Meet Tom Markley: Global Client Executive at EY
What do you love most about your job? Being part of a high performing, collaborative team. My EY colleagues are intelligent, innovative, and supportive, and I’m lucky to work with such an amazing group of people. I’m a big believer in bidirectional mentorship, which is an important part of our team culture. I have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while helping others do the same – and feeling that I’ve had even a small hand in helping someone realize their full potential is truly humbling. Another highlight is the relationship building that comes with being in a client-facing role. I’ve gotten to know so many great people outside of EY and partner with them on defining cutting edge solutions for the problems many businesses face. My work allows me to innovate and feel challenged every single day, and it’s a great feeling to know I’m right where I want to be.
What are the biggest obstacles you see for young women in the media, entertainment and/or technology industries? Industry bias, the lack of female recognition in the field, and gender gaps in pay. While there are strides being made, we’re not close enough to addressing all the hurdles women in tech face, and I can imagine it’s quite daunting to young women considering careers in the industry. I’ve also witnessed my female colleagues and my wife face scrutiny as working mothers that working fathers aren’t subject to. The virtual work environment really brought this to light for me. On occasions where I’ve had to wear my parenting and professional hats simultaneously, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback along the lines of “being a great dad” or “going above and beyond.” On the flip side, I haven’t noticed these same types of comments made to multitasking mothers. Instead you hear things like, “do you need to reschedule?” or “looks like you have a lot on your plate.” This is why it’s so important for men to be conscious of microaggressions and act as allies, celebrating the accomplishments of their female colleagues instead of unwittingly criticizing them.
What do you value most about your membership with The WICT Network? Meeting new people, the incredible mentorship programs, and being able to better understand the perspectives of my female colleagues. While I can never experience the hurdles women in tech face firsthand, my membership with WICT has made me a more informed ally.
Since March 2020 I’ve learned… How much my wife manages between her full-time job and parenting our three boys, including advocating for our nine-year old autistic son. I used to think I did my “fair share” of the parenting, but spending so much more time at home during the pandemic allowed me to see firsthand all she manages on the homefront while also maintaining a successful career. It’s given me a new and more complete appreciation for everything she does and helped me see where I need to pitch in more. I’ve also learned how important it is to prioritize wellness. Prior to 2020, wellness is something I thought about when I wasn’t busy – aka, not often. Experiencing some of the unique stressors of the Covid-19 pandemic bumped both physical and mental fitness up the priority list, and my wife and I now make it a point to exercise every day and take mindfulness breaks. I’ve even started journaling this year, which is a lifetime first!
My favorite mantra is… Right now it’s, “Take time to appreciate that you’re right in the middle of the part of life you used to look forward to.” It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and not realize the accomplishments you’ve made and how much you have to be thankful for. Taking time to reflect and celebrate the little wins from time to time has given me a new perspective.
One book, TV show, or movie I’d recommend (and why!) is… Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven – an oldie but a goodie! I love how it tells the story that everyone you meet in life, you meet for a reason. Even a small encounter can have a huge impact on your own life or someone else’s.
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