Next Stage Unlocked: Louie levels up in his career journey

“I didn’t see it coming but maybe that’s what made it even more meaningful.”

That’s the first thought that came to mind when I found out I was being promoted to supervisor. I was genuinely speechless. Grateful. Humbled. And, honestly, a little stunned. I never imagined that the quiet, eager junior IT compliance officer who walked through the Firm’s doors almost 5 years  ago would one day be entrusted with a leadership role.

Before, I didn’t have all the answers (and honestly, I still don’t.) The only thing I had was a willingness to learn, a strong sense of purpose, and the guidance of leaders and teammates who believed in me even when I doubted myself. The past year hasn’t been without challenges. I’ve been placed in situations where I had to lead but didn’t feel ready. Because of doubt, I struggled with balancing expectations, making decisions, while ensuring I was supporting the team in the right way. Those were the moments I learned the most. I’ve realized that leadership may be about knowing it all but it’s also about showing up, listening deeply, and having the courage to grow through the challenges.

Since my first day here, I’ve been immersed in the world of IT compliance. I support audits, monitor risks, raise awareness on Firm policies, and work across teams to improve how we govern our systems. Along the way, I’ve joined Firm-wide initiatives, was part of cybersecurity awareness efforts, and found myself continuously growing in confidence, skill, and heart.

Now, as I step into this new role as a supervisor, I feel both honored and challenged. I know that leadership requires greater responsibility at making better decisions and that it also requires making space for others to thrive. It’s a heavy role to say the least but what excites me most is that I have the chance to shape a culture where compliance becomes second nature and leadership is shared.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is making cybersecurity and policy awareness more engaging, less of a formality, and more of a mindset. I want our team to feel empowered not just to follow policies, but to lead with purpose and confidence.

With that, I also have the privilege of contributing to the Firm’s Technology Consulting Services (TCS). TCS is a service that promises to help clients harness technology for sustainable growth and transformation. And being part of this mission and helping raise awareness on cybersecurity while supporting client needs, has been one of the most meaningful parts of my role so far.

As we begin a new fiscal year, my goals are clear: to build a stronger compliance culture, to collaborate more across the firm, and to help grow a TCS program that delivers real, lasting value.

If there’s one message I’d like to share with colleagues who dream of being promoted someday, it’s this: you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. I began my journey unsure of what to do, where to begin, or what the future would hold. But I kept going—step by step, learning through every challenge, and leaning on the guidance of my leaders and teammates who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.  

The journey might not be easy but one day, it’ll be your story that inspires someone else to believe in their own.