Louise English

Q. How did your training with the firm equip you for your career?
My training with the firm was invaluable. The excellent training which I received ensured I developed my technical as well as my personal skills to my full potential.

While with PwC, I worked with a wide variety of clients across many industry sectors from banking to telecoms to manufacturing which deepened my business and commercial skills. It is this experience, advising and helping clients to develop their businesses that really stood to me. However, it is the people at PwC and the friends that I made that really made PwC a great place to work and a great starting point for any career.

Q. What path has your career followed since leaving the Firm?
I left PwC to join IBI Corporate Finance where I worked over 10 years and held a number of positions including Head of Business Development and Director of Mergers & Acquisitions.

I am a member of the Institute of Directors and have served on the Boards of both public and private companies, including Bord na Mona and Sherry FitzGerald. I am currently a Non-Executive Director of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and An Post and Chairperson of FM104.

Q. Have you found the PwC Alumni Network beneficial?
The PwC Alumni Network has been and continues to be enormous benefit to me. Through the regular events it provides a valuable way to stay in touch with past and present colleagues.

In addition, the regular communications and technical updates ensure that you stay up to date on the latest developments. In particular, the regular PwC points of view and insights ensure I am up to speed on the business issues of the day. But most importantly, it provides a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and perspectives with colleagues and particularly in the current environment having a supportive network around you is critical.

Q. What is the most valuable business lesson you have learnt?
That to do anything, you need a team of people working together. In my experience, the big lesson I have learnt that it is by working together, collaborating with people, that the best project or service is delivered. The other lesson I have learnt is to recognise your shortcomings and to have experts on the team to cover those areas.

Q. You are currently sitting on a number of boards, including An Post and St Vincent's Healthcare Group. How do you see the increased focus on Corporate Governance impacting on Non- Executive Directors?
More so than ever, Non-Executive Directors have a critical role to play in ensuring that the culture of the organisation fosters openness and transparency where the 'tone at the top' sets the ethical atmosphere with the highest of standards and integrity.

In our continuing difficult operating environment, the application of sound corporate governance principles is critical. Now more than ever, a new approach is needed. One that is not afraid to challenge previous practices and that insists on personal accountability at all levels in the organisation. When there is the slightest sign of an irregularity, Non-Executives must ensure they have asked the right questions and obtained answers that make sense and that feel right.

Q. How do you see the business outlook for the future?
There is no doubt that 2009 was the most challenging year many companies have had to face. Many organisations have taken their share of pain through cost control initiatives and workforce reductions. However, while there is no doubt that retrenchment is ongoing in some areas and companies continue to tackle their cost base, many are now looking beyond the short term and clearly identifying how they can position themselves for growth. The challenges for Ireland are clearly to restore our national competitiveness and international reputation, focus on continuing to maintain an attractive environment where indigenous firms can thrive, and position ourselves as a prime location of choice for foreign direct investment.