I learned how to be a Air BNB host and am on track to hitting *super host* this month. •My mom got remarried to her boyfriend of 10 years, and we officially welcomed “Papa” into the family. My best friend since middle school also got married! 👰 I learned how to navigate these new types of relationships as their matron of honor and close daughter/friend. ____________________ •At KPMG, I joined a new team, vetting innovative ideas for our firm, similar to a previous role I held at Sabre but now in the data, AI/gen AI, and cloud space. I’ve learned the inner workings of data products and marketplaces, how we fit our partner technologies together, and how to accelerate data operations using gen AI. •I’ve also met a ton of new folks at KPMG and learned how we elevate our client service offerings through the combination of people, process, and tech. It’s pretty incredible how many companies we’ve done this for at scale, and I’m really excited to be a part of something so groundbreaking! ____________________ This year, I want to… •Deepen my technical understanding, especially as it relates to data, AI/gen AI, and cloud. If you have any recommendations for reading material, please share in the comments. •Develop new business relationships, especially in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Fayetteville areas. If you can make an introduction to anyone interested in Product Management or Data, please connect me. •Broaden my network, especially if there’s mutual interest in these topics I’ve outlined that are so near and dear to my heart. If you want to have a conversation about family, real estate, tech, or business development, let’s talk! As an extrovert who works from home, I appreciate these types of conversations and would welcome the chance to have more! I wish you all a happy, healthy, and productive 2024!

In the consulting industry, personal feedback is a cornerstone of growth and improvement. Recently, I had the opportunity to review a set of anonymous feedback from some of my colleagues. As someone with a background in physics and a career in finance, I expected that the hard, number-focused skills would be at the forefront. However, the feedback was more nuanced: compassion, empathy, thoughtfulness, pragmatism, and candidness. (Full disclosure: They also mentioned my lack of knowledge about American sports!) This reaffirmed my belief that success in business, as in life, is not solely about specific knowledge or outcomes, but often about how we approach our work and collaborate with the people around us. That’s certainly been the case during my time at Oliver Wyman. What sets our Restructuring team apart is an exceptionally talented and diverse range of skillsets and a shared commitment to delivering excellence for our clients. Above all, our work is guided by the principles of being impact-focused, collaborative, and resilience-driven - embracing the "work hard, play hard" mentality. Looking ahead, I’m genuinely excited about the growth of our team and the ambitious goals we’ve set. And, whether it's improving my American sports knowledge or honing other skills, I look forward to every opportunity to grow alongside my colleagues. Up next in our #RestructuringReflections series, is a post from my colleague Purav Adiecha, CFA, CIRA uncovering the challenges facing automotive suppliers.

@ David Timis... It was indeed a great event to learn form AI power in today's world and how impactful it can be if it is used in right manner. @Giulia Meschino ... I love the fact she highlighted that apart from our certificates and courses employers in Europe should also look for inner passion and talent and knowledge apart from on paper before hiring a a candidate. AI is definitely a threat for job seekers :) #learningandgrowing #AI #eucareers

Out of office, but are you really? 🤔 In our latest blog post, we look at whether the busy summer holiday period is a myth. Exploring the 'productivity slump', society's always-on culture and our own data, we're asking if taking more #annualleave during the summer months is as common as you think. Have a read here: https://ow.ly/vfRA50PALzX

I just completed BCG's Strategic & Experience Design on @[Forage](urn:li:organization:68514998). In the simulation I: * Completed a job simulation where I helped to research and design a new banking product for a hypothetical client * Built a research plan, developed primary research tools, and reviewed data to understand the target customers' attitudes, needs and beliefs  * Created a customer persona to inform new product ideas and presented these using a concept chart Check out the simulation here: https://lnkd.in/eRexF_P2

It’s an exciting morning for us at Lively, Inc. We were recognized as a 2023 winner of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500. This means we were one of North America’s fastest growing technology companies over the last few years.   I took some time to reflect on what this means and how we got here. Here are some of my raw thoughts: 1.    We worked hard. Really hard. Hard work was drilled into my head when I started my professional career in investment banking. I was never the smartest person in the room, but I committed to myself that no one would outwork me. That same commitment exists all across Lively. We will not be outworked. Period. 2.    We didn’t take shortcuts. We did the hard things because we had conviction in our beliefs. We could have gotten to market faster by white-labeling other platforms, but we’d be no different. We built a proprietary recordkeeping platform that has given us competitive advantages over time. 3.    We believed (and still believe) in great service. We’re in an industry where prices are racing to zero and the first thing that goes in most places is service. We used software to make us more efficient without sacrificing quality. We could have taken the same approach as others, but our customers choose Lively for who we are, not what we are. This matters. 4.    We bet on ourselves. When Alex Cyriac & I started, people scratched their heads. “These guys don’t come from the space. They can’t succeed”. See point number 1 above…to put your blood, sweat, and tears into something and not bet on yourself would be a shame. Being friends as long as we have been, it gave us extra confidence to not only bet on each other, but trust one another too. 5.    We got lucky. Yes, I said it. We had luck on our side. Most companies that make it have some kind of luck on their side. The greatest of those companies take advantage of luck and make the most of it, not apologize for it.   7 years in and we are still at the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more we have left to do and I’m excited for the path that Lively is on. As we continue to invest into our platform and our service, we create happier customers and help them on their financial journey through healthcare. This recognition is also a direct reflection on our incredible team – those who are here today and those who have moved onto their next challenge. I want to say thank you to each one of you for your grit and determination. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/egFH7dAV   Deloitte #TMT2023 #Technology #Fast500 #DeloitteTMT #sorryimnotsorry #livelyhsa #founderjourney #hrtech #employeebenefits

In the economy of a consulting firm, what is the most important thing? So that at the exit from the entire staff of consultants we will have an income. I am not a supporter of hiring an army of interns to draw out the profitability of projects at their expense. Therefore, I believe in increasing the effectiveness of the work of consultants where possible. And I share with you 9 tools that we use in our consulting and that allow us to keep the margin of the direction at 60% 🔥