The most defining moments in my career involved stepping outside my comfort zone in pursuit of progress. Over the past 10 years at Deloitte, I have worked across Albania, Italy and Australia, with each new country setting different expectations and cultural norms. Yet these challenges accelerated my growth, teaching me resilience and reinforcing my willingness to lead, even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.
Accountancy offers clarity in a world full of assumptions. Numbers, and the stories behind them, strip away the noise and reveal what really matters. Qualifying as an ACCA strengthened my technical foundation and reinforced a mindset of professional judgment and continuous learning.
AI shifts the emphasis from hours worked to decisions made
AI will have a positive impact on audit but there will be some disruption. AI enhances audit quality by identifying anomalies more effectively and reducing reliance on limited samples. In practice, the real problem isn’t AI itself, it’s adaptation. AI shifts the emphasis from volume to judgment and insight, and from hours worked to decisions made. Firms that embrace this shift will be more relevant.
What I enjoy most about my job is the ability to influence outcomes. Over time my focus has shifted from individual delivery to collective performance. I take genuine satisfaction in building strong teams and contributing to the long-term growth of the firm. That includes mentoring others, challenging inefficient ways of working, and helping the firm adapt to change rather than react to it. I see success not as meeting the bar but in setting it higher.
I see my career evolving toward leadership roles where judgment and decision-making matter as much as technical expertise. I want to be close to the strategic decisions and accountable for the consequences of those decisions. Whether in practice or perhaps the corporate sector, I want to operate where insight drives action and where leadership carries real responsibility.
My favourite mantra is: ‘The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.’ Integrity and accountability require action, even when an issue does not affect you directly. Failure to challenge poor standards allows them to become normal, so it is important to speak up and uphold values.
There should be laws to improve work-life balance. Becoming a parent has shown me how critical this is for wellbeing and productivity. Careers thrive when people are supported both professionally and personally, so policies should be for the benefit of individuals, businesses and wider society.
Poor data carries real human costs
I would also like decision-making to be legally grounded in comprehensive and representative data. Policies built on robust data are fairer and better reflect the realities of the populations they affect, while poor data carries real human costs. Reading Invisible Women, by Caroline Criado-Perez, had a strong influence on how I think about policy and decision-making. It highlighted how gaps in data can unintentionally exclude large parts of the population.
If I weren’t an accountant, I would likely have pursued a career in the art world, perhaps as a curator. Art has always been something I find deeply appealing as it inspires me and reminds me that beauty and meaning exist beyond logic.
Outside of work, I enjoy Pilates and engaging with art and culture. Whether it’s visiting exhibitions, exploring new places or focusing on my physical wellbeing, these activities help me recharge.
