Eiman Raza – senior consultant at a Big 4 firm, co-chair of the EY Muslim Community and recent winner of the EY Rising Star Award – mashAllah this is a career to be proud of! For our latest career interview we’re joined by Eiman who having joined EY as a graduate, is now a Senior Consultant within the Capital Markets Technology team
In addition to the above she is an active member of the EY Women in Technology network – I’m sure you’re starting to see this is going to be a very interesting interview! So let’s start the interview where we explore her work as a consultant as well as her experience of working as a Muslim.
1) To begin with, let’s focus on your role as a Consultant at EY. How did you decide consultancy was where you skills were best suited for?
Having studied Accounting and Finance at university, I knew number crunching wasn’t for me. Having completed a summer internship in Audit and deciding to do an additional one in Consulting, it was clear that this is the path I wanted to take. Being someone who enjoys speaking to people, forming new relationships and solving problems through innovative solutions, consulting seemed like a perfect fit.
No day is the same in consulting, and the range of projects and solutions you can get involved is vast. Being curious and creative alongside the analytical skills are what suited me, and I’m grateful to have found a place in this field.
2) Consultants traditionally are seen as very business savy whilst also being great salespeople; would you say this is an accurate way of describing what you do?
To an extent yes, it would be depend on what type of Consultant you are. As a Financial Services Technology Consultant, I focus on large scale technology transformations which can range from working on end to end implementation of a technology solution, developing new innovative market solutions to working on business development (the sales element!).
The majority of the technical and commercial skills you need you will pick up on the job, however what can’t be taught is someone’s desire to learn, be proactive and not just say yes to opportunities but to seek them out. Having those before starting work will ensure you do well and make the most out of whatever career journey you are on.
“What can’t be taught is someone’s desire to learn.”
3) What’s a typical day like for you?
I often get asked this question and there’s no typical day – every day varies! A standard day would involve client meetings, creation of project materials, to presenting to internal EY Leadership or having coffees with friends I have within the firm! With the scale of EY and the global nature, there is always opportunities to get involved in outside of your project. I’m a member of our Technology People team, doing various proposals to win new work, and now being one of the youngest Co-chairs of a Network. The day starts and ends when you’d like to, typically 9 to 6, however flexible working is encouraged as long as you’re meeting targets and deadlines!
4) Has being a consultant mirrored exactly how you read/researched about it or have there been aspects which you didn’t expect?
As I was studying Accounting at university, my days were full of Balance Sheets and Financial Statements, I didn’t know what to expect in Consulting let alone the additional layer of Technology. I was nervous as I had taken a risk, and found it even more daunting knowing the few women and even further, Muslim women who pursue a career in STEM. I thought I would have to code, and was dreading starting work! However I soon learnt about the range of opportunity within Technology, I am able to work alongside those who are more technical and code, using my strengths to enable and deliver technology transformation.
I didn’t expect the range of work available to Consultants, the specialities and interests each individual has varies beyond what I had known, and there’s no single box to describe any persons’ job. EY has projects ranging from climate change advisory to artificial intelligence and there’s never a lack of exciting opportunities to get involved in.
5) Is it easy to have a flexible work-life balance as a consultant?
Balancing work and life is all about boundaries, from the onset I learnt that it’s important to build trust as well as having open and honest conversations with your team, whether they’re a senior partner or your direct manager. Sometimes you have appointments, or need to leave early just to see friends.
I believe it is easy to have a flexible work day and I’m grateful EY is a firm that encourages it too. It’s important to build work into your life, rather than building your life into work.
6) How has being a Muslim been for you whilst working?
EY is a strong advocate for bringing your whole self to work, expressing yourself is important, whether it be from a faith perspective or otherwise. Despite working in Canary Wharf and expecting that I would have to go to regular drinking socials, I’ve found the opposite. Teams have adjusted socials and been accommodating of my beliefs and comfort in social settings, even recently suggesting virtual donut or milkshake making.
Every Ramadan I have been able to adjust my hours to what suits me, completing my work whenever I was able to. With prayer rooms in every office and halal food at every event I have never felt secluded or isolated out of situations because of my faith.
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7) Following on from the above; did being a member of the EY Muslim Community help your work as well as being a Muslim?
I joined the EY Muslim Community as soon as I started the graduate scheme, soon becoming the Communications Lead for the Network. I was able to meet colleagues and now friends across the firm, those more senior who have become role models and mentors, and those that are now close friends!
The Community is really active, with weekly Jummah newsletters, regular events and now even weekly virtual khutbahs, making sure EY is a safe space to practice your faith. It has also developed skills that I’ve been able to apply in my client delivery projects. The work I’ve done while being a part of the Community has been recognised during all my performance reviews and praised, opening up several doors of opportunity across the firm.
8) Before we begin about your role as co-chair of EY Muslim Community; you were president of Enactus? Could you explain what Enactus is and what were your responsibilities as president?
Enactus is a global society, in 36 countries, at universities across the globe and in almost every university within the UK. The aim is to encourage entrepreneurial action and social enterprise, creating sustainable and innovative projects/businesses. In third year I led the society, leading a team of 80 students, running 6 social enterprises.
Large corporations such as EY, Amazon, HSBC, Unilever all partner with Enactus, and actively recruit students who have been involved in the society. Joining Enactus was pivotal in my growth as a leader and improved my employability more than I could imagine and now at EY I even act as a Business Advisor to 2 universities in the UK!
9) How do internal community organizations within corporate firms work?
Internal community organisations are similar to societies at University but on a more professional and larger scale, and the range is just as vast. We have networks including Embrace (EY’s Faith and Belief Network), EY’s Race and Ethnicity Network, Women’s Network, Ability EY and Life Network which act as an umbrella for our communities, all focussing on both enhancing our culture and supporting our people. We’re the voice and representation of that group, with the power to create real long lasting impact and change across the firm.
We have co-chairs who lead, with the wider team varying according to the needs of the community. The EY Muslim Community has a Secretary, Communication Leads and Regional Leads, with a large amount of dedicated volunteers who support in the organisation and execution of events. We have regular meetings as a team in addition to meetings with the other faith groups within Embrace, to make sure we’re connected and collaborating to maximise our impact.
“I had the chance to be a positive young female role model in a large global organisation.”
10) Why did you want to take on the responsibility of leading EY’s Muslim Community organization?
Initially I was asked by the previous co-chairs to take on the role, having only been at the firm for a year and a half at the time, I was terrified! Leading a community of over 700 people seemed like a task I wasn’t equipped to do, initially being very hesitant to say yes! However, soon I realised this was an incredible opportunity that I was grateful to be presented with.
I had the chance to be a positive young female role model in a large global organisation, having not seen many senior BAME women in tech or in many role model positions at all, I knew it was a role I would have to say yes to! Empowering and progressing Muslim female leadership is of great importance to me and I’m happy to be a small part in advocating it.
11) Recently there’s been a lot of discourse around equality. How have you found equality in the corporate world (from a Muslim and female perspective) and is it something you plan to specifically include in your role as co-chair?
Equality within the workplace is of importance at EY, with the form consistently ensuring progress and improvement through clear actionable change. We’re always ensuring that we are actively listening to our members and collaborating with other communities, with a strong relationship with out EY Race and Ethnicity Network. EY recently held a webinar titled “Breaking the Silence”, with over 1000 colleagues in attendance, discussing our vision as a firm for the future and ensuring a commitment to advance racial equality.
The firm also has the SHE Index, which measures the true status of gender equality in a corporate environment and catalysing senior stakeholders to have open conversations about diversity and inclusion within the workforce. There’s a lot of work still to be done, but I’m proud of the progress EY is committed to making in this space, and I look forward to being a part of the change within my co-chair capacity.
12) What advice would you give to someone who is interested in following a similar career path?
My advice to those who want to follow a similar career path, or those who just want to progress in whatever field they’re in, would be to push themselves and take risks! A lot of incredible opportunities and personal growth I’ve had in the firm have simply been from me asking senior partners, or saying yes when I’ve been scared to. I’ve learnt if you don’t ask you don’t get, and often the reality isn’t the outcome you’re imagining it to be. Finding role models and mentors is important, and if you can’t, become the role model you wish you had! See our interview with Sanna Sharif where she echos the same encouragement and belief!
13) Final Four
14) LinkedIn Profile
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