CEO Lecture Series: Lead with integrity and transparency

Dipti Gulati, CEO of Audit & Assurance at Deloitte, came to Rutgers Business School for a fireside chat with over 300 students. The event featured Jay A. Soled, distinguished professor and department chair of Accounting and Information Systems, who asked Gulati questions and guided the conversation to give students insight into building meaningful careers. 

Gulati shared stories and experiences from her 35-year career in the accounting and audit profession, from an entry-level position right out of college to CEO of Deloitte’s US Audit & Assurance business, leading over 20,000 professionals. She leads with integrity and transparency. Her commitment to advancing the accounting profession includes engaging with universities and organizations such as the Center for Audit Quality.

Soled encouraged the students to ask questions to hear directly from a senior executive about the accounting and audit industry and how Gulati sees it evolving in the years ahead. The students’ questions mostly centered on two areas: How will AI and technology impact careers, and what is most important for creating a satisfying and rewarding career?

Gulati said advancing technology has always been part of the accounting and audit profession, and it is just a tool. She advised students to be continuous learners and stay curious, but human and soft skills are increasingly important. “Technology cannot replace judgment; interpersonal communication and connecting with people are more important than ever,” she said. 

Gulati believes a rewarding career results from working in an environment where you can be your authentic self and work with others who share your values and ethics. We are each responsible for creating our own rewarding career, Gulati said.

“In every industry, but especially in accounting, doing right by your clients and your colleagues is crucially important for creating a rewarding career,” said Gulati. “I lead with integrity and ethics; if I see something that is not right, I speak up. If you lose your integrity and ethics, you lose everything.”

RBS and Deloitte have a long-standing partnership that enables students to engage with alumni and senior executives for insights into the accounting and audit profession, as well as for internships and career opportunities. The partnership also provides Deloitte with an invaluable talent pool.

Gulati and other senior leaders from Deloitte also came to Rutgers Business School to meet with Dean Lei Lei and other Rutgers Business School leaders to exchange updates on ongoing initiatives and to discuss future collaboration opportunities.

-Sean Ireland