Danielle Keller

Danielle Keller is a Senior Consultant in Treasury and Trading Technology at PwC Switzerland. In the video and interview below, she talks about her superpower of being hired at PwC 12 times, what has changed since she re-joined, and the advice she would give to her younger self.

What do most people not know about you?

I’ve been hired by PwC 12 times in two countries (US and Switzerland) over 20 years, which I feel might be a record. I think people would be surprised that my original plan was to go to university for either accounting and finance or musical theatre. That’s a unique background for someone who ultimately ended up as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for PwC.

Do you regret the career path you’ve chosen?

I don’t think I regret it. My career with PwC has given me a lot of different skills and values and a sense of purpose. As well as financial stability and the ability to work in multiple countries and see things in the world that I might not have, had I chosen a different path. Of course, if I had been super successful in musical theatre it would have been amazing. But chances are I made the right choice.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at PwC?

The most valuable thing I’ve learned is how the tone at the top makes a difference for the entire team. It’s crucial to have people who talk their talk and walk their walk, delivering the values that PwC is striving for as a company and bringing them to their teams and employees. I’ve occasionally run into teams where the partners and directors were not very involved, but most of the time I’ve seen them joining in and encouraging the fun interactions and one-team attitude that sets PwC apart.

Can you share a funny story from your time at PwC?

One of my favourite memories is when my audit team used to do “minute-to-win-it” challenges. We called it Five Dollar Fridays, and you would get a $5 scratch ticket if you won the challenge. It was always fun and super entertaining.

We had one partner who was very competitive, and one year we had a new intern who was so concerned about being appropriate and polite. The two of them ended up in a head-to-head challenge. The intern was clearly going to win, but he couldn’t let himself beat the partner, so he let her win. It was such a funny interaction, with the partner being so upset because of course she wanted to win, but she did not want him to let her win. Fairness is more important.

What I truly appreciate and value is that the leadership showed up not only for the client but also for the team and actively participated in these team challenges.

Did you stay connected with former colleagues, and did you benefit from the PwC network?

I kept casual connections and friendships with a few colleagues, mainly over social media since I moved away after I left the firm. I appreciated the PwC alumni updates and took advantage of some continuing education opportunities through the US network.

Beyond the valuable friendships, the main benefit of the connections I made at PwC is that I always had the chance to return to the firm in new ways that suited where I was in my life.

What did you miss about PwC and what has changed since you re-joined?

What I always miss the most are the people. It’s a common theme within PwC that we have a good group of people working together and connecting. I’ve worked on many great teams within the firm, and PwC always encourages nice social events, team building, and so on.

What has changed since I left and re-joined? I feel like everything. From the entire branding to so much movement in the forefront of automation and technology. And the strong people focus with work-life balance initiatives such as ‘Be Well, Work Well’. Now it’s moving much more quickly and each time I’ve come back it’s been one more step forward. There are always new initiatives to keep up with the changes in the workplace.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Having come and gone from PwC so many times, one of the things I’m most proud of is being able to quickly change teams and positions, come in, ramp up and start adding value and helping my teams and my clients. I’ve learned to work well with a lot of diverse people and am proud to help build a strong team spirit amongst the people I work with.

I also love finding ways to simplify and automate work to make our lives easier. I’ve been fortunate enough to implement a few new processes and tools to help improve the quality of our outputs and the ease with which we do the work.

What interests do you pursue beyond work, and do they impact your professional life?

Between my stints of working with PwC, I’ve travelled extensively, taken courses in everything from Thai Massage to language classes, and pursued several artistic endeavours. I started a fashion design business and co-created an artist collective where people would come together and put on events, teach workshops, and generally support each other in their businesses. All these experiences have driven me to approach my professional career with a strong people and team focus to get things done.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I love this question. I would say that work-life balance is a real thing. You think you have to keep pushing yourself through, without realising that after about ten or twelve hours you’re no longer effective. It’s better to take a step back, take a nap, go for a walk, whatever you need to do. It’s okay to leave your desk. The advice I most often give to my younger colleagues, and would give to my younger self, is to pace yourself.

I would also encourage my younger self to be an advocate for my own career. Going out there and making sure I’m getting what I need. Take responsibility for your own learning within the firm or within your life. Ask lots of questions, don’t worry about ‘bothering’ people to learn what you need for your job. Actively seek out opportunities and confidently ask for what you want.