Edge EMEA

Monia talks openly about the range of opportunities that the diverse and dynamic environment of Deals has to offer. She joined PwC in Assurance in Milan in 2002, where she gained good audit experience both in Italy and in the UK, moving to the Deals practise in 2006. She is now a Director in Transaction Services, working on Italian and cross border transactions in a variety of industrial sectors.

Why were you attracted to Deals? 

I decided to work in Deals since I first started studying as I was interested in the complex and challenging world of M&A right from the off. I started as an auditor, a solid experience from a professional stand- point and when PwC subsequently offered me the opportunity to join Deals I immediately realised that it was what I was looking for!

Deals could be viewed as historically male dominated. What do you attribute your success to? 

Things are changing everywhere and also in PwC Deals, where female careers are a reality now. I attribute my success to my passion for my job and to my work ethic! Patience, commitment to continuously learn and the ability to listen to and connect with others are key pillars for success. The number one rule is: never quit and act with determination and resilience.

What would you say to any young women considering whether a career in Deals is for them? 

If you are interested in a dynamic environment and eager to learn, PwC Deals is what you’re looking for! You must be determined and full of energy: PwC Deals will be the place where you can challenge yourself and your comfort zone. Get prepared to work hard and you will be satisfied by your involvement in exciting projects and will get the most of each of them. In the long term, you will be proud to work closely with and support your clients.

What do you see as the benefits of the Edge programme? 

The Edge programme allows you to rotate into different areas of the Deals business and will give you the opportunity to understand the full deal cycle. You will immediately learn from various situations, points of view, colleagues and leadership styles. This is a fast learning curve and, in the long term, will lead to you becoming a well-rounded advisor.

What excites you about the work that you do? 

Working on high profile transactions with smart colleagues, where PwC teams can make the difference, gives me a sense of pride. I'm happy when the expertise gained during my career in PwC is acknowledged from my clients. The work is challenging and I still enjoy learning something new in each new Deal. I'm still passionate about my job!

Caterina has developed an interesting career path in PwC Deals. She has gained a strong experience in M&A Strategy and she is now a Director in the team Deals IPO. She talks enthusiastically about her role and how she is still excited about learning new things everyday from her clients and colleagues.

What has been the highlight of your career in Deals with PwC?

There have been so many highlights of my career so far and I expect them to keep coming. I have been lucky to have been involved in lots of really interesting transactions over the years. The people I meet, the companies I visited, the odd places and environments I have worked in are all highlights of an exciting path. I think that one of the most enjoyable aspects and success of my job is when you can deliver a good result for a client, particularly when you know that the outcome is likely to have a really big impact on them.

What do you attribute your success to?

My success is based on the ability to place enthusiasm and passion at the center of whatever I do and to put forth hard work and dedication to accomplish the goals set out by me, the client and PwC. What has most contributed to my career growth is my drive and determination to succeed in every project I’m involved in and learning from each project and experience, in order to grow and become the best possible professional.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given about developing your career?

The best piece of advice I have ever been given is: “If you want to get better at your work, you must seek feedback. Otherwise, you’ll have no idea if you’re on the right path. Ask your boss or manager what you can do to be better at your job and be open to what your supervisor suggests, taking criticism constructively.”

What are the top three things you would say to women considering a career in PwC Deals?

1. Take risks fearlessly. It is okay to make a mistake or even fail and it will not ruin your career. If you have a seat at the table, talk, give your opinions and speak up. Figure out what your strengths are, build on them, and take risks that allow you to stretch yourself.

2. Believe in yourself and be prepared to work hard. Spend your career, from the early phases, acquiring skills and gaining experience that will compound over the long term. Don’t think that you have to be one of the boys if you want to succeed in PwC Deals; only if you bring your whole self you will make a difference.

3. For women (supported by a great team at work and at home) anything and everything is possible. As a mum of two sons, I am a strong believer that you can have it all: a career, a family and a work life balance.

What is the best thing about working in a profession traditionally dominated by men?

Finance is a “man’s game” someone said. One of the most common challenges I’ve faced is being seen as an influential figure equal to that of my male coworkers. It seems that men are seen as the “natural leaders.” The secret to arise is to cultivate and preserve your female distinctive characteristics without turning you into a man. I enjoy attending highly crowded meetings with businessmen in suits and ties, bringing to the table a different approach and perspective, built on collaboration, creativity, relationship-building, emotional and social intelligence.

Sara is a Senior Manager in Deals (Financial Services - Delivering Deal Value) in Milan. She studied Industrial Engineering and Business Economics at Politecnico di Milano and joined PwC Italy in 2011. She has an impressive career background in post-deal integrations and transformation projects in the traditional banking sector and specialty finance segment. She talks openly about what brought her to Deals and encourages other STEM graduates to follow in her footsteps.

Tell us a little about what you do and your career background?

I graduated in Industrial Engineering at Politecnico di Milano and I immediately started to work in a Consulting Firm. I was attracted to this field because  I was seeking to be the enabler of clients transformation and I wanted to be actively part of it. What I brought from my university background was the analytical approach: dealing with  a problem in small pieces is the way to easily approach every issue! Now I am a Senior Manager in PwC Deals – Financial Services team. My everyday challenge is to manage highly complex projects, with many stakeholders. What I love the most in my work is dealing with high-profile, international client requests: every project is a new and exciting challenge.

Why were you attracted to Deals?

After many years in PwC Management Consulting, I had the chance to join PwC Deals focusing on pre- and post- deal projects. I decided to take this opportunity because the aspects of the new job that I really love are  taking part in some of the larger mergers & acquisitions and being the enabler of the overall transformation path of my clients. Moreover, working in Deals gives me the possibility to be at the forefront for value creation in terms of strategy, synergies enhancement and cost optimization.

What do you attribute your success to?

Lifelong learning is the key. Every project is a source of learning; every client request is an opportunity to enhance my knowledge. Curiosity is my everyday mantra.

What would you say to any young females debating whether a career in Deals is for them?

I would suggest to be prepared to work hard! At PwC Deals the sense of team is strong and you will work with people who challenge and support you to be better on a daily basis. Based on  my experience, I can tell that work and commitment are recognized: personal and professional satisfaction will be your reward. I just want to add that being successful in PwC Deals doesn’t mean you can’t have a well-balanced, healthy family life.

You are an engineer by background. Would you encourage STEM graduates to apply to Edge?

You shouldn’t be worried that your STEM background wouldn’t fit PwC Deals business and activities. The Edge programme allows STEM graduates to bring a new point of view, a distinctive way of analyzing the situation and the problem. Being appreciated by my team motivates me to really do my best and to become a role model to other young women.

What do you see as the benefits of the Edge programme?

Thanks to rotation, the Edge programme gives graduates the opportunity to work in different Deals business areas. You’ll have the possibility to work in various stages of a deal, understanding with the learning by doing the area that best fits you. Moreover, relationships play a key role: you will develop connections across PwC local teams as well as create an international network. Edge attendees build a variety of skills and knowledge that will be a differentiating factor during their career at PwC.

What excites you about the work that you do?

I enjoy attending strategic meetings with C-levels, dealing every day with highly demanding clients with challenging requests and needs. I also appreciate the nature of the Deals projects, being strategic, technically challenging and client centric. Personal and professional satisfactions at the end of the day are really high.