Allyship in action

For Greta Smith, inclusion is an action. And she’s living it every day at PwC.

Growing up, Greta wanted to be a woman with a successful career and a strong sense of purpose. She knew she wanted to do work that made an impact so she studied business in an accelerated university programme and then later interned at PwC US.

During her internship, Greta was struck by the welcoming people and the firm’s commitment to growth and development. She observed that her colleagues were exceptionally close knit and were given numerous opportunities to experiment with different roles and grow within the firm. Between the warm people and the limitless learning, Greta was sold on PwC by the end of her internship. She happily accepted an offer for employment and joined the Assurance team, now part of the Trust Solutions team, at PwC US to continue her professional journey.

As a Black woman, entering an industry that traditionally has had fewer women or people of colour, Greta always has diversity and inclusion top of mind. She believes it’s impossible to advance in the workplace without taking into account everyone’s unique perspective. She quickly found new purpose within the organisation, seeking opportunities to engage with people from a variety of backgrounds and learn more about their outlook and viewpoints while also sharing her own.

Greta is inspired by and grateful for the firm’s commitment to fostering a culture of belonging, especially since it aligns with her own steadfast determination to put it into action. She brings this passion to the One Firm Diversity & Inclusion Council, a group of 25 people who meet on a recurring basis to share their insights on diversity, inclusion and belonging with the US firm’s Senior Partner and Chief Purpose & Inclusion Officer. Greta was amazed that Tim Ryan, Senior Partner, PwC US, comes to their meetings to hear from the group, demonstrating his dedication to inclusion and respect for diversity. To her, this action speaks volumes to the commitment the firm has to building on their progress.

Greta also got involved in the firm's Access Your Potential programme, an initiative dedicated to closing societal opportunity gaps and making sure Black and Hispanic/Latinx college students get attention, resources and mentorship as they explore and begin their future careers. After working on the programme for just four months, Greta was so inspired that she is now an active mentor. She is particularly moved to support the initiative because she is only the second member of her family to go to college and knows she would have benefited from a mentor throughout her third level education.

As she participates in initiatives across the firm, Greta continues to advocate for equity, inclusion and diversity. Building her own brand within the firm, she aims to act as a voice for those who do not, or cannot, speak up for themselves. As a frequent panellist and webcaster, Greta is motivated by the wealth of messages she receives from people in the audience thanking her for speaking up on their behalf.

Greta knows everyone has different stories and experiences, but she hopes she can be one who shares a voice and shows up for people when they don’t even know they need it. Her perseverance, visionary spirit and fearless attitude are helping further build on the culture of belonging at PwC.

Greta wants to continue to focus on growing her career with PwC while also continuing to focus on her passion by contributing to Inclusion & Diversity strategies and initiatives. She also loves spending time with her dog in the park and loves to do things in the neighbourhood of Harlem, known internationally as the Black mecca of the world. Greta particularly enjoys spending time at cycling and pilates studios in the area. She is also committed to becoming a more avid reader and her favourite karaoke song is Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” as it’s a song her dad used to play when she was younger and so she is always drawn to it.