Today we hear from Rita Li, a consultant in our Risk Advisory team, about her career journey at Deloitte as part of the Global Women in Risk campaign.
What has been your journey so far in becoming a Risk Consultant?
Throughout my education, the work I always found most engaging was project based and team oriented assignments. I didn't realise a career in risk existed until I started applying for jobs in my final year of university.
What advice would you give someone who may be interested in this field?
I'd say don't be intimidated by what you don't know. When I first started, I thought my contributions weren't as valuable as someone who had been here a bit longer and had more experience. My team quickly helped me realise the value you bring to a team isn't determined by your title or tenure. A great idea is a great idea, regardless of whether it comes from an intern or a partner, and everyone here at Deloitte recognises that. I've learnt that you'll never be in a position where you know all the answers, you just become better at solving problems with the information available to hand.
I've also found it super helpful to have a good support system. Having people you can trust to have your back and be a listening ear when you need it are so important. I've learnt it's important to have your opinions and the confidence to voice them, but it's equally important to also have people who might not always agree with your way of thinking and will challenge what you say. The challenge is then to figure out how to work together collaboratively to find the best solution.
What opportunities do you see for this career field for women who may be interested in Risk?
I think women are especially great at adapting and drawing on their own experiences and backgrounds to connect with clients. Each client has a different culture and a different way of working, so it's important to tailor the way we work to best suit the clients we're trying to help. As there is no clear-cut path to risk advisory, everyone has forged their own journey which means the team has a breadth of experiences and knowledge we can draw from.
It's great to see more females joining the Risk Advisory team and I have no doubt many of them will become future leaders in the business. As a team we're building new support systems and communities for women and I've learnt a lot through these shared interactions. I'm never afraid to ask for help and seek insights from those with more experience because I know they are willing to provide support