Voice of Experience: Emmanuelle Rivet, Partner, PwC US

Welcome to The Glass Hammer’s “Women in Tech” month! We will be celebrating successful women in technology all month long!

“Embrace the fact that you might be different and have a different way of approaching things,” said Emmanuelle Rivet, Partner at PwC US. “Focus instead on what drives you and find your internal purpose,” she continued.

This is just one key piece of advice that Rivet offered to young women starting out in their career, and it is something that helped her immensely when she was making an important transition in her own career; transferring from PwC France to pursue opportunities within the US firm’s Silicon Valley office.

Career Path

According to Rivet, her career path was not exactly linear. After graduating from college, Rivet had the opportunity to start working for PwC France or move to Italy to work in M&A at a leading bank. “My mom is Italian and my dad is French, so I felt a calling to explore my Italian roots,” said Rivet. “I learned a lot in Milan, but I also realized that I did not want to be in an environment where my daily tasks were very routine.”

When Rivet returned to France after working in Italy for one year, she reconnected with PwC and joined the team at the office in Lyon, which is located near the Grenoble technology hub. “This is where I gained my first exposure to technology companies, including some of the world’s biggest IT organizations,” noted Rivet. Working with these technology companies in France helped Rivet establish connections to PwC in the Bay Area, where she would eventually relocate.

For Rivet, working outside of her native country has always appealed to her on both cultural and professional levels. After completing a semester in Austria while still in college and taking several internships across Europe, this passion to explore other parts of the world motivated her to apply for an international assignment in 1999. “I had the opportunity to work in Silicon Valley right in the middle of the dotcom boom,” said Rivet, “and we were working on a record number of IPOs during that initial wave.”

Instantly plunged into the dynamic and fast-paced environment she had been searching for, Rivet recalls this period as being extremely influential on her future career path. “It was such a busy time,” said Rivet. “As someone who was somewhat of an outsider because I was not born and raised in the US, it was challenging for me to assimilate culturally and I was initially intimidated,” she added.

However, Rivet noted that staying focused on the high volume of work helped her put this discomfort out of her mind. “The learning curve was steep, but the benefit was that I could learn at an accelerated pace,” said Rivet.

According to Rivet, adapting to this new work environment and thriving under demanding conditions is one high point in her career of which she is especially proud. “The companies that survived the dotcom bubble were moving really fast, and we encountered many new business models and the questions on how to deal with the day to day expectations that accompanied them,” said Rivet.

She continued, “Serving these companies made me realize that I could perform at a high level and be a valuable contributor.”

Life in the High Technology Fast Lane

In 2004, further exposure to the biggest global technology companies of the time solidified Rivet’s interest in working exclusively with internet-based companies. Currently, Rivet is involved in both auditing and advising internet and social media clients for PwC. “What is really interesting right now is the fact that there are new companies constantly emerging in the technology landscape, and many of these startups are reaching the $10 billion valuation mark faster than ever before,” said Rivet. “This multiplication of players also results in a very complex business environment.”

After so many years working in this space, one would think Rivet has seen it all, yet she remarked that new precedents are constantly being set.

Progress for Women in Tech

There is an overwhelming level of acceptance for all types of diversity in Silicon Valley, according to Rivet, which she said creates a positive environment for women pursuing a career in technology. “There are highly visible women setting the example already, and we should feel inspired by them,” Rivet advised.

“To some degree, the technology industry does have a very male-centric environment, but, as women, we need to make sure we don’t exacerbate it by doubting ourselves and our ability to succeed.” Rivet acknowledged that the conversation around gender equality in the workplace is refreshing right now, because it does not contain undertones of the old feminist dialogue.

“I feel like there is a friendly, totally candid dialogue around women’s role in the workplace and how to break down the barriers that can be self-imposed at times.” Rivet pointed to the example of Sheryl Sandberg’s recent “Ban Bossy” campaign, which urges people to embrace and empower early displays of leadership in young girls instead of aligning these characteristics with the negative connotation of being bossy. “It’s an authentic dialogue,” said Rivet.

Advice for Young Professionals

Small setbacks can happen each and every day, said Rivet, but it is important to learn from these, display an unwavering resilience, and keep working toward your career goals and aspirations. “It is natural to feel some level of doubt,” Rivet added. “I continue to feel moments of doubt, and it is an uncomfortable feeling, but it forces me to grow by forcing me to set aside my insecurity and concentrate on my strengths.”

While company networks and programs that foster the advancement of women can be helpful , she noted that often the grass roots efforts that employees make on an individual level can be equally as rewarding and beneficial to your career. “Establishing these one-on-one relationships with women and men you respect will impact you and provide you with more support and inspiration than you can even imagine,” she stated.

Outside the Office

“I enjoy anything that will distract my attention from the work week,” joked Rivet, “but the activities that truly captivate me and take my mind off of work are cooking, traveling and listening to opera.”

By Michelle Hendelman