I learned not to feel the need to be the best

While studying at university, he started working at PwC as a consultant specialising in restructuring, and then moved to full-time in September. As he himself admits, full-time work brought not only greater responsibility, but also the need to set priorities and find the most effective way to manage a demanding agenda. Thanks to PwC, Tom Křížek also got into playing football, which he organises for his colleagues on a weekly basis. “In addition to new friends, it brought me a sense of pride that everything is still running smoothly, partially thanks to me,” he says in an interview. 

Your studies at the Prague University of Economics and Business brought you to PwC. How did that happen?

There was a seminar at school that was regularly attended by experts from the field, including consultants from PwC. During the seminar, case studies were discussed, and thanks to that, I was able to imagine for the first time what the world of restructuring looks like. I didn’t meet the people from the team until the interviews. Last September, I joined PwC on a part-time basis, and now that I’ve finished school, I’m working full-time.

How smooth was the transition?

In terms of time, it was a continuous change, but in terms of job content, it’s completely different. You don’t stop thinking about your duties as soon as you leave the office because you have more responsibility, but on the other hand, I get to work on tasks that are often much more important and interesting.

What do those tasks look like, and what is the pace of your projects?

I am currently working primarily on a financial restructuring project for one client, where we are preparing a restructuring plan. To create it, it is necessary to understand the state of the company and the causes of the current situation that led to the need to restructure the company. Subsequently, it is necessary to propose a solution that will be acceptable to all parties involved in the process – creditors, the court, and other stakeholders.

I am primarily involved in the preparation of the restructuring plan. In practical terms, this means that I am involved in communication with the individual parties and, based on input from project managers, I prepare analyses and inputs for the plan. Some projects have a regular rhythm, while others alternate between quieter periods and very intense ones, where everything else takes a back seat. It is therefore necessary to be flexible and adapt to the phase the project is currently in.

Can you think of anything that would make you recommend an internship at PwC?

There is a great balance between analytical work and communication with people. You learn to ask the right questions at the right time. In my opinion, PwC is ideal after school because everyone has already learned something, met someone, and is becoming someone. And here they come to an environment where they can put everything into practice. It makes it easier to figure out what you want to spend your time on and what you don’t. My daily routine has also changed a lot thanks to new experience.

How exactly?

I try to be much more efficient, and my data and communication work habits have completely changed. I’ve learned to do ongoing checks. Furthermore, to work transparently in a team so that anyone who takes over my work knows where and how they can pick up where I left off. Everything must be traceable and understandable to anyone who ever opens the file. In previous companies, there was more peace and quiet and more flexibility in terms of time, but the level of professionalism was significantly lower than what I’m experiencing now.

How do you perceive the team and the corporate environment?

Positively, that’s for sure. There are only smart and capable people here who aspire to succeed, and none of them ended up here by accident. Moreover, we spend a lot of time together outside the office. There are regular after-work get-togethers, and today, for example, we celebrate Men’s Day, where we learn how to pour beer, have a sandwich competition, or play poker. Events like this are held almost every month. In January, we’re going to the Alps together; in the autumn, we went on a weekend trip... There’s just a culture here where people really know each other and want to spend time together outside the office.

In addition, you play football in a men’s team at PwC and train every week. How did you get into that?

I’m a proactive person, so I was interested in various leisure activities right after I joined the company. My buddy told me about football and suggested I try playing with the team. So, I went for it, even though the last time I kicked a ball was in elementary school. A total of about sixty people played at PwC, and the colleagues who organised the training sessions were just leaving. Someone then asked me if I would like to take it on, and I agreed. Since then, I’ve been working on finding a place to play, getting enough people together, and making sure everything runs smoothly in communication with the female footballers. Together with a colleague, we’re also putting together a recruitment drive for newcomers. As a result, there are now around seventy of us in the group, but only about twelve to sixteen of us attend training sessions. 

How much have you improved yourself during that time?

I’ve definitely made some progress. We also have guys who have been playing football since they were kids, so the level varies. But that’s not a bad thing, because you have to suppress your ego when you know you’re the worst on the field, and you approach it with more humility (laughs).

What has football given you?

First and foremost, friends and the feeling that I know someone here. I’m also proud of how everything works, because I deal with the organisation every week, regardless of holidays. Mostly, though, I have learned not to feel the need to be the best because I know that I simply don’t measure up to some of my colleagues. And that’s totally fine. The most important thing is that I enjoy it. 

Is sport the thing that clears your head the most?

I don’t consider sport as a pressure relief; to me, it’s more about pure joy. I also play badminton with my friends and go jogging. With PwC, for example, we went to a race in Běchovice, where we got reimbursed our entry fee and we came third in the group and corporate category, which was great. Now we are also discussing a possible participation in the Prague Marathon in May, which I am already preparing for with a friend. 

Are you not afraid of such a long distance?

Not really. My friend simply came up with a challenge: let’s do a marathon “while we are young and our knees are still fit” (laughs). So, we’re training now and next year we’ll do it. I’ve definitely gained some persistence through football as well.