Meet John

When I joined PwC Ireland from industry back in 2017, I was drawn by the diverse experiences, work and clients the firm had to offer. Six years later, I can confidently say I made the right choice. From my first day at PwC, I was amazed by the variety of approaches, thought processes and skills everyone brought to the table. We all share a common goal—to solve problems and deliver real change for our clients.

My journey to PwC started with a degree in science and microbiology at Trinity College Dublin. I then took the academic route of a PhD, post-doctoral research and lecturing before deciding in 2015 to move into industry, working in clinical trial programme management. While I enjoyed the work, I wanted to gain broader experience and make a bigger impact. So, after a couple of years, I had a chat with someone from PwC Ireland. It sounded like they were doing exactly what I wanted. So, I took the plunge and joined the firm’s fast-growing Portfolio and Programme Management (PPM) team in Advisory consulting.

You might think my background is a bit unusual for someone in business consulting but at PwC, that’s not out of the ordinary. We have a diverse team of people from all sorts of backgrounds and training, from scientists and former medics to ex-teachers, engineers and arts graduates.

Since joining, I’ve been promoted to Director and now drive the Pharma & Life Sciences sector in consulting. I use my academic and industry background to benefit our clients in the sector. What really reassures me that I’m in the right place, though, is PwC’s deeply-held values. Most companies talk about their values, inclusion and diversity (I&D) programmes and good intentions. But I’ve never seen such a genuine commitment to living up to those values as I have here. It’s not just about paying lip service or adding a line to an email signature. It’s about creating a workplace where everyone can bring their whole self to work, no matter who they are.

I’m also the co-chair of PwC Ireland’s Shine LGBTQIA+ inclusion network. I’ve loved being heavily involved with Shine, starting as a member and now co-chairing the network. Nowadays, many clients ask us for advice on refining their I&D strategy and setting up inclusion networks (often referred to as employee resource groups or ERGs) for their employees. We’re actively helping clients do that, and I’m proud to be part of it. I’ve also contributed to Shine programmes in other territories that face more societal pressures. Seeing those other Shine inclusion networks grow has been incredibly rewarding.

I’m also a member of PwC Ireland’s I&D Council, which sets the I&D strategy and policies across the firm. A great example of the Council’s ability to effect change has been seen over the past year amid the occasionally fractious public and media debate over trans and gender identity. We, the employees, were empowered to write and implement a new gender expression and identity policy for PwC Ireland. We reached out to our Shine community, the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland and other community organisations to develop a best practice suite of support for people who might avail of that policy. The new policy was implemented in early 2023, with inclusive bathroom signage and many other elements.

Another focus for me is helping PwC Ireland promote inclusion in wider society. Ireland has a unique story—we had a referendum on same-sex marriage equality several years ago. We’ve capitalised on that by sharing our learnings with other PwC territories. The firm also partners with and sponsors Dublin Pride each year, as well as raising funds for many charities focused on inclusion. But it’s not all super-serious—we have a lot of fun too. For example, we host a Dublin Pride breakfast where nearly 300 PwC people, family, friends and even pets come together to be entertained, play games and celebrate the day. This year, Shine also held events around the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted networking events to keep our people connected.

In my day job, I’m equally focused on I&D. As a leader, a core part of my responsibility is recruitment and onboarding. It’s essential to foster an inclusive environment for people joining and to embed that narrative and way of working for the new associates coming in. When they see that their leaders are outwardly inclusive, they mirror that.

So if you’re looking for an employer who embraces difference and sees it as a strength, speak with someone at PwC Ireland. We’d be thrilled to hear from you!