When Lina De Ridder joined Grant Thornton as a junior auditor in 2014, she did not have a clearly defined career plan. Audit appealed to her, she immediately felt a connection with the people, and she decided to trust her instincts.
Twelve years later, she is a Registered Auditor and Managing Director Audit & Assurance, but that path was anything but predetermined.
"I never started with the idea that I would build my entire career here," Lina explains. "I initially saw audit as a possible steppingstone to something else. But every time a new challenge came along, I rediscovered why I enjoy this job so much."
Throughout her career, she grew step by step from junior to senior, supervisor, manager, senior manager and ultimately managing director. Each promotion brought new responsibilities. Not only from a technical perspective, but also as a coach, leader and trusted adviser to clients and colleagues.
Personal Journey
That growth was not limited to her role. Lina also went through an impressive personal development journey.
"Every transition to a new role felt challenging to me. You have to learn to let go of what you're good at to make room for new responsibilities. That wasn't always easy, but it is exactly how I grew tremendously, both as a person and as a professional."
This personal growth was supported by the many development opportunities I received at Grant Thornton. Through Learning and Development initiatives such as the Business Academy, the People Academy, the AMS programme and the international Emerging Leaders Program, I was able not only to strengthen my technical expertise, but also to further develop my leadership skills, self-confidence and international network.
I am naturally quite an introverted person. Public speaking and taking the lead did not come easily to me. Even today, I still experience a healthy sense of tension, but I have learned to step outside my comfort zone. That evolution has helped me not only in my professional life, but also in my personal life.
International secondment in Australia
One of the most defining experiences of her career was an international secondment to Australia from June to November 2022, just before her promotion from manager to senior manager. "Australia was a real turning point for me. I stepped into a completely new environment, was challenged to move beyond my comfort zone and rediscovered why I enjoy this work. I returned with more confidence, energy and perspective."
For Lina, that experience also reflects one of Grant Thornton's greatest strengths as an international organisation.
"Thanks to the international network, you are given opportunities that go far beyond your day-to-day job. A secondment gives you not only professional experience, but also personal growth. It is a unique opportunity to develop yourself and build an international network."
Today, Lina combines her role as managing director with an equally important role outside work: being a 'plusmother'. That combination has broadened her perspective on her career, without diminishing her ambition.
"Today, I combine my role as managing director with a busy family life. That sometimes requires flexibility and organisation, but I have experienced that professional ambition, and a balanced private life can go perfectly hand in hand. Grant Thornton gives you the space to shape your career in a way that fits the stage of life you are in."
What still motivates her after all these years?
The constant evolution. "There are always new challenges, new opportunities and new goals to work towards. You are given many opportunities here, but you have to seize them yourself. For me, the greatest motivation lies in the fact that there is always room to grow, both professionally and personally."