Meet an Auditor: Seema Pajula

With so many careers to choose from, finding the right fit can be challenging for students. When Seema Pajula was little, she wanted to be a bus driver, the first female major league baseball player, the person who cured cancer, and even a shark researcher. Now, she’s a Vice Chairman and US Industries and Insights Leader at Deloitte. You can discover her story in the Share Your Road portal.

Though Seema had multiple career interests when she was younger, a career in audit allowed her to explore many different avenues. A career in audit requires an understanding of the economy, financial statements, what it takes to run a business, and how to build relationships. When you choose a career in audit, you never know what doors you’ll open. 

For Seema, finding her path to audit had its fair share of hurdles. As a first-generation immigrant with a single mother, Seema knew that she didn’t fit the mold of a typical leader in the field. She used this as motivation to work even harder and eventually became the first woman of color in several leadership positions at her firm. That’s quite the accomplishment! 

During her career, Seema faced discrimination for her race and gender, but now that she’s a leader in the profession she can open doors for future auditors like her. Her journey proves that with hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything. 

By having thick skin, a relentless work ethic, and determination to succeed, Seema broke through the typical mold of a leader at a large firm. Seema has earned respect and support during her career, and now students can be inspired by her journey. 

What advice does Seema have for future auditors?

• Be willing to speak up, fight, and question things.
• Grit, tenacity, and hard work are key.
• Strive for excellence in school.
• Emotional intelligence is critical. 

If you want to know more about Seema Pajula’s journey, check out her Share Your Road profile.