Melaina Vinski balances her career and motherhood

Could you describe your education and background before initially joining PwC Canada?

My career began in the deep study of the human brain and behaviour with master’s and Ph.D. degrees in cognitive neuroscience. My first foray into the corporate world was inspired by a curiosity to test a lifelong hypothesis that a life in academia was right for me.

I found a small but mighty sustainability boutique that was willing to take me on as an unpaid intern as I entered my last year of my Ph.D., and by 4pm on the first day, my hypothesis was debunked. The “real world” was where I was meant to be. I spent three years applying statistical research methods and models of behaviour to help companies better understand and strategically address global perspectives on climate change, social responsibility and governance risk.

The learning was fast and furious, and this boutique firm gave me a safe place to take the leap between two worlds. As a result, I would consider this time to be one of my most formative growth experiences. 

How did you land your initial role at PwC Canada, and what were your responsibilities?

The itch to try a bigger firm came from the desire to be more robustly trained in core consulting capabilities and tame a growing curiosity about if the corporate world would expedite my growth. With coloured yarn woven into my hair and active practice as a Reiki master and yogi, many in my inner circle believed I’d be back in the boutique world in no time.

The day I began my search was the day PwC Canada posted the first behavioural economics consulting position, and within a few days, I had an offer to lead the competency as a senior associate. My mandate was to build and establish a team that leveraged behavioural economics and behavioural science to drive value for clients. In close collaboration with network firms in the United Kingdom and Australia and in partnership with leading academic institutions, we expanded the capability to over 10 network territories.

In Canada, we built a 100+ member community of practice and a case study library of over 70 cross-sector projects that delivered tangible, meaningful results. We published chapters in books alongside leading experts and detailed our perspectives in a variety of business and strategy publications. The experience was incredible. 

What motivated your decision to leave PwC Canada and pursue a new opportunity?

The move came down to a need for continued growth. I loved the firm. I received tremendous support during my five years, including a promotion that advanced my position two levels, but I found myself feeling stagnant as a highly specialized strategy consultant. I wanted a bigger challenge, and I wanted to get my hands dirty building technology solutions.

It was an offer from a global, publicly traded technology firm to lead their global behavioural science capability that gave me the courage to leave the firm. In the end it proved to be the right move for me. Within six months of joining the technology firm, I was entrusted with running their hefty artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics business for Canada and, within a few years, their GenAI and financial services business. Managing the national platforms while leading the global practice was an exceptional growth experience for me.

What motivated your return to PwC Canada? 

I spent four years at the technology firm and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. My intellectual and professional growth was transformative, but I was faced with a moment of reflection when offered a path to promotion. I realized that if I wanted to make the sacrifices needed to succeed at the next stage in my career that it would need to be for a company I believed in and with a culture I loved. It was time for another leap, but this time with a very different purpose than in the past: to thrive.

That’s when I started, with both a refined and purposeful intention, to entertain opportunities in the market. I was greatly humbled when PwC Canada leadership opened the door to come back home. While I received enticing offers from others, I had an overwhelming feeling that PwC Canada was the right place for my next step.

What were the most significant aspects of PwC Canada’s culture that drew you back?

The people, the culture and the work. They’re a simple string of concepts, yet they’re critical to wholly thrive in an ambitious life. 

Affirmation that PwC Canada was the right fit came early in my conversations with leadership. My personal journey while away from the firm had been turbulent and I would be rejoining in a new season of life. I was honest about my personal growth plans, which included expanding my family. The firm was incredibly supportive, telling me, “Come home and have your kids here. Let us be the family that’s with you while you expand your family.”

This kind of response only comes when a firm nurtures and respects women in leadership. It’s an enduring quality of PwC Canada—and just one of the many reasons I’m so proud to be back. It’s immensely valuable to be part of a firm that supports female leaders.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I consider my greatest achievement to be my son—not just bringing him into this world but having the perseverance to provide him with the life he deserves. I was a single mom navigating immense challenges at home while pursuing a fulfilling career. 

I owe my resolve to a few fundamental practices in my life. One is an intentional compartmentalization of my energy between family and work. When I’m at home, my time is just for my family. My phone is away until my son is in bed and my husband and I have had time to connect with one another. If my son is sick and home from school, I dedicate my day to being a mom, showing him—and others—that family comes first when the decision is made to be with family. Likewise, if I’m at an event with colleagues or clients, I’m fully present and not distracted by what might be going on at home.

Another is actively nurturing my emotional, cognitive and spiritual health. You can try to control your schedule or stay ahead of your planning, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the mental capacity to deal with the inherent stresses of consulting, you’ll burn out. Maintaining daily practice of yoga, meditation and prayer, and physical activity helps me build and maintain resilience.

And finally, I have a deep confidence in myself and my ability to do good and be good. It’s incredible what a little belief in self can do to help manage the highs and lows of daily life.

Any final thoughts for our readers? 

To any women considering starting a family and wondering if they should have kids now or wait until their next promotion, go and start your family. Having children reshapes and reorganizes your perspective and priorities, and waiting means making decisions based on a future you can’t possibly understand.

Take the risk and have confidence you’ll be able to figure it all out. There are many people at our firm who will be there to help you and support you on your journey.