Kim O'Connor
Grant Thorton
New York, NY USA
"You’re not alone in being afraid. The first time anyone tries something new, you never know if you can do it. You have a choice at that point to either back away from it because you are afraid, or to be vulnerable and take a leap. That’s the only way you can figure out what really lights you up."
Career Roadmap
Kim's work combines: Business, Numbers, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Economics, General
The Wharton School
Vocational
Neuroscience Leadership Program
Columbia University
Life & Career Milestones
1.
I grew up on the west coast of the U.S. and always wanted to go to the University of California, Berkeley—I began attending with the goal of getting a degree in liberal arts.
2.
Before I got a chance to graduate, my mom got really sick, so I moved back home and began working.
3.
I met someone who worked as a CPA and I really liked the sound of their job.
4.
Decided to go back to school and attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where I received my bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting.
5.
Started exploring different client and company environments in order to figure out what I liked—along the way, I worked at mutual fund, manufacturing, and medical advice companies.
6.
Began working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a partner, where I worked for over 15 years.
7.
In 2004, I decided to go to Grant Thornton, where I now work as the managing partner in the Boston office.
8.
I also serve on the board of directors of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Am I going to be able to learn this fast enough? Will I understand everything?
How I responded:
Early in my career when I was still learning and exploring, every time I went into something new I was concerned that I wouldn't know enough or would be too far behind. I opened myself up to learning as much as I could. I just started taking lots of notes and asking questions. I also opened up the lines of dialogue with my clients and helped them understand that I was still learning and training.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When I was still in college, my mom became very sick, so I made the decision to take a year and a half off from school, move back home, and start working.
I don’t think there’s been any time that I’ve done something that is new where I haven’t been afraid or doubted my abilities. I've learned to trust the belief that other people have in me.
When I was first starting out, I was often the only woman at the table. That has changed over the years, but at the time I became more intentional about figuring out why that was. I became an advocate for women in this field and recruited them more.