Ivan Phuah’s Post

In today’s fast-paced world, we often glorify the hustle. A recent incident with a late employee at Ernst & Young deeply resonated with me as it served as a poignant reminder that life isn’t just about the constant hustle. Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young (EY), died in July 2024, allegedly due to excessive workload and intense work pressure, according to her family. According to the NHRC, the reports surrounding Ms Perayil's death raise serious concerns about the mental and physical toll of corporate work culture on young employees. Embracing the power of the pause isn’t about laziness or lack of ambition. On the contrary, it’s a strategic approach to maintaining high performance and achieving long-term success. People frequently ask me how I manage to balance work and travel. what is it like to pause? and reflect? each opportunity I have to travel is an opportunity too: -Enhance Productivity and Creativity -Prevent Burnout -Foster Self-Reflection and Growth Every trip I take is more than a break—it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to pause and reap significant benefits that fuel both my personal and professional growth. So, next time you find yourself buried in work, consider hitting pause. You might just find that stepping away for a moment is the key to unlocking your next big idea—or the key to finding balance in life when it matters most. #worklifebalance #WomenInBusiness #mentalhealthmatters #ProductivityHacks #HustleCulture #CorporateWellness

I’ve been noticing a wave of posts from social media personalities and corporate professionals who are fervently advocating for mental health and work-life balance, especially following the heartbreaking loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil, an EY employee. This tragic event highlights a crucial point: those in senior or leadership roles must actively care for their team members. It’s not just about having empathy; it’s about taking concrete actions. While higher management might sometimes seem detached, we can still bridge that gap. If you’re in a position of influence, make it a priority to reach out and mentor interns, junior associates, or anyone who seems to be struggling or feeling overwhelmed. The corporate world can be incredibly demanding, and the only way we can truly thrive is by fostering a culture of support and collaboration. When we help each other, we create an environment where everyone can succeed. Teams that look out for one another and offer a helping hand in times of need are the ones that thrive and excel. Let’s commit to making our workplaces more humane. Let’s ensure that no one feels isolated or unsupported. By reaching out and helping others, we not only improve their well-being but also strengthen the entire team. Together, we can create a corporate culture where everyone has the opportunity to flourish. #compassion #empathy #needofthehour #upliftingeachother #Worklifebalance #betterdaysaheadk

The Catalyst: I met with John, a CFO at ASC in 2014 just before my daughter was born. He had 2 older kids and was commuting from Melbourne at the time - I mentioned I was about to become a father: "they'll change your life - and career" he said...he wasn't wrong. A study found that modern dads devote 30 more minutes to daily household chores than their own fathers did. As well as that, they spend three times as much time with their children as men did two generations ago! ...This is a photo Amaya with me before I had to jump onto a plane to go to KL for work (dream role, dream company, great career, great boss etc...)...you can't see it but I was teary. (I was flying alone with Malaysian Airlines shortly after one of their planes went missing but that wasn't the main reason 😬) The point is this: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. This precious thing made me reconsider what I wanted form a workplace: For me, it was about finding/creating a workplace where you could show up to work as a parent without guilt or fear. Being able to drop everything when needed, hearing "How’s she doing?" when she gets sick. Experiencing real support...like a colleague sharing meeting notes, covering your meetings, changing meeting times if parenting doesn't allow and saying "don't think about it - go focus on what's important". Colleagues that encourage me to put my family above work. It’s more than just providing perks (altho everything helps) ... it’s about showing respect, care, and space to be human in all the chaos that life throws our way...a workplace that helps you be the best version of yourself inside AND outside of work. ... Not sure if the catalyst for grey hairs was starting a business or a family... #career #wfh #genderrelations #wellbeing #worklifebalance

It's very detailed interview, worth reading.. Associate says "he quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. he was making over $200k but his mental health was shattered." What's your perspective on mental health ?? Is it safe not to consider mental health and work life balance if you're getting a job at hot shot organization ?? Has that become normal in Consulting firms to take a toll on mental health ?? #MentalHealth #WorkLifeBalance #Consulting https://lnkd.in/dWaHiSqZ

Fridays thoughts Having friends at work. How bad would it be? More often than I would like, I hear in the context of my work (FuelProgram | Deloitte Portugal) the statement: - We do not need to be friends at work. Because of it, I wrote about six months ago, a post about “Why foster a Sense of Belonging.” The question I have, though, is: why not have friends at work? Let us explore this theme. Deloitte published an interesting study called From Great Resignation to Great Reimagination. It explores reasons why workers are leaving, and the statistics are worrying. When we go through the study, we understand that something needs to be done in our workplace and workforce to try, at least, to improve some indicators. I do not want to discuss the study itself. Just share a simple thought. Why not think about our biology? Here is a short story. On 28 February 2019, I left the navy. Only one thought crossed my mind and made me think: - I am leaving my brothers! Human biology determines we are constantly seeking safety, looking for a sense of belonging, urging for psychological safety, supporting and motivating others, and improving our resilience through others. All of this is only possible when in teams. Considering we spend a third of our time at work (I am being nice), what should be our concern? Let us keep it simple: provide conditions for our biology to function. We will all be happier at work, and before leaving, some will think: - I am leaving my colleagues!

Summer and vacation time are perfect for reading and reflecting, setting us up for new challenges when we return to the office. 🌞📚..... I don’t know about you, but I always hope to return from vacation as a new, improved version of myself—wiser, calmer, and ready to tackle anything. Of course, it doesn’t work out that way! 😊😊😊 I recently read a great article by Marcin Dzierżanowski titled "Want to Advance Your Career? Don’t Be Nice!" in MyCompany (July 2024). 📰 It got me thinking about how a strong need to make others happy can harm managers. Often, they become too protective of their teams, trying to shield them at all costs and end up taking over tasks. This increases stress, harms communication, and lowers motivation over time. 😓 The article highlights that wanting to be liked at work is one of the factors that can lead to burnout. According to Women Rising, women are more at risk due to how they are raised. 👩💼👩🎓 Emily and Amelia Nagoski call this the "giver syndrome" in their book Burnout. 📖 It’s the mistaken belief that women should always be helpful and kind, which leads them to take on too many tasks, struggle with boundaries, and find it hard to say no. This results in excessive work, no rest, and poor job performance. 🚫 I wonder if this risk affects everyone in consulting too. It seems like many of us face this challenge daily. Me for sure! To prevent this, the article suggests thinking before agreeing to help. Here are some phrases to use: "Let me check my calendar and I'll get back to you tomorrow." "I'm sorry, but I don't have the energy for that right now." "Thanks for asking, but I don't have the capacity for that at the moment." I’m adding these to my "apply immediately" list. Let’s see if this time, summer helps me make a change. Keep your fingers crossed! 🤞 #lettherebechange #consultingdilemmas #consulting #accenturepoland

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 In today's fast-paced world, we often glorify the hustle, but we rarely talk about the cost it can have on our well-being. 🌱 As a young professional starting my articleship at EY, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the importance of finding balance—especially after hearing recent discussions about workplace stress and the pressures that come with high expectations. Work-life balance isn't just a buzzword. It’s about recognizing that our personal well-being, mental health, and relationships are just as important as our professional goals. Overworking might get us results in the short term, but it’s sustainability and consistent progress that leads to long-term success. A few reminders that have helped me navigate this: 1. Set Boundaries: It’s okay to switch off. Be present in your personal life just as much as in your work. 2. Prioritize Health: Physical and mental well-being should always come first. When you're well-rested and clear-minded, your productivity soars. 3. Ask for Support: No one should struggle alone. Whether it’s mentors, colleagues, or friends, a support system makes all the difference. Remember, success is a marathon, not a sprint. The most successful people I admire are those who have learned to strike this balance. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Let’s strive not just for career growth, but for holistic growth. 💼💡 #WorkLifeBalance #WellBeing #CareerGrowth #ArticleshipJourney #EYArticleship #EY #ErnstYoung

In light of recent events at #EY, it felt appropriate to repost this particular strip from the #LearningSpecialistEpisodes. It's obviously not to make light of the undeniably tragic death of the young woman. But after the initial shock and anger, I worry that things will go back to business as usual- maybe they already have. The fact is: 🚩As long as we keep idolising leaders (you know who they are) who have made it abundantly clear that work-life balance is not one of their priorities, nothing will change. 🚩As long as we keep cheering on the 70, 80, 100+ working hours per week brigade, nothing will change. 🚩As long as we keep treating well-being and resilience like perks and band-aids instead of addressing the underlying issues, nothing will change. 🚩As long as we keep blaming HR teams for systemic issues they rarely have any influence over, nothing will change. 🚩As long as companies fail to do the hard work of investing in 'soft' skills, nothing will change. 🚩As long as we keep things like empathy and compassion out of the workplace and increasingly treat people like bots or GPTs, nothing will change. Actually, I take it all back. Things will change. They’ll keep getting worse until events like the ones we saw last week won't be news any more- they'll just be the new normal. We need to choose wisely. A.I. might be good for many things, but it's not going to make us more human.

It’s #NationalAccessibilityWeek and I’m being extra intentional by easing my way in to the work week. I took a leadership team call by the water today, just to follow through on that intention. With the recent news from #Rafah, I can’t stress enough, the importance of listening to our bodies as we process the images and witness to the wretched state of humanity we belong to. As an Arabic-speaking, Middle-Eastern identifying person, I have been metabolizing the horror for 8 long months. All while mothering my two young boys, trying to be a supportive equal partner to my husband, leading a team who is pushing the boundaries and reimagining a different future for our org and sector, AND managing my mental health… my symptoms of depression and (what I feel is) impending burnout. (Don’t ask me about how I’m showing up as a daughter, sister, auntie and friend… I’m failing miserably). For me and many others #Disability is multidimensional and #Intersectional. It layers and compounds on top of other elements of marginality. Amplifying vulnerability. At times like this, prioritizing time and/or making time where there isn’t any, to check in with myself, work out, cognitively unwind or feel what I need to feel - during my work day - is the only way I make it through my work week. I do not share out of a desire for sympathy. I share because I know there are many of us on this platform. Many of us who are feeling the weight of the world and continuing to hustle, because it’s what we were taught by our parents who needed to hustle to survive. Who didn’t have the luxury to acknowledge the impacts and symptoms of mental ilness. I am, to a great extent, privileged to no longer have to perpetuate that belief system to survive. I’d like to challenge other leaders here who have the power to shape organizational cultures. We don’t have to perpetuate ableist belief systems any longer. We can be flexible and create inclusive environments that allow for people to take care and sustain themselves within their work days. So rather than reshare a #NationalAccessibilityWeek post and go back to your work week, I challenge you to practically integrate accessibility into your leadership practices. How are you acknowledging the importance of #MentalHealth and creating #safety and flexibility for your team and colleagues to do what they need to do to take care of themselves? #NAW #Inclusion #TraumaInformed #Healing #InThePursuitOfWellth #Depression #Culture #Leadership #Change #FutureOfWork Caption: camera panning over a view of grey overcast skies propped up by west coast mountains above bright, smooth reflective inlet waters at low tide with exposed rocky and algea-filled ocean bed.

EY’s Marianna Imprialou expresses the importance of work-life balance and how success looks different for everyone. This article appears in the skills, education and tech careers edition of Sync NI magazine, which is available now digitally: 🔗 https://bit.ly/syncmag24