Hartford Business Journal

30 Hartford Business Journal • April 6, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2020 PWC Partner Manaktala builds strong relationships, employees By Matthew Broderick Special to the Hartford Business Journal O ne of Shilpa Manak- tala's principles of leadership is to be adaptable to change. It's a philosophy that's served her well during her 15-year career in accounting, which has seen technology transform the profession and her own portfolio of clients — across multiple industries. "Change is about being comfort- able with the uncomfortable," she said. "Ultimately, [one] grows from that experience." For Manaktala, 2019 was a banner year for change. In July she became a partner — one of four — in the Hartford office of accounting giant PwC and last fall, gave birth to her third child. It's a balancing act that, in the immediate term, has motivated Manaktala to create more personal boundaries for herself, but also to emphasize flexibility as a leader. "I think work-life balance is differ- ent for each individual," she says. "I try to be a champion for flexibility so when [employees] are at work they're present and engaged, but open and upfront about other com- mitments they have." It's Manaktala's care for her team's well-being and professional growth that have helped her build strong re- lationships with her colleagues, says Keith Hubert, managing partner of PwC's Hartford office. "Shilpa provides a positive ex- ample through her energy and drive, but also spearheads lunch breaks and healthy habits [for her team] — especially during the firm's busy [tax] season," Hubert said. "She also uses her personal experiences to mentor younger managers." Being a role model is one of the aspects of her leadership role that Manaktala values most and a profes- sional experience that being a mother has helped her appreciate more. "Having three kids, each with their own personality, has helped build my emotional IQ," Manaktala said. "It reinvigorated my awareness of people's different learning styles and the importance of adapting my coaching style." That's allowed Manaktala to be an effective mentor and develop younger professionals. "Mentoring has been a real focus of mine during the course of my career, to create a supportive envi- ronment and give people the tools and opportunities to stretch them- selves," Manaktala said, noting she's relied on her own set of mentors during her career. "First and foremost is my mom, a pediatrician, who was able to bal- ance work and family, so I grew up watching her juggling those respon- sibilities," Manaktala said. "She's always been my cheerleader over my career and a great role model." She also credits her professors at UConn, where she graduated as class valedictorian in 2004, as positive influences, including many female mentors. "It's always great to see women supporting other women," she said. Manaktala, in turn, has overseen her firm's efforts to recruit talent from UConn with a focus on in- creasing diversity, a passion of hers. She currently serves as the partner champion of diversity at her firm. "When you build a diverse team, you get a broad set of skills and idea sharing that you otherwise wouldn't get," she explained. Manaktala's leadership style fos- ters effective communication, says PwC's Hubert. "She's very effective and transpar- ent and handles difficult discussions with authenticity and empathy," Hubert said. Manaktala said she tries to be a good listener and responsive to employees' needs. "[Leadership] comes down to relationships and how you treat and interact with people," she said. That's something Manaktala doesn't plan to change. Shilpa Manaktala Partner PwC What's been your biggest profes- sional accomplishment so far? Being admitted to the PwC part- nership this past summer is my proudest professional accomplish- ment to date. This achievement represents the culmination of over 15 years of personal growth and development and dedication to my teams and clients. I highly value the wide variety of engage- ments I've led across the financial services industry. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? Diversity and inclusion are a business imperative, and it's my personal goal to continue to at- tract, develop and retain diverse talent. The ultimate measure of success will be our ability to build a sustained pipeline of diverse leaders and partners to support our firm's strategies. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? My legacy will be shaped by the next generation of leaders that I had the privilege to mentor and coach. I hope to be remembered as a caring and compassionate leader who invested in people and inspired others through my actions. I am guided by my core values of integ- rity, commitment, and ambition. What are your keys to maintain- ing business success? To sustain success, it's critical to demonstrate agility. We operate in a dynamic environment, with unprecedented levels of change in technology, regulations, etc. Being able to adapt and seek out chal- lenging roles is vital to ensuring personal growth and development. What are your keys to main- taining work/life balance? As a proud mom of three young children, I strive to be an advo- cate for working families, and understand the importance of leading by example. I encourage my teams to carve out protected time for themselves each day. Promoting flexibility fosters improved physical and mental well-being and is key to boosting morale and productivity. PHOTO | J. FIERECK PHOTOGRPHY

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