Through our value of inclusion, Protiviti fosters an environment of continuous cultural learning and celebrates our employees, who each have their own unique identities. For Asian American and Pacific Islander Month this May, we had a chance to catch up with two of our employees who share their perspectives and experience.
Anna, Operations, San Francisco
Anna at her graduation from UC Davis
Talk about the importance and meaning of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month to you…
Considering the backlash and social stigma towards the Asian-American community within these past few months, I think this month is more important to me than ever before. Growing up as a first-generation Chinese American, there have been numerous occasions where I struggled with my dual identity. From trying to preserve my parents’ traditional culture and heritage, to being able to adapt to U.S. traditions – I was never able to find a perfect balance of the two. It’s a continuous journey, but I’ve realized that I am able to be and represent both cultures. I think it’s great that we celebrate this month, as it recognizes the blend of both identities for myself, as well as many others who come from a similar background. It also highlights the achievements that Asian Americans have accomplished throughout the years.
What is a good book you would recommend?
One of the best books I’ve read was, “The Devotion of Suspect X” by Keigo Higashino, who happens to be a Japanese author. The story follows a mathematician and his love interest who cover up an accidental murder, and how he predicts, formulates, and calculates the necessary steps needed to successfully get away with it. The book was well-written and kept me on my toes. I would definitely recommend others to check it out!
Anna in Seoul
If you could live anywhere, where would you go?
I would love to live in Taiwan for a year. With the combined cultures from Japan and China, Taiwan is full of enriching cultures, great food, night markets, and my personal favorite, bubble tea – what more could I ask for?
What other places have you lived?
I lived in Seoul for three months during my study abroad in college and loved everything about it. Korean food is my favorite type of cuisine, so having restaurants that were open 24 hours a day was a dream! I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, numerous nightlife activities, and the fact that many places were open late made it a perfect spot for a night owl like me. It was an overall great experience and I’m counting the days until I can (safely) go back!
What energizes you most about our company?
Definitely the people that I get to work with. I think the culture that we have, especially in the San Francisco office, is super close-knit and special. The individuals here motivate, challenge and inspire me all at the same time. I’m grateful to have awesome mentors, both official and unofficial, that look out for me and support my growth, personally and professionally.
Paul, Senior Manager, Chicago
Paul and his wife on their wedding day
Talk about the importance and meaning of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month to you…
Being a first-generation immigrant from Chinese parents, I believe my experiences growing up shaped me personally and professionally. Our collective diversity allows us to bring a unique perspective in problem solving. It is great to see to see diversity being celebrated and recognized. I’m proud to see Asian/Pacific Islanders being recognized as leaders across all industries and professions.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
My high school football coach, a retired Navy SEAL, said, “Your mind can take ten times the pain your body tells it.” He would tell us this as we are “buddy carrying” fellow teammates up and down the staircase next to the gymnasium as part of our workouts. It wasn’t until many years later that I finally understood what he meant. Stopping when things get hard is easy. However, success requires mental toughness to keep pushing even when things get tough.
Paul with his Grandma and Aunt
What are three characteristics/skills you need to be a great consultant?
The characteristics of being a great consultant are: Be respectful, resourceful, and resilient. Though opinions can vary from person to person, it is important to be respectful of individuals and what they bring to the team. Respect helps form a foundation of trust that creates a high-performing team.
Being resourceful is also important, because contrary to popular belief, consultants don’t know everything. However, great consultants can effectively leverage resources such as mentors, subject matter experts, and tools like Google to find the answer.
Lastly, great consultants are resilient. Often times the correct answer is not the first proposed solution. Great consultants have the mental toughness to work through setbacks and solve a complex problem iteratively.
At Protiviti, we are a global, mobile, flexible and dedicated workforce. While navigating the challenges presented daily by the developing COVID-19 pandemic, our teams are working from home to prevent the spread of infection and minimize risk to our broader communities.
Hear from More of Our Team
#MyProtivitiStory: We believe the best way to understand the core of our organization is through our people. These short videos are a reflection of our people’s stories and experiences.
Join Our Team
For meaningful career opportunities and open positions, visit Protiviti.com/careers.
To Learn More – Follow Us!
To learn more about our company culture, be sure to follow the hashtag, #LivingProtiviti, on your social platforms.
