Statistically speaking, it is doubtful that I would be CEO today if I were a woman. I want to think that I am where I am because of my skills and abilities. However, I am aware that I have a privilege that many others do not have. I most likely would not have even had the idea that I could become a CEO because I would not have had important role models around me. It would also have been much harder for me to manage society’s expectations of me as a parent.
 

I started working at an early age in various hands-on jobs, which taught me to keep my feet on the ground. I even got up at 4 am to deliver the post! I certainly did not hear any limitations of what I could or could not do. I did well in school, and I had a lot of support from my parents. I guess you can say, I was taught that if I work hard, I would be set up for success.
 
I feel like people see me for who I am, and this is important to me. I do notice that when I am with female colleagues, the chances are high that I will get more eye contact than they do. When I speak to my female colleagues, I become even more aware that gender stereotypes still exist. For instance, the question of whether or not to accept a business dinner, where important professional connections are made, can be tricky for a woman, whereas it’s straightforward for a man.

We still encounter stereotypes in our work environment. At Deloitte, we have policies in place, and we apply zero-tolerance when a red line is crossed. But it is still not enough. We are focusing on increasing awareness and skill-building to help our leaders and our people overcome potential biases and stereotypes. I like to speak as often as I can with our people to learn their realities to understand better what needs to change.