At PwC, we deeply value diversity and embracing our differences. We understand that when people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives work together, we create the highest value for our people, clients and society. This applies at all levels of our organisation, not least with our graduates on Edge - our market-leading graduate programme for our PwC's Deals practice in Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific.
We welcome and encourage applications from a wide range of degrees and disciplines. We believe that graduates with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) backgrounds bring value to Deals through critical thinking, problem-solving, analytic capabilities, curiosity and imagination. Feedback from our Edge participants and Deals business confirms that our STEM graduates excel throughout the Deals lifecycle. They bring unique views to different projects when their STEM knowledge and skills are used innovatively.
If you are nearing the completion of your STEM studies or have recently graduated with a STEM degree, you’re probably thinking:
- How could everything I have learned to date now translate to a career in Deals at PwC?
- How would my career in Deals be supported?
- How can I take my qualifications off the page and into the real world?
Well, look no further. We have been speaking to several of our Edge participants from across EMEA and Asia Pacific to find out more. They share below their stories about being STEM graduates in Deals and how their unique knowledge and skill sets are helping them create their mark in our rapidly growing Deals business at PwC.
‘STEM students forging successful careers at PwC's Deals practice are proving that your degree pathway does not and should not define your career choices. It should act as a springboard to launch your career in areas where the fit feels right and where you are most passionate about.’
Helen Sullivan
Director, Global Programme Director for Edge, PwC UK
#sciencebehindthedeal #PwCDeals #PwCEdge
Let’s hear from our Edge participants from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Nkosinathi Nkabinde | Chemical Engineering
What prompted you to apply for a career in Deals rather than a pure STEM career?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by engineering principles: thinking analytically and creatively to solve complex problems. This curiosity led me to major in Chemical Engineering at university. During my final year of studies, I completed a course that explored the business and financial aspects of engineering projects. That sparked my desire to understand the value chain of projects, particularly the business and finance components. The chance to build a dynamic career and explore my interest presented itself when I got an opportunity to join the PwC Edge graduate programme for EMEA.
What advice would you give to STEM graduates considering a career in Deals?
For a STEM graduate, the journey can be intimidating at first because there is uncertainty on whether one can have an impact in the Deals business through the application of scientific concepts and numerical reasoning.
There is a strong sense of collegiality within the Deals business. People are generally kind, supportive and willing to help one address their key development areas through coaching and on-the-job training. Gaining experience through working on projects across different industries, interacting with clients, and gaining knowledge from colleagues across the network has helped me gradually learn how to leverage my skills to create value for clients meaningfully.
The Deals business’ ability to bring together people with various backgrounds and experiences to work towards a common objective makes it unique. Although I am the first STEM graduate to be part of the PwC South Africa Edge programme, I found comfort in knowing that people in Deals have diverse educational backgrounds. Therefore, everyone has a very steep learning curve, and there is always an opportunity to learn something from someone else.
If you have a strong desire to solve important problems, an appetite for an exciting learning curve and you are ready to be challenged to step outside of your comfort zone, the PwC Edge graduate programme for EMEA is the programme for you
I have always been fascinated by engineering principles. The chance to build a dynamic career presented itself when I got an opportunity to join the PwC Edge graduate programme in EMEA.
Belen Rabadan | Electromechanical Engineering
Do you think having a degree in electromechanical engineering is relevant to the world of Deals? What are some of the benefits you have experienced?
After five years working in Deals at PwC Spain, I am certain that having a major in STEM has been an advantage for my career. Even though it is always daunting when starting a new career, after my first weeks at PwC, I soon realised that the skills I developed and the experiences I had during college would boost my work performance.
In Deals, we work in project teams with tight deadlines. I was used to working like this at college. I had already developed project management skills such as planning, communication, time management and leadership. These skills have been beneficial during my day-to-day work.
Also, during my college years, I learned several programming codes, making it easier to use the data tools I currently work with as we wrangle data and visualise it in innovative ways. I believe that using a tech-enabled approach, developing compelling arguments and presenting data in a meaningful, impactful, and accessible ways are competencies needed when working in Deals
In addition, being a STEM graduate, I developed early industry knowledge and experience that have proved helpful in client projects. I have a major in electromechanical engineering, and the energy sector is what I'm currently specialising in. Due to my background, it was easy for me to understand how this industry works and the processes in various departments. As a result, I can relate to clients in this sector in a way that others who don't have this insight can't. I am the 'go-to' person when others have queries about this sector; that gives me an edge!
To sum up, if you have a STEM background, do not hesitate to work with us! PwC will find a fit for you.
I’m proud of being a STEM professional at PwC's Deals practice. My journey has been nothing but rewarding and fulfilling.
Avishi Saxena | Physics
What prompted you to apply for a career in Deals and not a pure STEM career?
I have always been fascinated by Physics, but, after completing my degree, I wanted to work with a range of businesses and industries such as Life Sciences, Energy, and Health & Pharmaceuticals. A career in Deals means having that ideal middle ground between science and business across various industries, especially with a career in ESG.
When you applied to work in Deals, did you think having a STEM degree would be relevant to the work you would be doing? What has changed for you?
I had always thought that my STEM background could only provide me with scientific or mathematical skills. I was still determining how relevant this would be for a career in Deals. Whilst this is true, I have realised that STEM has also equipped me with analytical and reasoning skills. It has helped me understand client asks using a logical and structured approach. The analytical and reasoning skills, combined with people skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication, have provided a solid foundation to build a career in Deals.
What advice would you give to other women considering a career in Deals?
As clichéd as it sounds, I would advise having confidence in yourself! There will be times when you’ll be in the minority, but it’s key to remember that that does not impact your right to have a seat at the table and voice your opinions. Confidence also goes beyond just technical capabilities. Having the confidence to communicate my priorities (both work and non-work related) is equally, if not more beneficial.
I have a different mindset, which is a good thing, as it means I focus on areas that others haven’t thought about. I bring fresh perspectives, and look at things from different angles, which add value along the entire Deal lifecycle. That’s a real asset.
Bridget Kiyondi | Forensic Science
Why did you decide to have a career in Deals?
My passion is in forensics which is why I chose Forensic Science as my degree. I’m currently working as a Forensic and Business Recovery Services Solutions consultant. My work involves helping businesses prepare, respond and emerge stronger from unplanned events such as fraud, economic crimes, crises and third-party risk.
Having a STEM background has enabled me to use my logical reasoning, strong analytical skills and love for maths to plan and execute my work. It has also allowed me to be versatile with technology in a traditional finance environment. Given that technology today is heavily embedded within the day-to-day operations of any organisation, having this knowledge has been crucial for me to adequately support our clients as they mitigate various financial crime risks. I have also employed this knowledge in the Forensic Technology Solutions practice.
I believe that STEM is imperative to Deals, where analytical problem solvers and individuals who are adaptable are highly valued. We bring a new dimension to a team.
How has Edge prepared you for success in Deals?
The PwC Edge programme has accelerated my growth within the PwC's Deals practice. Although I was originally part of the Forensics Business Unit, as part of Edge, I had an opportunity to rotate across other parts of Deals and collate experiences working across the entire Deals lifecycle. The networking opportunities presented by the program have also been incredible.
What would you say to a STEM graduate thinking about joining Deals?
For any STEM graduate considering joining Deals, I would say, “do it!” You have plenty of transferable skills and your way of thinking will actually help you thrive in Deals.
Having a STEM background has definitely enabled me to bring new dimensions to a team. Don’t hesitate to join Deals if you are a woman from a STEM background. You will thrive in Deals.
Alex Ansuh-Amponsah | Mechanical Engineering
How does your engineering background translate to the work you do in Deals?
What we do is very fast paced. Working in Financial Decisions and Analysis and having a STEM background means that I usually don’t have to worry about the computational side of the things we do.
In Deals you need to be able to think about processes, apply methodologies and think quickly using quantitative information. Being able to analyse the meaning of charts or finance reports is important, but in terms of summarising, collating and finding trends, STEM naturally sets you up to think that way, so I spot trends faster. I learn data analytics tools very quickly and if I do need support with some of the financial fundamentals there are always people to help.
My STEM background has given me the confidence to point things out and the reassurance that I know what I’m doing.
What is your experience in completing a professional qualification given that you have an engineering background?
I didn’t find the Professional Qualification too daunting; revising for exams in a short time frame and doing a lot of calculations are things that I was used to from engineering. The difficult part was more qualitative, learning the tax code, certain law fundamentals and business best practices - essentially the rewiring towards a Business and Finance mindset.
Having a STEM background, however, meant that I could focus on those sections as I was able to take my computation and calculation skills for granted.
I work with a large number of people who are driven to solve problems and they genuinely enjoy finding out why something does or doesn’t work.
Simone Monico | Management Engineering
Why did you decide to apply to the PwC Edge programme?
I chose my degree in Management Engineering because I love quantitative subjects. I decided however, that I wanted a career in Finance rather than a pure STEM career and in fact when I did my masters I concentrated on Finance. I realised that a career in Deals would allow me to couple my analytical/numerical skills, for example modelling, with my finance skills such as accounting.
In deciding where to follow my career, the PwC Edge programme appealed to me as it has standing, is flexible and it afforded me the opportunity to do rotations and therefore gain experience across the Deals cycle. As a result, I have experienced working in more than one team having completed rotations in Mergers and Acquisitions, Business Recovery Services, and Valuations.
Would you recommend the Edge Programme to other STEM graduates?
Absolutely! If you also have a passion for finance, then don’t hesitate. You’ll benefit from having the opportunity to mix with a wide range of enthusiastic people coming from a multitude of different backgrounds and cultures.
One of the best things about Edge is meeting a wide range of enthusiastic people who come from a multitude of different backgrounds and cultures.
Let’s hear from our Edge participants from Asia Pacific
Mandy He | Business Analytics
How does your STEM background help you in your work with Deals?
Having a STEM background really helped me when working in Deals, especially in Financial Due Diligence projects.
The work I do involves handling big data (>2 million rows of data) and requires new ways of processing and analysing the data. My background in analytics and programming gives me an edge in this. With the PwC proprietary digital tools and other advanced digital tools, I help the team process big data efficiently and effectively while others bring their financial knowledge to solving problems.
For example, I love mining data and love to share my findings with colleagues. I compute performance indicators such as retention rate, life-time value of customers, project delivery time and return on investment to inform decisions by our team and our client.
What prompted you to apply for a career in Deals rather than a pure STEM career?
In the Edge program, what attracted me the most is the rotation opportunities across Deals. Although I wanted to start my career in mergers and acquisitions, I did not really understand the full deal cycle and the associated career paths. After three rotations across Deals, in Transaction Services, Valuations and Business Recovery Services, I gained a basic understanding of financial due diligence, valuation and modelling, and liquidation. I finally decided to focus on financial due diligence to pursue my passion in data analysis.
Unlike my internship experience with e-business and investment institutions, the Edge program gives me the opportunity to explore career interests. It also gives me a better exposure to different industries that enhances my business acumen.
Why did you choose to do a STEM degree?
I discovered big data at a marketing competition. When a mentor showcased its potential, I was amazed by its power to improve marketing effectiveness. I realised the era of big data is coming and I want to play a more important role in it.
What advice or top tips would you give to STEM graduates who may be considering applying to the Edge programme but don’t have a finance or business background?
Be open and keep learning. Our future is not defined by our studies. We can develop our finance skills and business acumen in projects. PwC's Deals practice provides good learning and development and professional qualification support to help you upskill in financial areas, so make the most out of the opportunities
Also, engage in the coaching culture of PwC. During one of my rotations, I engaged with my two coaches - a career coach and a competency coach, to help me improve my financial skills. They provided detailed guidance and coaching and helped me be successful.
My background in data analysis and my love for data mining put me in a great position in bringing valuable insights to client projects.
Shunta Chimura | Applied Science and Computer Engineering
Do you think having a degree in Engineering is relevant to the world of Deals? What are some of the benefits you have experienced?
Yes, because the essential goal in Engineering is solving problems. Similar to working in Deals, when engineers face an issue, they will break down the issue into small work streams so that the issue can be observed by team members with different technical backgrounds. For example, when faced with data challenges and project constraints, it is natural that engineers think out of the box and find suitable solutions to close the gap, whilst other team members bring value in different ways. Engineering also allowed me to think systematically and break down complex issues that have helped me organise work and deliver on outcomes.
Also, having a STEM background means I’m already equipped with the analytical skills required when working in Deals. Basic tools such as Excel and PowerPoint are repeatedly used in the STEM field for data cleansing and analysis, so STEM graduates will have no issues starting off their Deals career. Even as additional technical tools such as data wrangling, and innovative PwC technologies are introduced, STEM graduates can quickly adapt and use these tools in their analysis and outputs.
What prompted you to apply for a career in Deals rather than a pure STEM career?
The opportunity to work and network with different industries is the reason I applied for a career in Deals. When considering a pure STEM career, I anticipated dedicating my work to a specific product/service of a company, which means less opportunity to connect with the outside world. Personally, I simply could not see myself working on the same project for many years. Deals, on the other hand, gives me a wide range of business exposure to industries and clients that will benefit my personal and professional development.
When you applied to work in Deals did you think having a STEM degree would be relevant to the work you would be doing? What has changed for you?
No, I did not think my degree in engineering would be relevant to my current work when I applied for Deals. However, after joining the firm and understanding what about the Deals lifecycle and Deals Value Creation, the experience from STEM has become greatly beneficial.
I am currently with the Valuations team, and my STEM background means I can contribute to Deals Value Creation when solving problems for our clients. I discovered that my ability to think critically with new analysis and data insights has proven important as a trusted advisor. This motivates me knowing that I can grow within PwC's Deals practice.
The opportunity to work and network with different industries motivates me and is the reason I applied for a career in Deals.
Seraphina Burke-Xie | Chemistry and Finance
Do you think having a STEM background gives you an edge when working in Deals? Tell us why.
In my experience, yes. I think it would be beneficial across all aspects of Deals however, the application of it probably varies depending on the team you're in.
One of the biggest advantages I've experienced is in my report writing that I’ve learned during my study days. In a lot of the reports we write in Deals, you have to be able to communicate analysis and findings in a clear, concise and factual manner, avoiding emotive language. I remember struggling with this at the beginning of my chemistry degree, but after 3-4 years of experiment writing, it became second nature and proved helpful in my work in Deals.
Another advantage is being able to apply an analytical mindset to problem-solving - understanding how to develop a hypothesis and planning how to test this process. I find myself applying this mindset in most of the work I do in Deals.
Why did you choose to do a STEM degree?
I studied a STEM degree alongside a Bachelor of Business. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was enrolling. I figured a business degree would be useful, but I found chemistry interesting and wanted to learn more about it. I also thought working and studying in a lab, with beakers and lab coats, was really cool!
What advice or top tips would you give to STEM graduates who may be considering applying to the Edge programme but don’t have a finance or business background?
Firstly, be open-minded and be curious. The coaching and training I received in my first year was so thorough. I honestly think I've learnt more about finance in my first 6-12 months in Deals than I did in my entire finance degree. That being said, if you've no exposure to finance concepts, I'd suggest keeping up to date with news relating to deals and mergers and acquisitions to get exposure to some of the terms used.
Additionally, PwC will pay for you to complete a professional qualification and provide study and exam leave support. I've just started my Chartered Accountancy Foundation courses. It's been helpful to learn the more technical aspects behind some of the accounting concepts to support the work I do.
After over a year in Deals, the benefits of doing a science degree are clear. I’m very grateful for the skills I developed studying Chemistry.
Kate Mason | Physiology and Commerce
Tell us, does having a STEM background give you an edge when working in Deals?
Coming from a science background, I have always been particularly inquisitive, which was extremely beneficial as a graduate. As a graduate, I asked a lot of questions which helped me grow and develop. My degree definitely shaped my way of thinking when I first started out.
When you applied to work in Deals, did you think having a STEM degree would be relevant to the work you would be doing? What has changed for you?
Initially, no. I pursued both my physiology and commerce degrees concurrently but never saw them overlapping at all. Once in my current role, I found some transferable skills I learnt while studying such as analytical and succinct writing skills, are now helpful at work. More importantly, my knowledge of my experiences in the laboratory and my strong interest in the medical sector have benefitted me in understanding clients and the sector.
What would you say to female STEM graduates considering a career in Deals?
Firstly, don’t close yourself off to options outside of what you think are traditional of a STEM degree. Challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone and explore other job opportunities that potentially your classmates may not be considering.
Secondly, utilise your point of difference. I have found that my degrees shape my different points of view and understanding and interest in a sector which has seen significant growth over the last few years.
Coming from a STEM background, I have found my career in Deals extremely stimulating and rewarding. I would encourage anyone from a STEM background to consider an opportunity in Deals.
How the Edge graduate programme supports our Global Strategy - The New Equation
The New Equation is about helping our clients build trust and deliver sustained outcomes. It takes a big picture approach which creates value for today and tomorrow for organisations, their stakeholders, their customers and broader society. Our Edge graduates have constant exposure to our community of solvers who deliver bold ideas, solutions which are human-led and tech-powered and meaningful experiences which deliver real-life results. We give Edge graduates the opportunity and tools needed to deliver sustained outcomes that make a difference, reinforcing the quality of our work by investing in the latest digital capabilities.
Find out more about The New Equation Strategy #TheNewEquation
