Hayley graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Management/ Bachelor of Applied Economics from the University of Canberra. She excelled academically, and was invited to become a lifetime member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
In 2004, Hayley auditioned and placed fourth in Australian Idol. Following this, she established a small business in the entertainment industry, managing all creative and administrative aspects, including strategic planning, marketing and promotion, research and analysis of industry trends, project management and basic accounting, as well as song writing, recording and performing at high profile events in Australia and internationally, including for Coalition forces in the Middle East (Iraq).
Whilst in her final year of study, Hayley worked at the Commonwealth Bank, gaining experience in the financial services industry (retail banking). During this time she also gave private and group music tuition, and travelled to the Solomon Islands with the Australian High Commission to perform and help organise a community building project, Solo Idol, empowering young people.
Hayley joined Accenture, Sydney as a graduate analyst in February 2009. She was invited to be on the internal panel for International Women’s Day, and is excited about the diverse opportunities the company has to offer.
What area of the company do you work in specifically? I am a consultant, in Systems Integration & Technology (SI&T), aligned to SAP.
What project are you currently working on? I’ve just started at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Core Banking Modernization Project (CBM) as a Test Analyst in the Customer Migration area.
What is it like being a graduate at Accenture? Joining Accenture as a graduate has been an exciting experience. There is a lot to learn, especially in relation to the organisational structure, however, there’s plenty of help available if you use initiative, and the KX is an incredible global resource.
The people, opportunities and culture make Accenture an inspiring place to work. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to complete some essential training interstate, share my experiences as part of the internal panel at International Women’s Day (Sydney), and get involved in some exciting business development work. I’m looking forward to starting on my first project, and attending Core Analyst School.
Why did you choose Accenture, and how did you get the job? Although I applied and received offers from a number of consulting firms, my first preference was always Accenture.
I remember being in High School when two of my cousins were accepted into a graduate program with Accenture (Anderson Consulting/Arthur Anderson). They were given opportunities to travel all over the world to work and receive training. Their careers have flourished because of the experiences they had with the firm. They also made valuable lifelong friendships with many of the people they worked with during that time.
I applied through the Accenture website, and had 3 interviews before being accepted into the graduate program.
Tell us about your family. I was lucky to meet the man of my dreams, Tim, in my final year of high school. We were together for 4 years before deciding to tie the knot in a fairytale style wedding in 2004.
My mother, Denise, lives in Canberra where I grew up, and is a Director at the Department of Defence. My father, Rod, lives and works in Wodonga, VIC.
What is on your reading list? ‘Emotional Intelligence’, Daniel Goleman & ‘The Dream Giver’, Bruce Wilkinson.
What is your favorite sport, recreational activity or pastime? Singing, jogging & community service.
Who are your mentors? And why? I don’t really have one specific mentor; I’m inspired by women who stretch themselves, beyond the stereotype or status quo, to achieve their dreams, whatever they may be. I draw a lot of inspiration from the women in my family.
What is your secret for living a healthy life? Making sure I balance work with downtime, fresh air, fresh food and a Berocca every morning!
What is your favourite holiday spot? For weekend getaways, we head to the NSW South Coast. My favorite location for an overseas vacation would have to be either Venice or Ireland.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Walks along the beach Esplanade, so refreshing!
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? Growing up I was an avid horse rider, and wanted to go to the Olympics for show jumping. I would train every morning before school and attended pony club religiously.
What is the one characteristic you value most in a person? Honesty
What is your favorite thing about Accenture? The myriad of opportunities available for people who are self-motivated and the company vision of high-performance.