Cindy Hook was recently appointed CEO of Deloitte Australia, becoming the first woman to take the helm of a big four accounting firm.
So while there’s a fair amount of talk about Gail Kelly’s retirement from Westpac, and what it means for the number of female CEOs on the ASX, we want to acknowledge just what’s happening elsewhere, where women are finally taking the top spot in some of our largest professional services firms.
Speaking with Hook on Monday afternoon, it’s also interesting to note just what she believes has helped put her leadership career on track.
While she describes herself as “quite unusual” in that’s she’s worked for the one employer for 28 years, she also acknowledges that she’s taken some significant risks to get to where she is today: risks that ultimately helped facilitate her leadership journey.
One such point came when she accepted a role with Deloitte in Australia in 2009, taking her family and two kids from the US to Sydney for what was initially a secondment. “I felt stagnant in my career in the US. I was frustrated, even a little bored,” she says, having worked in San Francisco for 23 years and been appointed a partner in 1998.
The move was significant both personally and professionally. A huge leap, but one Hook recognised was necessary in order to move forward.
Hook says she has continued to “seize” on opportunities locally here, accepting promotions, and getting creative in building strong teams and innovating on client services. A trip she made with the executive team four years ago to study design at Stamford and Berkeley univerisities helped her lead the audit assurance and advisory team in applying design principles for creating a new audit experience for clients, and picking up a major design award in the process. “The further you go up in your career, the less accounting you do and the more creativity you use in being a leader,” she says.
Prior to being appointed CEO, Hook was national managing partner for assurance and advisory at Deloitte, reponsible for a team of 1000 people across five cities and more than 29% of the firm’s revenue. She’s known for her collaborative leadership style, energy, positive attitude and track record in building high performance teams.
Hook believes Deloitte’s focus on leadership development – for both genders – has helped see the firm hire and promote more women (the firms has gone from four female partners in 1998 to 125 in 2015, making up 22% of the partnership), but acknowledges that more needs to be done. Deloitte’s outgoing CEO Giam Swiegers is known to have personally mentored and sponsored a number of women in key leadership positions in the firm, including Hook. He’s also worked with senior partner Margaret Dreyer on a strong suite of initiatives supporting women in the firm, programs Hook says she will continue.
While she will champion women, Hook says she will also focus on diversity at a broader level. “It’s not just about women. We also need diversity of thought … Only through a diverse workforce are we going to have the strength and the ability to fully support our clients.”
Hook officially starts as CEO on February 1.
The short facts on Cindy Hook’s story
Born. Illinois, United States
Grew up. United States
Qualifications. Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) from Miami University, Ohio.
Who and what she leads. As CEO of Deloitte Australia, Hook will lead 570 partners, 6000 employees and 14 offices. The firm was ranked second of the ‘Big Four’ in 2014, with a revenue of $1.162 billion for FY14.
How do you manage your wellbeing? I have my family and that really important to me. I’m an active runner and have run several marathons. I work out every day and love to ski.
Advice to your 18-year-old self? Do something you love, and I think I’ve done that. I was probably a little more cautious a long the way than I would be if I went back. I’ve had so many opportunities and so many times to move – I probably would have moved faster.
Cindy Hook’s story is the latest of our 100 Stories Project, in which we’re asking women about a turning point that’s shifted her leadership career. Telling 100 stories from January 1 2015, the project showcases the diverse range of leadership careers available, as well as some of the brilliant achievements and fascinating career paths of women. It also demonstrates how planned and unexpected forks in the road can take you places you never thought possible.
Got an idea? Get in contact. Check out more on our 100 Stories Project here.
Other women featured in this series include:
Angela Ferguson: The woman designing the future of work (Google included)
Jo-Ann Hicks: eBay’s leading woman on the risks that made her digital career
Annabelle Daniel: ‘I’m the unlikely combination of CEO and single parent
Sarah Liu: Multiple job titles and variety: Life as a ‘slashie’
Lindy Stephens: When the power shifts, women should make the most of it
Kate Morris: Why I gave up law to become an online entrepreneur
Jacque Comery: Leading a team of 12 on an Antarctic base