Noura Matin
Who are you and what do you do at Deloitte?
I joined Deloitte UK Consulting in February 2005 as a Manager in the Financial Management (FM) practice within Strategy & Operations. We help the CFO and his or her senior team achieve the balance between their two key roles; as business strategists and as guardians of corporate integrity and transparency. Within Finance Management, I specialise in Integrated Performance Management (IPM) and finance capability development programmes.
In addition to my client service roles, I contribute to Practice development through my role as a Planning and Forecasting SME and through the development and facilitation of Finance Management courses. I also contribute to wider Firm development through my role as a S&O representative on The Green Agenda team and as an organiser for Deloitte Diversity events. In 2007, I was honoured to be a part of Deloitte's celebration of International Women's Day both as a key speaker at the launch of the Deloitte UK Women’s Network and as a featured profile on the IWD website.
In Spring 2008 I will be transferring to Deloitte USA where I plan to continue to contribute to and play a leading role in Deloitte's effort to make Deloitte a great place for great women.
Why Deloitte? What motivated you to join us in the UK?
Following university I spent 8 years working in industry based roles. When I decided to move to management consulting, it was important to me that I worked for a firm that was both at the top of its league and could also demonstrate pro-active support for diversity, women and work-life balance. My first interview with a female Director at Deloitte positively answered all of my requirements and convinced me that Deloitte was the firm I wanted to join.
Have you had a mentor (or role model) who contributed to
your success as a professional? How did that person impact your
career?
The strongest and most influential mentors I had in my life were those I met during my years at university. I attended Mt. Holyoke College, the first of the Seven Sisters—the female equivalent of the once predominantly male Ivy League. The ethos at Mount Holyoke is to educate women, preparing them to be leaders with the conviction that women can and should make a difference in the world.
I've also been fortunate to have both excellent informal and formal support and mentorship whilst at Deloitte. In particular, Deloitte UK have made a big effort over the last year to improve the experience and transition of new parents returning to working. We now have a buddy system, new parent luncheons and enhanced facilities for nursing mothers. This combination of a formal support network along with the availability of informal, open-door conversations has definitely helped me to confidently continue my Deloitte career whilst maintaining a good balance with my family life. A winning combination!
Tell us a bit more about yourself?
New mom, community volunteer and elephant protector…
My son was born in August and I returned to work in December when he was 3 months old. He is now a very active, happy 6 month old who will try to put anything he sees into his mouth….toys, remote control and even his mommy's laptop.
I have always believed it is important to actively support the positive development of the communities in which we work and live. And so, one Saturday a month I take time out from my family life to volunteer a few hours with a refugee family to help them to adjust to UK life. My role as a refugee mentor involves helping the family practice their English conversation skills, connecting the parents with community resources and helping the children with homework.
Last but not least, I love elephants. I collect anything I can to do with elephants and have visited elephant sanctuaries in five countries. I also recently subscribed to an Elephant 'dating' programme – a programme where you adopt an elephant and the elephant will then send you personalised love letters, artwork valentine's day and birthday cards. A perfect relationship I say! |
