The million-dollar question
Where do you want to take your career? Priya Kapur is leveraging her CPA designation to map out her path at a Big Four
When a person loves their job, a decade at an organization can feel like 10 days. For Purva (Priya) Kapur CPA, CA, nine years at KPMG have flown by for three reasons: the global environment, the people, and the opportunities.
In 2018, Priya accepted a role as Senior Manager of Global Learning and Development with KPMG International, and in 2019, she travelled 27 times to seven countries and three continents. “I was always on a flight, always switching time zones. You almost don’t feel the jet lag because of the adrenaline and the anticipation of meeting and connecting with colleagues from other parts of the world,” says Priya.
Travelling the world in fashionable business outfits and being part of something on a global scale are exactly how Priya envisioned her career during her early post-secondary years. In fact, it is this vision that spurred her decision to attend business school, where she discovered the CPA career path.
Since joining KPMG, Priya has reinvented herself multiple times. “I can live where I want and do the type of work I enjoy,” she says. “The senior manager title can be misleading because I do so many different things.”
In a nutshell, she collaborates with subject matter experts, instructional designers, and programmers to develop and deploy training materials to 146 member firms. Part of that deployment includes teaching KPMG auditors around the world new courses based on updates in rules and standards. “If you are a people person, this is the perfect place to be. I am from Edmonton, a tiny dot on the map, and when I find myself sitting in Singapore, facilitating a course for leaders from Taiwan, Japan, China, and other countries in the region, it feels amazing.
“It boils down to having the skills to create your own opportunities within the firm. As soon as someone sees that you have the CPA designation, they know you have the business acumen; they know you can lead a team. The question becomes, ‘What do you want to do?’” says Priya.
For Priya, one of the answers to that question is advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at a leadership level. “Being raised by parents who emigrated from India, and then entering the business world, I didn’t see a lot of women or people of colour in leadership roles. At KPMG, I looked around the boardroom table and didn’t see representation that reflected the broader company.”
The desire for inclusivity inspired Priya to create the Women’s Interchange Network, a forum where female professionals can network with each other and build relationships. “With the support of my leaders, we’re connecting across borders and showcasing women at different levels.”
Priya encourages post-secondary students to get involved in passion projects. “Whether it’s improving diversity around the boardroom table or working on charitable endeavours, being a well-rounded professional will help you succeed at a firm.”
Rapid-fire Q&A with Priya Kapur
What is your favourite tech gadget?
My new Airpods Pro. They’re life-changing because I can take calls on the go.
How tall are you?
5’1”, which is why I can always get away with 4” heels at work.
What are some top technology trends you’re seeing in accounting?
Data analytics and technology that allow people to communicate and collaborate.
What is the best part of working remotely?
Dress clothes on top and loungewear on the bottom.
What is your least favourite part of working remotely?
Not connecting with people in person.
What is one app you can’t live without?
Spotify because music is how I express myself.
What is one skill a post-secondary student must have to work at a Big Four?
The ability to adapt and learn.