With the first cohort of our Generation Valuable programme now underway, we spoke to Ina de Vos, an alumni of our pilot programme who has been with KPMG South Africa for nearly 26 years. In this interview, Ina shares her journey of personal growth, mentorship, and advocacy for disability inclusion in the workplace since participating in our pilot program in 2023.
Tell us about yourself, your career journey, and your relationship to disability inclusion?
I am a 57-year-old Caucasian woman and I identify as she/her. My motto in life is “Be kind always”. I have been with KPMG South Africa for nearly 26 years and have had the privilege of experiencing incredible opportunities throughout my journey. Currently, I serve as the People Analyst for KPMG in South Africa, and I truly love my role and the exposure it brings.
I have a medical disability that is not immediately visible. I live with asthma and coronary artery disease, which necessitate ongoing medication, sometimes making it difficult for me to function in a traditional office environment.
I am a passionate advocate for encouraging colleagues to self-disclose their medical disabilities, helping them understand that our work environment will not discriminate against them. Many colleagues fear that revealing their circumstances may not be in their best interest, but I am committed to showing them that transparency can lead to a more supportive workplace.
How did you become involved in Generation Valuable?
In my role in People, Performance and Culture in South Africa, I work closely with the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) team, as I am a member of the Disability Support team, responsible for organizing all sessions we host across KPMG in South Africa. In addition to event planning, our team provides direct support to our colleagues with disabilities. We are committed to educating and raising awareness among the broader workforce on how to appropriately engage with and support colleagues with disabilities.
When one of my colleagues from the IDE team told me about the Generation Valuable program in 2023, I thought it was a good opportunity to be part of the first cohort as well as learn more about Valuable 500. Initially, I was hesitant about working with a mentor I had never met, particularly someone from a different country. However, I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and expand my network. I also saw the impact this could have on my personal and professional development, so I was fortunate enough to have been selected to participate.
Can you take us through the journey of your relationship with your mentor?
My mentor for the year was a partner from KPMG in the Philippines. During my first meeting with my mentor, I felt extremely shy and lacked confidence in my abilities. However, my mentor encouraged me to set ambitious goals for myself and to strive to become the best in my field at KPMG. He expressed his belief that I will excel in my position.
After our first session, I was both pleasantly surprised and relieved. Despite his demanding schedule, the partner made time to meet with me regularly, giving me the confidence to believe I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.
My mentor provided invaluable advice and ensured I had access to all the resources necessary to excel in my role at KPMG. One key area we focused on was developing my skills in PowerBI, and my mentor’s team was available to train and support me in advancing my data analytics capabilities which helped me tremendously in my role. Prior to joining the Generation Valuable Program, my reporting was quite basic. Now, I am able to provide meaningful insights into People Analytics for South Africa. I am truly grateful for this incredible opportunity.
How has your understanding of inclusive leadership evolved through the program?
Reflecting on my experience with my mentor, I’ve come to appreciate that inclusive leaders foster an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best, regardless of background, identity, or position. I felt truly valued and respected, and I was able to contribute meaningfully, irrespective of my background or level within the organization. The fact that my mentor invested time in me, demonstrated Our Values of effective collaboration and how the people in KPMG can work Together, For better.
This experience also allowed me to see how the organization fosters a culture where we can bring our authentic selves to work and feel valued for our unique contributions and perspectives. It’s shown me how our leaders demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion because from a reverse mentoring perspective, the program has given me the opportunity to bring awareness of people living with a disability at the leadership level.
My work ethic has positively transformed; I am now more innovative and confident in the quality of my contributions. I actively participate in the disability awareness program and have speaking opportunities, for example, being invited to KPMG in the US’s Chicago Abilities in Motion employee resource group (who discuss, share, and educate each other about various disabilities, both visible and invisible) to share my own lived experiences and best practices on the work we have been doing in South Africa regarding self-disclosure.
Was there a time during or after the program when you felt truly empowered as a leader with a disability?
Thanks to the incredible opportunities offered through the Generation Valuable Program, I have also been featured in KPMG’s Global Impact Plan, because of my role as champion of the Disability Support Network. Within the external report, it speaks to how KPMG in South Africa has launched the Disability Workplace Program to encourage disability disclosure and promote ongoing awareness, education and sensitization. While planning our firm’s Disability Disclosure Campaign, the Disability Support Network held workshops and reviewed our firm’s activities. As a result, we created more open communication and improved the understanding and awareness of persons with all types of disabilities. The firm will also provide medical alert bracelets to people with disabilities, so others are aware in case something happens. We also have trained first responders on each floor.
As someone with asthma and coronary heart disease, a chronic condition that makes it difficult to function, like my colleagues, I’ve benefited from the awareness raised by the Disability Support Network. My peers now understand the challenges I face, and the network is continuing to work toward greater understanding and support for all individuals with disabilities.
Looking ahead, how do you see your Generation Valuable experience shaping your future career path or leadership style?
Before the program began, I was initially nervous and slightly hesitant about participating in a new program, as I was uncertain about what to expect. After the program finished, I wish I had embraced the opportunity from the very start as I saw the impact it has made to my professional and my personal progression, rather than halfway through the program.
I am now more confident and actively engaged in advocating for and promoting understanding of disabilities in the workplace.
Learning from my mentor also allowed to me communicate with empathy and confidence. It also helped me to understand the importance of broadening your network, as well as learning the value of working cross-culturally to gain different perspectives in decision making.
What is your advice to future Generation Valuable mentees?
To future mentees considering the program, I encourage you to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Value every moment with your mentor, participate fully in all online sessions, and embrace the process with openness and honesty. By doing so, you can gain invaluable insights, grow, and become a better version of yourself.
If you would like to be part of Generation Valuable, please reach out to your regional account manager for more information on the programme.
If you are a non-Valuable 500 company, please speak to a member of our Generation Valuable team at [email protected].
