Voice of Experience: Linda Singh, Senior Executive, Health & Public Service, Accenture

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

As both a Colonel in the National Guard and Client Account Lead for Veterans Affairs at Accenture, Linda Singh has devoted her career to the service of her country. She has spent almost 30 years total service time and 20 of those years with the Maryland Army National Guard. She was deployed to Kosovo from2006 to 2007. Besides her current client work at Accenture, Singh is passionate about the company’s corporate citizenship focus.

“Our corporate citizenship theme is Skills to Succeed and the goal, by 2015, is to equip 250,000 people with the skills to get a job or start a business. We are teaming with clients as well as nonprofits to get individuals trained, re-employed and transitioned back to work,” Singh said. “We are working to apply this program to help our veterans.”

She continued, “It gets to one of the key issues that Veteran Affairs that is facing. It’s our most daunting issue – there are 1.2 million veterans unemployed and over 100,000 who are homeless. And the fastest growing population within the veteran community is women. There are increasing numbers of women in both of those groups. This is something I would love people to rally behind and support. It’s something we can fix together but it will take more than just one organization to do it.”

A Career in Service

“I have a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia Union College in Business, and an MBA as well as a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. I’m also currently a Ph.D. student,” Singh began.

She continued, “My career has been an interesting one. I spent time in the military and then transitioned to working for defense contractors. I’m currently a Colonel in the Army National Guard. I started with Accenture almost sixteen years ago as a senior consultant. I’ve had the opportunity to lead a number of accounts with the most recent being the VA account – and I’m working on continuing business with Veteran Affairs.”

Singh said that so far her proudest professional achievement is becoming a Colonel in the National Guard. “There are not a lot of female senior officers, and to reach that level is a significant accomplishment. But to do it alongside a high powered job at Accenture is amazing.”

In fact, Singh said, she wishes she had known more about her options when she was beginning her career. “I worked at a number of other places, but I really wish that I knew about Accenture!” she said with a laugh. “Accepting a position at Accenture is one of the best choices that I made. I also really wish that I had known about getting mentors as well as fostering positive business and personal relationships earlier in my life.”

Singh said she is increasingly fascinated by the global reach of today’s companies. She said, “When I think about the world today, just in a broad sense, globalization is a business issue that is important and employing diverse capabilities is one of the keys to success. Corporations are increasing their focus on emerging markets. We need to figure out how we can leverage some of the ideas and knowledge as a lever to infuse developed countries. I’m trying to think a whole lot more about what that truly means for me at Accenture.”

Advice for Professional Women

Singh said she believes that women in the private sector face many of the same challenges as those women working in the public sector. She explained, “Women in the work environment, whether in the private sector or in the government, I think, first and foremost, we have to be competent. Then I think we have to have certain levels of confidence. There are a number of women who lack the confidence they need, which prevents them from entering into certain work environments or even seeking the positions they desire.”

“Personally, though, I haven’t seen barriers I couldn’t overcome. It takes hard work,” she said.

Regarding work/life balance, Singh said, “We have to make calculated adjustments – we have to prioritize. And there are points at which we have to make tradeoffs. These are decisions you make at a personal level. What would be considered work/life balance for me would be ludicrous to someone else!”

She continued, “But most importantly, it should change over time, and these changes depend on where you are in your life and career.”

Planning Your Next Chapter

She advised women to take advantage of the experience of individuals who have gone before them. She explained, “With all of the men and women who have gone before you, there’s no reason to feel you are the only one hitting up against a wall and no one else has done it before you.”

Singh continued, “And it’s not good enough just to have one [mentor] – you have to have many. Along with mentors, get a coach – you need someone to help coach you through these hurdles and maneuver challenges.” She said young people should seek out both male and female mentors and coaches. “I’ve had women and men coaches and mentors, and I’ve coached and mentored both as well.”

She also said individuals should continuously think about what they want in their careers. “Take time to think about what you really want to stand up for in life. Reassess this over time as you grow and learn from experience – the outcome changes over time. I see too many people going through the movements, and getting stuck.”

She continued, “The only person who can make change is you personally.”

Women who are advancing to the upper levels of their career should look more broadly at their experiences, she said. “You have to look at each step you take, like an assignment or a job, as a building block, a new chapter in your book. You’re writing your book, and what you want to do is to ensure the next chapter is bigger and better than the last chapter.”

When you get stuck at a crossroad, she said, “You might be scared or not sure what to do, or you’re not wanting to step outside of your comfort zone. But if you want to make a career change, make a career change. Don’t hesitate.”

She explained, “When you look back on your life, and do you want to wish you could have or should have done something different – that’s no way to live.”

“Make that next chapter one that is going to count.”

Singh said one of her favorite books is What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. “If you really want to be successful, you can’t do the same thing and expect to move up the chain. You’re going to have to do something bigger and bolder each time.”

Singh said that Accenture has a number of programs to promote the advancement and retention of women. “The ones I like are the mentoring and coaching programs. To me, these kinds of programs are key,” she said. “They provide the opportunity to have those candid conversations you won’t get in any other way.”

Singh said one of her most meaningful opportunities was being included in an International Women’s Forum fellowship program last August. The program included 32 women from 13 different countries. “It was unbelievably amazing for me,” she explained. “We are all in the mid to senior level in our career and the ability to draw off one another is huge. To connect with other women like yourself is not something we do enough of,” she added. “I’m very thankful to be in the fellowship program, and it’s going to be extremely eye opening for me!”

In Her Spare Time

Outside of her work and extensive military commitments, Singh said she enjoys spending time with her family. “I have a large, extended family, and so does my husband. And I like to preserve time for my two daughters. They’re not small, but I still like to spend time with my young ladies.”

Singh is involved with a number of organizations including women’s groups and veterans’ groups. She is on the Board of Easter Seals for the Greater Washington – Baltimore Region. “And I’m trying to do more philanthropic things outside my comfort zone. It’s important to commit that time.”

She continued, “But one of my favorite things to do is curl up beside my husband and actually do nothing! It’s the greatest, most cherished time.”