I acknowledge that despite rapid social progress, gender stereotypes still persist. My perspective is that individuals should make their own choices based on what they truly want instead of conforming to family and societal expectations. Therefore, I always encourage every woman to take the time to deeply explore what they truly want.
How would you describe yourself in brief?
As a people-oriented person, I enjoy listening and sharing 😊
That's why I always interacts with colleagues in this spirit. I tend to not only listen but also observe small changes in the mood of others. At the same time, I proactively share with others. This helps create a positive working environment where everyone feels comfortable and confident in approaching me.
I heard that you are very supportive to your colleagues. Do you have any memorable experiences about motivating them?
In 2020, I went on my secondment to Malaysia, where I worked with a newly-joined Associate. I supported her in preparing slides and delivering presentations to senior managers. As a new employee, she was grateful for the opportunity as well as the trust and support she received. Just a few months later, she happily shared with me news of her promotion and her excellent performance review. I felt so happy to have contributed to her career advancement.
Throughout many years working at PwC, have you come up with any specific rules of thumb for coaching your team?
First and foremost, I always strive to help my team members to regain their composure in situations where they may feel overwhelmed or panicked. I believe this helps them to think more clearly and make better decisions.
Putting oneself in the other person's shoes is another principle of mine. Since I have gone through various stages in my career at PwC, I could somehow empathize with and give advice to the challenges and situations my junior members are encoutering. I feel delighted when I receive positive feedback from those I've coached, knowing that they have put my advice into practice and have achieved great results."
Lastly, I firmly believe that "Everything can be handled" and I always encourage my team members to approach issues with a positive mindset and find ways to tackle every challenge.
So how can you express your caring nature while still maintaining professionalism in your work?
I remember learning about establishing healthy boundaries for myself from a PwC's leadership training session. If I care about others' emotions too much, I may let their emotions influence me.
"Once I have set my boundaries, I lead the team in a way that I am approachable but not easy-going."
For instance, when a team member makes a mistake, they may feel inclined to conceal it if the leader is unapproachable. However, they will open up for discussion and working together for solutions if they feel safe enough to confide it with their manager.
In my career, there were times I made mistakes and felt anxious. Fortunately, I had understanding leaders who encouraged solutions rather than criticism. As a manager now, I maintain this supportive approach with my team. This is also a working culture that I value at PwC.
Here, I have the opportunity to challenge myself, learn to accept that failure is normal, and always have support from colleagues to learn and grow from mistakes.
Any message you want to convey to other women on the International Women's Day?
Despite rapid social progress, gender stereotypes still persist. We as women often face pressure from family and society. Are we truly pursuing our own goals or simply chasing after the expectations of others?
I always encourage every woman to take the time to deeply explore what they truly want. Reading the book "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg has helped me understand myself better. Instead of conforming to family and societal expectations, we need to overcome these barriers ourselves to discover what we truly desire. When you know your desires clearly, you will find the relevant support. Instead of just saying "I need support," the more accurate question is "What kind of support do I need and from whom?"
What are some ways that you think can promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace?
In the past, I used to prefer working with people who share similar personality traits. However, when in a managerial position, I realized that a team should not consist solely of similar individuals. I understand that everyone has their own strengths, so I explore the strengths of each team member and see them as perfect complements to one another. Instead of focusing on weaknesses, we should respect and leverage each person's strengths, ensuring that others can seek them out in their respective areas of expertise. Initially, it might be challenging to cooperate, but over time, people come together for mutual support, increasing respect and acceptance of differences.
I also maintain some bonding activities such as our weekly Friday lunch as a way to strengthen relationships among team members.
Thank you so much, Ngoc Thu, for sharing this with us!
