My path to leadership began when I went to London in 1987 to set up a tax training programme. This got me known by a lot of tax partners. Two years later, the Education Reform Act came into effect which forced educational institutions to become more commercial. They needed tax advice so I worked with a senior partner to assess how much of this new market could be seized. This was a great opportunity to prove that I could win work as well as deliver it. My next stepping stone came in 1996, when I was asked to do my first management role as business unit leader for the London/Uxbridge Expatriate Tax team. All of these roles contributed to raising my profile and gaining trust with the leadership team.
A formal process to appoint women leaders
I go to many meetings where there are few or no women. It is evident from the behaviour of some men that they’re not used to having women in these meetings. We somehow need to be far more thoughtful about appointing people into leadership positions. We should think far more about what skills are required and consider a wider pool of talent.
Seeking advice and guidance
My advice to other women at PwC and elsewhere is to be open to taking advice and guidance. Seek help if you feel you need it. Some women find it harder to own up to needing help—don’t be. It’s not a sign of weakness. And do make sure that you help other women as a matter of course.
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Moira Elms joined PwC UK in 1981 as a tax manager and became a partner in 1993. After running PwC UK’s Human Resource Services practice for a number of years, she was asked to join the UK board as human capital leader in 2003. She remained on the UK board until 2008, with responsibility for marketing and communications. She was then appointed to the PwC Global Network Executive team, with responsibility for People and Culture, Brand and Communications.
Moira was recently profiled in Leaders Magazine and sits on the advisory board of Opportunity Now, a UK membership organisation for employers who are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for women.
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