Yushavia Ramlall
Deals Director, PwC South Africa
Yushavia Ramlall grew up in a relatively small city and began her career in PwC’s Pietermaritzburg office. She was initially drawn to Deals by the glitz and glamour of it all. She dreamt of taking on some of the larger Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and working alongside some of the smartest business people in South Africa. Now a Director in the Transaction Services team, she explains how this dream came true, how it took her on secondment overseas and how she feels like a superhero every day!
#sheisadealmaker
To be honest, I feel like a superhero every day; from managing high-profile, international client requests to running a home, while also maintaining a healthy and social lifestyle. I really feel like I can do absolutely anything. Being underestimated is also another interesting aspect of my role, I enjoy standing up in a meeting, amongst a sea of suits and ties and contributing meaningfully to a discussion to sometimes shocked faces.
From very early on in my career, I was taken under the wings of a few, strong women in senior leadership positions within PwC and externally. They showed me that being successful in the business world does not necessarily come at the cost of having a well-balanced and healthy family life. This motivated me to really push to find my place in a traditionally male dominated industry and, on the way, become a role model to other young women on the cusp of their career journey.
Confidence. As cliche as this sounds, confidence is key. Never underestimate your worth and you can go far in life, no matter the profession.
By far the most rewarding experience in my Deals career to date was being promoted to Director after working in the PwC Amsterdam offices. It demonstrated to me that hard work and commitment are recognised. Another highlight for me was becoming a trainer and content creator within PwC Deals and being entrusted to develop our future leaders.
Edge gives graduates a chance to really understand the full Deal cycle and consider where they can best fit in our business. The experience of going through rotations and working in different business areas develops them into well-rounded Deals professionals. The diverse range of backgrounds and skills that they bring really differentiates our offering and enables us to provide our clients with creative and dynamic solutions.
1. Be prepared to work hard; but at the end of the day, savour the moment when high-profile clients are calling to ask you for your advice on major deals. The work ethic is high, but the personal and professional satisfaction is even higher.
2. Don’t think that you can’t be successful in Deals and have a well-balanced, healthy family life; anything and everything is possible.
3. Be prepared to be one of the only women in the room and work a little harder to establish your presence, but know that you have a wonderful support system of strong female leaders within PwC Deals.
Click to view Yushavia Ramlall on LinkedIn
Helen Sullivan
Director, Global Programme Director for Edge, PwC United Kingdom
Tel: +44 02890 245454
