Juliet Brailsford’s Post

🌟 A Year of Remarkable Growth at EY - Turning the Page to a New Chapter 🌟 After an inspiring journey at EY, I am now ready to embark on the next chapter of my career. My time here has been a season of profound transformation, marked by both personal and professional growth and experiences that I’ll forever cherish. The anticipation of the interview process and the exhilaration of receiving my offer were just the start of a truly incredible journey. Throughout my tenure, I had the opportunity to deepen my expertise, mentor talented colleagues, and navigate challenges with resilience. Here are some key insights I've gained: 💡 Seek Wisdom from Others The knowledge and perspectives of others are invaluable. Embrace learning from them—it can be transformative. 🔍 Cultivate Curiosity Ask questions freely. Curiosity fuels growth and drives innovation. 🤝 Forge Meaningful Connections Regardless of role or rank, building strong relationships is essential to thriving. 🔄 Embrace Mistakes as Stepping Stones Mistakes are part of progress. What matters is learning, adapting, and moving forward. 🔧 Focus on Solutions, Not Problems Channel energy toward solutions rather than getting caught in the stress of challenges. I am immensely grateful to the incredible individuals I've met and the friendships that I carry forward. As I step into new opportunities, I look forward to staying connected and exploring the journeys ahead. Here’s to growth, new beginnings, and an ever-evolving path forward. #EY #NewChapter #CareerGrowth #StayConnected

I’ve just completed my first year with EY! It’s been a journey filled with highs and lows, but above all, it’s been a year of immense learning and growth 🌈 As I reflect on the past year, here are my 10 insights for those who are just starting out or are already on their career path🖌️ Would love to hear your experiences in the comment section 🤷🏻 See you in my next post! Tadaaa! ✨

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗣𝗠𝗚: 𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝗧𝗼𝗶𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 As I reflect on the last two years, it’s almost inexplicable how this journey has catapulted me into opportunities that seemed distant dreams not so long ago. The guidance I’ve received from my mentors and colleagues has been nothing short of momentous—each piece of advice, akin to a beacon, steering me through the sometimes daunting, yet always rewarding, challenges of this industry. But it hasn’t just been about work. The friendships I’ve forged along the way have transformed what could have been a futile daily grind into a vibrant, laughter-filled experience. We’ve shared not just professional milestones but also the little things that make this citadel of excellence feel like a second home. From brainstorming sessions that felt more like stand-up comedy acts to toiling late into the night while callously debating the best pizza toppings, the camaraderie here is unmatched. What stands out the most, though, is the warmth and independence KPMG has provided me. It’s not often that you find a place where your professional aspirations are nurtured while your individuality is celebrated. Whether it’s giving me the space to explore new ideas or encouraging me to take ownership of my projects, KPMG has been a place where I’ve truly grown, both personally and professionally. In a world where everything is constantly changing, it’s pertinent to acknowledge those moments that define us. And as I continue this journey, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. To sum it up in the words we live by: 𝙆𝙋𝙈𝙂 – 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚.

I've hit the mark of 5 years at KPMG! 🎉 When I first joined, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know how long I would stay or what I would get from this experience. The Firm has changed a lot since then, but some things have stayed the same. It’s been such an invaluable learning experience both personally and professionally. I would like to share three of my top lessons learned throughout these years. 1) Put People First: We have had a few ups and downs but by prioritising employees has always helped keep a positive work environment. When you acknowledge and appreciate the skills of each team member, they would always flourish in their roles. It brings immense joy to see when employees proactively work for their goals and team growth. 2) Collaborate Effectively: Collaborate with in your team and across different departments to gain a deeper understanding of the organisation and to benefit from shared knowledge. Solicit your team’s ideas and engage them in discussions to build better strategies and create an inclusive team. 3) Embrace Continuous Learning: Keep learning throughout your career. Seek feedback to acquire new skills and improve in areas where you can excel. Actively sharing your knowledge not only benefits others but also enhances engagement and fosters a positive team culture. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey, especially Smita Prasad Sonali Saha and Jaspreet Singh for their constant support and encouragement. Here's to many more years of learning, growing, and making a difference. I can't wait to see what the next five years will bring for me at The Firm or beyond 🚀

In this video, I share my personal journey of working at Ernst & Young (EY) and the reasons that led to my decision to move on. If you're considering a career in Big 4 consulting or are curious about EY's work culture, this video might offer some helpful insights. https://lnkd.in/g6HJkc2t

When people I work with ask me about my seniority level, I really don’t know what to say. “I didn’t realize you were so experienced” “Things you say make so much sense, how?” “How come you have opinions on so many things?” “You are the most senior person on the team - what do you think?” “Are you going to be able to contribute things as an IC?” One of my mentors at PwC used to proudly say “I’m still the most effective senior associate on the team” - at the time he was a partner pretty close to retirement. Titles and levels are superficial structures designed to keep people in their lanes. But who you are and what you have to offer will always shine through. If others perceive you a junior because you’re adventurous and taking risks in your career, that’s their problem. If they think you’re so senior because of the same things - that’s also on them. I say to people starting out in their career: “above my pay-grade” is a concept of the past. I’ll happily work for any smart person who has 10 fewer years of experience than me but can convince me they can do it. #fridaythoughts #dreamers #idealism #productmanagement

Humility and Empathy are qualities of Great Leaders.

🌟 The Power of Showing Up and Quick Decisions 🌟 When it comes to building your career, two things stand out: showing up and making timely decisions. Recently, I secured a position as an Assurance CA Trainee at EY Ford Rhodes, one of the Big 4 firms. Reflecting on this milestone, I realize it wasn’t just luck—it was about being prepared to seize opportunities the moment they appeared. 🔑 Key Lessons: Show up consistently: Whether it’s showing up for interviews, networking events, or even daily tasks, consistency builds credibility. Quick but thoughtful decisions: Opportunities don’t always wait. It’s important to evaluate quickly, trust your instincts, and act when the moment calls. This mindset helped me turn my dream of joining EY into reality. To all aspiring professionals: take action, even when you’re uncertain. Your next step might lead to something amazing. Let’s inspire each other—what’s one decision that changed your life or career path? Share below! 👇 #CareerGrowth #DecisionMaking #Opportunities #EYFordRhodes #Big4Journey

I remember when I didn't get the promotion at PwC. I was pissed. I thought I deserved it. But I was wrong. I thought I deserved it. I thought I was the best fit. I thought there was no one better than me. I... I... I... The problem here was not the fact that I didn't get the role, the problem was the gap between my perception of what I deserved and the organization/leadership's understanding of my capabilities and my readiness to move to the next level. This experience taught me an invaluable lesson about self-awareness and growth. 1) Self-perception - Be aware of who you are, your skills and what you bring to the table. Its not always about your technical skills or how well you have performed in your current role, its about understanding what the next level truly requires and whether you have the right – skills, behaviors, and a mindset to be in that position. 2) Dunning-Kruger Effect - The DK effect, in my view, is the exact opposite of the imposter syndrome. It's a cognitive bias when a person's actual abilities and their perception of their abilities don't match. More often, the person has an "overconfidence" in their abilities, but their actual abilities fall well short of that. I know I've been guilty of that many times. Confidence is great, but a big reason of why we at times get disappointed is because of this exact reason, we overvalue our abilities and what we think we bring to the table needs. The solution? Nothing groundbreaking, just be aware of what you bring to the table and show awareness about what the table actually needs. Last but not the least, 3) Focus on things you can control - You can't always control how your work, skills, and intentions will be valued and perceived. What you can control is the level of work effort, you put in. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, take a step back. Ask for feedback, understand the gaps, and work on them diligently. But also understand that promotions and advancements are not things that are always in your control. Embrace the journey of continuous learning and self-improvement. #Leadership #CareerGrowth #SelfAwareness #ContinuousLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment #OpentapTalent #middleeastrecruiting

First few days in October are always exciting at #KPMG as this is when all the new promotions are announced. Part of that is also for all of us to engage in several conversations about coaching and mentoring everyone who aspire to reach new heights in their profession. Coaching teams and clients – particularly the younger generation - is one of the most interesting aspects of my job. More recently I have had the amazing opportunity to be part of conversations about what advice would we have for our younger generation. A few interesting points that came up in those conversations (and through experience). I think these would apply to all young professionals looking to grow in their respective realms: 1. Don’t be afraid. Be brave to engage in tough conversations with peers and colleagues. 2. Be humble. Ask for help when needed. Saying you don’t know something is quite alright. No one has answers to everything. But there’s always someone who knows someone who knows something about what you are looking for.  3. Be curious. Don’t “overvalue” your skills or competencies. Keep that in check as it can close you from seeing newer and bigger opportunities around you. 4. Don’t chase titles. Instead seek roles where you can have the broadest impacts. Promotions and titles follow when you have effectively demonstrated impact through your roles. 5. Finally, try not to identify yourself by what you do, but why you do it. The latter is transferable to several contexts and can give you the latitude you would never experience otherwise. My favorites are #4 and #5 with the latter being the hardest to practice. What are your favorites, and what else would you add? #coaching #career #impact