PROFILES 31
Focus on Ruby Parmar
Background
Originally hailing from Newcastle, Ruby started her career with the Inland Revenue in 1986, followed by 12 years at BDO Stoy Hayward.
2000 Ruby joined PricewaterhouseCoopers( PwC)
2004 Director
2005 Partner Entrepreneurial and Private Company and Private client team working for and with individuals with a high net worth( more than £ 5M in liquid assets).
In her previous posts, Ruby felt that she was doing well, but the move to PwC coincided with some significant changes in her personal life. Throughout her time here, Ruby has had the flexibility to be able to pick up and drop off her children at school, two days per week. The key here is not about‘ presenteeism’, it is more about being able to meet targets and deliver measurable outputs, and it is possible to achieve this through flexible working.
During her years at PwC, Ruby has seen many changes, one key difference being that in the beginning, people tended to think more about groups rather than individuals. So for example Ruby was asked to head up the Asian market. Those assumptions are less likely to be made today, as diversity at PwC has increased in profile over the last seven years – with much work being done around understanding and using diversity in a positive way. Ruby has now established the Asian Business Forum, and feels that having the same cultural background as the business owners helps to not only build
Ruby Parmer, Partner Entrepreneurial and Private Company and Private client team
relationships but also demonstrates that Gujerati and Punjabi). She has now PwC does not just work with FTSE 500 spoken to the firm’ s Community Affairs companies. It also shows that diversity is department to see if PwC can get involved something that PwC takes seriously. on an organisational level. Ten years ago, this would not have happened but now it is
Corporate Social Responsibility possible to make a much bigger difference if the organisation is involved. For example, Current graduates want to know what for the Tsunami appeal, PwC match firms such a PwC are doing about funded every pound that staff collected Corporate Social Responsibility( CSR), so for the fund. it is important to clearly demonstrate this so that new recruits recognise PwC as a After almost seven years, Ruby is still place that they could work in. delighted to be part of an organisation where On an individual level, Ruby is working it is possible to achieve and still be yourself. with a start up charity in India, where she Her advice to a new graduate would be“ to is able to put her language and business come and see for yourself, PwC is a great skills to good use( Ruby speaks Hindi, place to work, you’ ll be amazed”.
ISSUE THREE 2007 engage | uk