How Identity Has Influenced A Program Project Manager At Accenture's Career
Steven's experience highlights the importance of company culture in career growth, noting that a prior role in banking, a "very predominantly...run by white males" environment, lacked opportunities for advancement and self-expression. This led Steven to seek a more diverse and inclusive global consulting firm where they could "bring their whole self" and thrive, emphasizing that the right work environment is as critical as skill development in a successful career trajectory.
Career Development, Project Management, Overcoming Challenges, Workplace Challenges, Diversity and Inclusion
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Steven Smith
Program/Project Manager
Accenture
University of Georgia, 2017
University of California, Los Angeles & M.B.A
Finance
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
Pell Grant Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. He found his initial role in banking lacked opportunities for growth and the ability to be his whole self.
2. He transitioned to a global consulting firm with a more diverse and inclusive culture that celebrated differences.
3. He emphasizes the importance of considering both skill development and company culture when choosing a career path, highlighting the impact of a supportive work environment on professional growth and well-being.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a Black person, how has that impacted how you navigate your career?
I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, which is in the southern part of the United States. My first role was in banking, and that role was very predominantly run by kind of white males.
I gained a lot of great skills, great analysis skills and great writing skills, being a credit analyst. But I didn't feel like there was room to grow or to thrive and bring my whole self as a good credit analyst, but also as a black male.
That led me to leave that company and join a global consulting firm that kind of represented more of the world. It was more diverse, and people celebrated their cultures and their differences rather than minimizing them and trying to be the same.
It took me a while to get to that point, but I understood that on the analytical side, the skills you gain are going to be just as important as the culture of the company you work in and where you're growing. You're going to spend a lot of your time with those people or in that environment, so it's better to be in an environment where you can see some of yourself and have room to grow.