Adithya Raj

Title:Manager, Technology Consulting, Sydney

Degree: Master of Health Leadership and Management /
Master of Public Health (UNSW)

What's your job about?

As a Manager within the Technology Risk team at Protiviti Sydney, I am entrusted with the vital task of supporting various software, technology, and financial services organizations in navigating the intricate cyber and IT risk landscape. My responsibilities encompass a diverse range of functions aimed at fortifying information security protocols, ensuring compliance with IT risk and security frameworks, and enhancing operational efficiencies across complex business and IT structures.

On a daily basis, I am actively engaged in spearheading the delivery of comprehensive IT risk and compliance services. This entails conducting rigorous IT internal audits, conducting gap assessments, and orchestrating strategic initiatives to enhance control mechanisms across diverse industries for our clients at Protiviti.

Internally, I am deeply involved in bolstering the technological risk arm of our organization. Collaborating closely with key stakeholders such as the Managing Director, Directors, and Senior Managers, I actively contribute to business development endeavours. This involves crafting compelling client proposals and nurturing industry relationships, thereby bolstering Protiviti's market presence and reputation.

In pursuit of professional excellence, I remain steadfast in my commitment to continuous learning and development. I actively participate in educational opportunities provided by Protiviti and esteemed professional bodies such as ISACA, IIA, and PECB. By staying abreast of evolving trends in cybersecurity, technology, and IT risk management, I am equipped to provide innovative solutions and strategic guidance to our clients, ensuring their sustained success.

What's your background?

My formative years were largely spent in Sydney, although I had the enriching experience of residing in both India and Singapore during my childhood. At Oakhill College in Sydney, my academic pursuits were predominantly centred around the realm of medical science, where I enthusiastically delved into various science disciplines. Upon reaching the juncture of selecting a university course, I deliberated between a dedicated pursuit of medical science and the incorporation of complementary studies to fortify my prospects. Ultimately, I opted for a Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Technology Sydney. Yet, amidst my academic endeavours, my fascination with management consulting burgeoned, igniting a new career trajectory!

My professional odyssey commenced during my high school years, where I gained valuable experience working in a local café. Subsequently, I continued to explore the culinary domain in university, assuming various roles all the while tutoring students across diverse subjects, including sciences and management disciplines. A pivotal turning point arrived during my final year of university, when I transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry as a laboratory technician where I was exposed to the sales and manufacturing sides of the business. However, it was the offer extended by Protiviti in 2020 to join their Internal Audit and Financial Advisory division as a Graduate Consultant that marked a significant milestone in my journey.

Navigating through various departmental rotations, encompassing solutions such as Risk & Compliance and Technology Consulting, I ultimately gravitated towards the sub-solutions of information security, technology governance and risk management. Joining the Technology Risk team in mid-2022 has been a defining chapter, wherein over four years of tenure, I have relished the collaborative ethos while diligently serving our esteemed clientele.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The greatest satisfaction in my role lies in the concrete impact I make by strengthening information security protocols and optimizing operational effectiveness for a variety of organizations. I particularly enjoy the challenge of conducting thorough IT internal audits and spearheading strategic initiatives to mitigate cyber and IT risks. Despite occasional fatigue, moments of client appreciation for my guidance and solutions serve as poignant reminders that I am effectively contributing to their success, reaffirming my commitment to safeguarding their resilience. I’m also a strong believer in the Servant Leadership style and therefore always needs-focused on how I can develop the skills and expertise of my team members so that they can successfully grow in their careers and achieve their personal and professional goals.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Embrace discomfort and seize every opportunity, regardless of its challenges or uncertainties, as each holds potential for growth and discovery beyond your comfort zone.
Maintain unwavering self-belief, recognizing that amidst seemingly insurmountable obstacles, there exist diverse pathways to achieve your goals. Trust in your resilience and ability to navigate through adversity.
Foster a sense of openness and flexibility in your career journey, allowing it to organically unfold based on your evolving priorities and passions. Embrace the fluidity of your path, trusting in your instincts and values to guide you toward meaningful opportunities and fulfillment.

Name: Maria Binu

Title: Consultant, Risk & Compliance,

Degree: Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Commerce (ANU)

7.15am

My alarm went off around 30 minutes ago, but I'm still cozy in bed, scrolling through my phone. The realisation hits that I need to get out of bed soon, or else the bus will leave without me. Hastily, I throw on my work attire, add a touch of makeup, and pack my work bag, speed walking to catch the bus which is just across the road.

9am

Pressing the top floor on the elevator never gets old. In the office, I settle into my favorite spot, which is by the window showcasing the breathtaking view of Sydney. After sorting through emails and organising my calendar, I prioritise tasks to kick off my day.

9.30am

I go on a delightful coffee run with colleagues for a nice break. A stroll to the café, my usual Chai Latte, and engaging conversations with colleagues from different departments on the new projects coming up and our interests. While coming back to our seat, I catch up with my previous project manager and we chat about upcoming new project opportunities that interested me, setting the stage for potential future involvement.

10am

My first meeting is with my current project manager, to discuss the ongoing data governance uplift project. It kicks off with the usual casual banter as we chat about the coffee and our weekend plans. Then, we review our progress, identify areas for improvement, and align tasks with client requirements to make sure we are working well with the project timeline. I diligently take all the notes in my trusted notebook which only I can understand. We always make sure to discuss our priorities and workloads for the week to make sure we are not overloading ourselves.

11am

Post-meeting, follow-up emails to clients are sent, and I get started on the high-priority items. Updating the client status pack and crafting a preliminary client presentation are first on my list. Using my meeting notes, I layout the high-level presentation layout with key headings. I couldn't decide which slide design looked better so I asked my colleagues sitting next to me for advice on. This leads to a humorous debate over which slide design is better.

12.30pm

Its finally lunch time. As usual, I forgot to pack my lunch so I walk with a few others to the food court. Choosing lunch is always a dilemma for me as everything always good delicious, but thankfully my friend suggested a delightful chicken sandwich. I come to the communal kitchen area and have lively catch-ups with colleagues.

2.30pm

We have our weekly status update call with the client. We discuss our progress, current project timeline, our blockers and next steps. The client provides us good feedback on our prior workshop we conducted and discuss any key observations.

3pm

With all the tasks agreed upon with the client, I start smashing out some work. As we are doing some uplifts to the client data governance documents, I research on the elements of a good data governance policy and check on any prior Protiviti work to reference. I detail down the positive observations and improvement opportunities with examples. I also research on the Australian Privacy Principles and DAMA DMBoK framework for better understanding of what a good data governance framework should include. I comment on the document files my initial observations tagging my project manager on any questions I have. Once complete, I make sure to notify my project manager on my progress and schedule a time to get the feedback later in the week.

4.30pm

I attend the iGROWW National Lead meeting involves a design-thinking activity via Mural, brainstorming ideas for upcoming events. We decide on our next steps and distribute the tasks among the leads to share the accountability.

5.30pm

I check my emails and to-do list for the day to make sure I have closed out all my high-priority items. I make sure to save all my documents in the correct folders with appropriate labelling. I send a quick MS Teams chat to my project manager of my progress and notify of any major findings. She thanks me for the work I did and wishes me a good evening.

6.30pm

Finally I'm home and as much as I want to just lay down and do nothing, I get myself ready for my boxing class. I grab some fruit, biscuits and tea to fuel up. I make sure to pack all my boxing gears and head to the gym. Boxing usually helps just de-stress and not focus on work. It gets my adrenaline pumping and helps me recharge.

7.30pm

Post-boxing, I ended up somehow buying a chocolate donut, a guilty pleasure of mine, while doing some groceries. I chat with a few of my gym buddies over our favorite tv shows and sweets.

10.30pm

I have had my shower, dinner and unwind through a movie. I set my usual recurring alarms for the morning and then spend the next 1-hour just scrolling through my phone, sharing memes with friends until I finally get tired and fall asleep.

Name : Isaac Crotty

Title: Consultant, Internal Audit

Degree: Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Finance

As consultants, we spend plenty of time in Excel dealing with numbers, and by the end of the day, we have a simple dashboard put together to discuss with the client tomorrow.

7.00 AM

Typically, my day starts around 7 am with a quick breakfast (can’t beat Vegemite on toast). I catch the train into the city and listen to an audiobook along the way. The Protiviti Melbourne office is just a short walk from the station, and I often bump into others as I head over to the office.

8.45 AM

I’m generally in the office by about 8:45 am and grab a coffee with my team. I’ll always touch base with them to start the day, discussing any upcoming meetings, ongoing tasks, and any hurdles we might be facing. Then, I generally work through my emails, which might include setting up client meetings, sharing agendas, or requesting data and information.

10.30 AM

At 10:30, I have my first client call. I’m midway through a project with a large hospital client whom we are supporting to uplift their risk management. We are meeting with the head of their emergency department to discuss a few of the key risks they face. We debrief as a team afterwards. Having come from a commerce background, blending this with the healthcare industry makes for really interesting work.

12.30 PM

We head out for lunch around 12:30 and grab some food from one of our favourite lunch spots, a Vietnamese restaurant on the ground floor of our building. While we have lunch, we chat about an upcoming social club event—go-karting—which was an office favourite last year. I managed to pull off the second-fastest lap last year; this year, I’ve got my sights set on first.

1.30 PM

After lunch, I have a one-on-one with my career advisor. We catch up monthly, and this is a great time to debrief on how my projects are going. We also had a great chat about goals for the rest of the year and some of the types of projects I’d like to get exposure to.

2.00 PM

The afternoon is packed today. The team is facilitating a workshop with our client to develop some potential solutions to the challenges they are facing. Specifically, we’re working through the ways the hospital manages and monitors occupational violence and aggression, including through their security contractors, training, and incident reporting. We use Design Thinking methods throughout the workshop to drive innovation and creativity, which helps deliver some great outcomes.

3.30 PM

To wrap up my workday, we receive some data from the hospital we are working with, and the team gets straight into doing some data analysis to better understand the trends and areas we might need to focus our efforts on. As consultants, we spend plenty of time in Excel dealing with numbers, and by the end of the day, we have a simple dashboard put together to discuss with the client tomorrow.

5.30 PM

Time to wrap up for the day. A few of the other consultants are heading out for a few drinks, so we go to our favourite bar before calling it a day and heading home.

Bianca McMahon

Coffee number two. One of my favourite lockdown impulse purchases is a mini barista coffee machine complete with a milk steaming wand and bean grinder. I am a coffee lover and I enjoy heading to a café with my friends and colleagues. This was the closest I could get to that during lockdown!

6.45 AM

My first alarm goes off. Snooze.

7.00 AM

I drag myself out of bed and grab a banana. I put my earphones in and play some music while I get ready.

7.20 AM

I head out the door. Depending on current lockdown restrictions I either head to the gym or the park for a run.

8.10 AM

Back home. I jump into the shower and then make myself a coffee and a snack. Once I'm at least halfway through my coffee I scroll through my emails and action as required.

9.30 AM

All emails have been responded to and I check in with my Engagement Manager. We have a client meeting later in the day and I begin preparing questions based on document reviews and prior walkthroughs.

10.30 AM

Coffee number two. One of my favourite lockdown impulse purchases is a mini barista coffee machine complete with a milk steaming wand and bean grinder. I am a coffee lover and I enjoy heading to a café with my friends and colleagues. This was the closest I could get to that during lockdown! With a bit more caffeine in my system, I get back to work. Time to get started on a process map for an upcoming client deliverable.

12.00 PM

I have an internal call with some colleagues to go over any thoughts before our upcoming client meeting. It’s for an ASX Top 100 client in the financial services industry around their risks and controls. We bounce our ideas off each other and agree upon the direction of how we’re going to resolve the clients’ problems. We also use the call as a chance to check-in and catch up - it's important to stay connected when we're all working from home.

1.00 PM

I begin the long walk from my desk to the kitchen to have my lunch. I love cooking so I've already prepared my meals for the week. I'm also lucky enough to have a housemate who works from home. She takes out her lunch as well and we chat about our weekend plans.

We then make another coffee together and head back to our desks. I have a few emails waiting for me so I action those.

2.45 PM

Our client meeting is finished, and my team and I jump on a call to discuss our observations. We then set out our next steps and plan of attack.

I ask the team if they are attending the Social Club event later this week. Our Social Club has arranged a variety of online and in-person events (pending restrictions) and this week we're heading on a "Mystery Dinner", we won't find out who we are dining with until we arrive at the venue. We are all looking forward to catching up in person, so everyone confirms they'll be attending.

We end the call with a plan to check in the next day.

4.00 PM

By now I've gone through my meeting notes and documented any observations in our risk and control matrix. The client has sent through their key process documentation that I've started reading through, but it's now time to jump into a call with some colleagues in Sydney. Protiviti has several Diversity and Inclusion networks including ProPride, iGROWW Women's Network, the Multicultural Network, and the Parents Network. I am currently assisting with the planning of ProPride's next event. We decide on an idea for next month and get to planning our execution strategy.

5.00 PM

I finish off the day by reading through more client documents and working to understand their key processes. I write down my questions and observations, ready to discuss them with my colleagues in the morning.

6.30 PM

I like to make sure I leave the house and do something interesting each night. Today I have a netball game. I enjoy the 20-minute walk to my netball centre and meet my team by the court. It's great to play a team sport after such a long lockdown. My team and I have a lot of fun!

8.00 PM

Home again. I pop the TV on and start cooking my dinner. My housemate arrives home a bit later and we chat about our weeknight activities.

10.00 PM

I jump into bed and watch Netflix for a while until I'm tired enough to sleep.

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