By Elizabeth Harrin (London)

For the last five years, Agnès Hussherr, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, has led the Women in PwC project in France. It’s part of a challenging and interesting role that has kept her at the company for over twenty years.

“I joined PwC twenty years ago just after graduation, aged 22, as an auditor, and was appointed partner at 33,” she says. “In the early days of my career, I worked on a variety of projects including non-audit work. Also, I had the opportunity to be on one job which widened my knowledge of the banking sector. This meant I didn’t become too specialised which might have limited my opportunities to become a partner.”

As a young partner, for six years Hussherr split her work 50/50 as a client partner and as a technical partner specialised in IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), which gave her a strong technical background and the opportunity to work within a worldwide global and virtual team. However, while the technical background has given her a good grounding, it is not the most critical part of her road to success. “Working long hours and being a technical expert are not the most important things,” she says. “The most important are relationships, both with clients and internally.”

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Image Courtesy sec.gov

“We are still at a juncture in time where it’s very important for senior women to be a resource both for other women and men,” said Elisse B. Walter, Commissioner for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In describing her life and career, it’s clear that Commissioner Walter cherishes her position as a role model and a leader. She enthusiastically articulates the importance of guiding other women coming up the ranks.

And with over thirty years in public service, she has experience to share. Her advice for women working to advance in their careers: “Charge ahead.”

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By Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

Melissa Goldman, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Head of Credit Risk, Collateral Management and Cross Divisional Projects within the Technology division said, “My sister – who grew up with a disability and was wheelchair-bound all of her life – was valedictorian of our high school.” Goldman credits her sister, who passed away around three years ago, with inspiring her to reach higher every day. “It was really about how she operated in the world. Not only was she the most intelligent person I knew, she was also someone who had every reason to be bitter and angry about the hand she was dealt in terms of her physical limitations.’’

Recalling her sister’s inspiring energy, passion for the work she did, and the way she pushed herself and others to always do better, Goldman said, “It is amazing the positive effect she had on the people around her in her all-too-short-lifetime – not only in her professional and academic life, but in her personal life as well. She had the kind of relationships and impact on people most of us would only dare to dream of.” Goldman noted that she tries to make her sister a part of her daily life: “She is a constant reminder of what it means to have challenges, to have tolerance and to persevere.”

Goldman, a Long Island, New York native, studied applied mathematics and computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. “I have always been interested in problem solving and puzzles – always trying to find the best way to get from here to there.” A summer program at the university after her junior year of high school led her to forgo her senior year in favor of early admission. Upon graduation, she was immediately drawn to consulting. She took an entry level job with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as an analyst in the technical consulting practice. While she found it fun and challenging, she began to realize that it wasn’t exactly the best fit for her.

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By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I’ve had an active career. I’ve moved around a lot in India and outside,” said Akila Krishnakumar, Chief Operating Officer and Country Head, India, SunGard Technology Services. “I’ve worked for 25 years with no real break in my career. It’s just so much fun.”

Krishnakumar is energetic about work – the opportunities she’s encountered, sharing successes with her team, and now the ability to be a role model for her employees. She also emphasizes the importance of continued learning. “I firmly think you have to be open to a wide range of experiences. In every single thing you do, there is learning.”

A Love of Work

“I started my career when I was barely twenty one at Wipro. It’s large and famous now, but then it was a small company, almost a start-up.” Krishnakumar said. “It was the best grounding I could ever hope for, in my career and as a person.”

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