Teneo - Managing work, family life and my hidden disability.

We spoke to Eliza, Assistant Director, People & Ops in the Financial Advisory Team about managing her hidden disability along with balancing family life and work.

 

 

I have been at Teneo since transferring from Deloitte in 2021.  I am an Associate Director, working with the Teneo Financial Advisory leadership team on business-critical priorities and communications.

 

What led you to this point on your career path?

I started work for Deloitte after university on their graduate programme in Restructuring Services. In my 20s I had a stroke and brain haemorrhage, resulting in brain surgery to remove a tumour.  I took a significant amount of time off work to rehab in a stroke unit and recover from surgery.  I continued to have seizures, as well as chronic pain due to nerve damage caused by the craniotomy.  I now live with the effects of my brain injury (such as pain and fatigue) which impacts my ability to work. 

Whilst returning to client facing restructuring work wasn’t the right fit for me as I recovered, the team and I created high impact roles where I could add tangible value to the business. Examples of these include being the Restructuring Services project manager on the sale of Deloitte Restructuring Services business to Teneo, and working with the Financial Advisory Exec on special projects.

 

 

What inspired you to pursue the career path you have chosen?

I did a placement year, between school and university, in Audit at Deloitte.  At 18 I loved the chance to get to learn more about business, and everyone I worked with was interesting, ambitious and smart.  I had a lot of fun. It totally sold me on a career in professional services and I’m delighted to still be working with the same team I joined as a graduate, now at Teneo.

 

What significant obstacle have you had to overcome as a member of an under-represented group in order to get to where you are today?

Having a disability and maintaining a career has its challenges – but it is something I’m really proud to be doing.  I was told by doctors that I could be signed off work indefinitely – but the fact that my team have supported me throughout my career to maintain a presence in the workplace means so much to me.   I also have 3 young children and my condition has been exacerbated by having a family, and Teneo have been incredibly supportive.

 

There are a variety of reasons I feel I can be successful at Teneo alongside my disability. These include:

• A culture of trust.  I feel trusted to complete my work obligations flexibly over the week.  Teneo have enabled a flexible working pattern for me – I work my hours across the week in shorter days rather than long days.  This also enables me to fit in any hospital or physio appointments, as well as being with my children.
• Equality with peers.  I have exactly the same career conversations, learning, development and support as my full-time colleagues.  Whilst working part time to manage my condition and symptoms, I have still been able to progress my career and have been asked to take up exciting career opportunities.
• Open mindedness.  The leadership team have found a role for me that fits the “important but not urgent” criteria – such that I add value to the business and feel I am contributing meaningfully, but my role can be delivered within the parameters of my needs.
• Supportive environment. My disability is “invisible” but I feel the culture here enables me to talk about it with my team where needed, and I know who to speak to if I need support. There are regular check ins with leadership where I feel comfortable asking for reasonable adjustments.
• Allies.  I have an “ally” who looks out for me – he checks in with me and knows what symptoms to look out for if I’m overdoing it.

 

I would absolutely encourage anyone with a disability to consider Teneo as an employer – it’s a fantastic place for the next chapter of my career.

 

For further information about the culture and opportunities at Teneo please click here