What was your role when you first joined the firm?
I first joined PwC in 2021 as an associate director in the deals practice. My role was in the Corporate Finance & Investment Banking (CFIB) team, where I was part of the infrastructure sector. I worked on a diverse range of transactions, from regular corporate finance mandates to more complex stressed asset deals.
What were your initial impressions and experiences?
Coming from a non-Big Four background, I was initially a bit overwhelmed by the firm's internal processes and systems. However, my team was incredibly supportive and collaborative. People were always ready to help and guide me, and that is an impression that has stayed with me. Despite the limited in-person interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, I still had many opportunities to connect with colleagues across different teams and even travelled to Dhaka for a deal, where I made some great friends. The deals culture was, and still is, highly collegial, friendly and supportive.
We want to stay connected to you
We help our Alumni stay connected to our firm and each other our through our exclusive portal Alumni Hub and quarterly newsletters. We also give you access to exclusive networking events, webcasts and the opportunity to be featured in our in our Alumni Spotlight and Second Act series.
What experiences or roles did you undertake after leaving?
After a fulfilling time at PwC, I decided to take on a new challenge and joined another firm as an engagement manager in their strategy consulting team. It was a very different experience. The teams were smaller, the processes were relatively simpler, and the work was incredibly demanding. I got to work on some fascinating projects in the retail and consumer and healthcare sectors, and the client problems were engaging and rewarding. I learnt hard and soft consulting skills and had an amazing experience attending a global training programme in Barcelona.
However, the hours were extremely demanding, and the travel was relentless. At one point, I was flying to Bengaluru every week for about three months.
What motivated you to rejoin PwC?
There were a few key reasons. The primary motivation was the travel schedule. As a mother of two school-going children, I needed a work-life balance that allowed me to spend more time with my family. The second reason was the PwC career model. At the other firm, I was part of a staffing pool, so the concept of one partner having direct accountability for my career was missing. I much prefer the PwC model where we belong to a specific team and a partner, and there's a two-way accountability that provides stronger mentorship and career guidance.
How have you grown personally and professionally since rejoining?
I've experienced significant growth since rejoining PwC, both personally and professionally. I initially joined the ESG deals team, which was a fantastic opportunity to dive into a new, evolving market. The learning curve was steep, and I spent a great deal of time upskilling myself on topics like sustainable finance and climate finance. This role also allowed me to smoothly reintegrate back into the deals family, which was wonderful. After nine months, I transitioned into my current role, which has been a completely different but highly rewarding experience.
What is your current role?
I am currently the chief of staff to the Advisory Leader, Dinesh Arora. This is a role I took on in April 2025 and it has been a significant shift for me, as it is the first time in my career I've stepped into a non-client-facing position. In this role, I support the Advisory Leader on various aspects. My responsibilities are broad and dynamic, encompassing a wide range of tasks from long-term strategy to daily operations. I help to build the overarching strategy for the entire Advisory line of service and then programme manage the implementation of key initiatives that are part of that strategy. My work is a mix of the highly strategic, such as developing the five-year plan for the LoS, and the highly operational and tactical, like preparing submissions for network requirements and helping to manage the process for partner hiring etc.
What contributions are you most proud of since rejoining?
Since rejoining PwC, I'm most proud of two key contributions, both of which have been incredibly rewarding. First, I manage The Advisory Trail, our flagship leadership-client connect programme. This is a bold and ambitious initiative that Dinesh announced when he took on the Advisory Leader role, with a clear goal for the Advisory Leadership Group to visit nine cities in 12 months and conduct 350 client meetings. In the first five months, we have already successfully completed two of these editions, resulting in over 45 client meetings. These meetings have been a huge success, leading to multiple new business opportunities. I take great pride in my role in organising and executing these editions, ensuring the four-day trips are as smooth and seamless as possible for our leadership team, and working closely with the location partners and local teams to bring this vision to life.
Second, I had the privilege of working on the Advisory Vision 2030. This was a foundational project that fed directly into the overall Vision 2030 for the firm. More than being proud, I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to contribute to such a strategic and forward-looking project. It was a fantastic experience to work on shaping the future direction of the Advisory business and then to have the chance to present it to the firm's senior leadership.
What vision do you have for the future of the firm?
We've just launched Vision 2030, and I couldn't be more aligned with our leadership's perspective that we are perfectly placed to capitalise on the opportunities that come with technological and geopolitical shifts. While I want the firm to be known for our deep expertise and radical client centricity, my personal vision for PwC includes being recognised as a powerhouse of talent across all levels, with true inclusion and diversity at its core.
Alumni
