“I'm Natasha Smith, born and raised in South Africa. I speak Afrikaans, so moving to the Netherlands felt surprisingly familiar. I now live in Amsterdam, in De Pijp to be exact, and I work at EY‑Parthenon in the Strategy & Execution team,” says Natasha with a laugh.

Natasha doesn't have to think long about why she wanted to come to the Netherlands. “The Dutch team spirit and the accessibility of the team immediately attracted me. Here you can easily connect, choose projects that suit you and thus consciously shape your career. That freedom and responsibility suits me,” she says. Why she chose EY-Parthenon is also clear. “What I do is really just bring clarity and transparency to complex decisions. Together with colleagues, I assist customers with big choices, such as merger & acquisition issues, by clarifying complex problems and turning them into concrete, executable decisions. This requires analytical acuity, data insight and, above all, trust: you build a relationship where you can really advise and take action,” she says enthusiastically. “We bring clarity to complexity, with strategy, transactional thinking and action-oriented advice.”

Natasha states that within EY and her role, there is actually no standard 'typical' working day. “Of course, you have goals and deadlines, but something always happens: a customer question, new insights, a priority that shifts. It is precisely that dynamic that gives me energy. And the best part of my job? Direct customer contact and building trust.”

Growth & development: generalist with financial roots

“I'm naturally a generalist with financial roots,” she starts. “EY‑Parthenon, and EY as an employer, gives me the space to deepen my core operational, transactional and financial skills. But also support in testing new skills. You largely determine your own path. EY offers the tools, coaching and learning opportunities.”

Freedom, trust and communication

“Freedom only works with clear, proactive communication: say what you're going to do, do what you say. This way, you build trust within your team and with your customers and you can design your working week, in good consultation, in a way that works for you and the customer,” says Natasha. What surprised her the most is the amount of customer contact she has. So early and so intense in her career. “It's a crucial skill: listening, understanding what's really going on and determining direction together.”

“My passion is ultra trail running, or off-road running, often far beyond 42 km,” she says proudly. “In the run-up to a race, I train almost daily and I'm soon around 80 km a week, including cross training. That does require good planning and discipline.” But how does she combine all of this with work? “By planning transparently with my project team: when I train, what I deliver, where the peaks lie and by being flexible when a project requires it. It's a balancing act, but with open agreements, it works great.”

What sport teaches me in my work

“Ultras taught me to prepare, persevere, and trust my compass. It's not about always being the fastest; it's about finishing with quality. That's exactly how you deliver a strong end product at EY-Parthenon: well-prepared, consistent and together,” she says proudly.