12th March 2026

Deloitte – Te, Assistant Manager

My journey so far…

I grew up in Barry, near Cardiff, with my parents and four brothers. School wasn’t easy for me. I was a slow developer and struggled academically from a young age. Before being diagnosed with dyslexia, I went through speech therapy, and I often found myself in trouble at school. At the time, I didn’t feel very smart — and I didn’t always get the right support to help me thrive. Music was my escape. I loved it. That passion led me to further education college, where I studied music and completed a BTEC. After that, a university took a chance on me and offered me a place on a criminology course with a foundation year. It was an opportunity that changed everything. In my first year, I struggled again — particularly with group exercises. That led to a reassessment for dyslexia, which uncovered something else: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). That diagnosis was another turning point. With it came access to one-to-one support, assistive technology, and — most importantly — guidance on how I learn best. For the first time, I understood myself better and had the tools to succeed. Throughout my studies, I worked part-time in a call centre, a retail shop and as security at a train station. Each role built my confidence and helped me develop transferable skills — communication, resilience, teamwork — even if I didn’t realise it at the time. After graduating, I joined Deloitte’s Cardiff Delivery Centre as a contractor in the personal independence team. The role focuses on ensuring our people maintain appropriate financial associations outside of work. I believe it was my varied work experience and ability to talk confidently about those transferable skills that helped me secure the position.

Work that matters

Since joining Deloitte, I’ve been fortunate to grow and develop. After building confidence and learning how the business operates, I moved into cyber risk — an area that had interested me since university.

Now, as an Assistant Manager in the Cyber Risk team, I help the firm manage cybersecurity risks, procedures and policies. My work includes:

Advising on major projects to ensure security is considered from the start
Checking that security policies are followed effectively
Assessing and testing security controls
Managing third-party and supplier risks
Supporting data protection efforts
Assisting with responses to cyber incidents

Cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and I enjoy working in a space where learning never stops.

Alongside my core role, I’m proud to be co-lead of the Neurodiversity Network. Earlier in my career, I sometimes struggled to relate to others or felt unsure about how to be open about my differences. Having a safe space where people can talk honestly about neurodiversity is incredibly important. I’ve been involved from the beginning and have loved watching the network grow and support more people across the firm.

I’m also a mum. My pregnancy was very difficult, and during that time I needed flexibility. I was able to reduce my hours and work from home when I was unwell. I was also offered mentoring before and after maternity leave, which made returning to work much smoother. That support meant a lot to me.

Three things I’ve learned

Stay positive
For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I’ve learned to recognise my strengths and focus on what I bring to the table.

Keep perspective
It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but we’re not all starting from the same place. Reflecting on how far you’ve come matters.

Be kind
It sounds simple, but kindness makes a huge difference — at work and in life.