Deep Shah, CFO, Hall & Partners.

I feel so very privileged to have won an Asian Women of Achievement award this year. It’s such a prestigious accolade and I still cannot believe I have got my name against one. It’s been just over three weeks since the glamorous evening of the awards took place, and my head has been spinning with excitement and joy ever since. The last several weeks since receiving the award have also given me some time to digest what this all really means for me.

Looking beyond the beautifully shiny award I was presented with, the experience has given me a real confidence boost and made me truly believe that anything is possible. I have been overwhelmed with messages of support. It has made me feel that people believe in me! It’s real, and it’s a wonderful feeling indeed.

Looking back and looking forward, if I were to sum up the award journey, it would be this; at first it was a competition, second came the win, and thirdly, and most importantly, come the responsibilities.

The primary responsibility is that of being a role model to those around me, as well as to those who don’t even know me. I would like to use the award to help young people to recognise that they too can achieve their goals and ambitions. I think it’s so important they acknowledge, that to be at their best and their most powerful, they just have to be themselves. Because nobody can do you better than you! I have never fitted into the traditional CFO box and have always been labelled as ‘a bit different’. But that has ended up being my strength and that is what I believe also makes me unique in my job and career.

The next responsibility is one which involves being a voice of representation. It is common knowledge that the communications industry has struggled with ethnic diversity. I myself experienced this first hand when I very recently went to an event run for women in communications and advertising. My observations showed me there were approximately 300 delegates, of which less than 5% were women from an ethnic background. I believe the AWA award will help me to strengthen my own voice within the industry, and to help promote ethnically diverse cultures through businesses. I want to understand and identify why the industry is still predominantly white. I would like to understand the changes that are needed which will address inclusion of people from ethnic backgrounds into our industry. I then want to make those changes happen! Surely a much more ethnically diverse workforce can only make the communications world richer in skills, experience and knowledge?

As I mentioned in my acceptance speech at the AWA awards ceremony…life is a journey and you have to trust it, as it will always take you to exactly where you need to be. Suffice to say, the AWA award has pushed me out of my comfort zone. It has started to change my life and is shifting my journey in ways I would never have imagined.

But ultimately, it is a dream come true and something I will forever cherish.