Welcome to the winter edition of PwC's national alumni newsletter

Welcome to the winter edition of PwC's national alumni newsletter
A welcome note from Bill McFarland
Today's marketplace is changing faster than ever. Being agile and investing in
our future to meet - and anticipate - the needs of our clients is paramount in our
thinking. In my conversations with alumni and former partners over the past few
months, you suggested giving a more extensive update around recent
acquisitions and “hot services” in the market. You can find that here, as well as
the update under National news below.
On that note, we're delighted to have been named the second most powerful brand in the world by
Brand Finance, one of the world's leading brand valuation and strategy consultancies. We're the
only Big Four firm to be named in the report's top twelve organizations, when ranked by brand
strength. Great news which we're proud to share.
I’m also happy to share our updated Alumni Relations website on www.pwc.com/ca/alumni. The
site is designed to keep you ‘in the know’ on all things PwC and provides easy access to firm news,
events, online publications and resources, career opportunities and profiles of your fellow alumni.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading this newsletter and about the new skills we have at PwC to meet the
market’s changing needs. Please provide your feedback to [email protected] so we can
tailor future communications accordingly.
Best wishes to everyone for a healthy and prosperous 2015.
Best regards,
Bill McFarland
CEO & Senior Partner
Editor's pick
Learn, connect and keep up to date on all things PwC, all in one place:
www.pwc.com/ca/alumni
Our alumni program is about helping you stay a part of the PwC community and connecting you to former
colleagues, mentors and friends who have made an impact in your career. It’s also about keeping you up
to date with current business issues and regulatory changes through the firm’s various publications,
reports, events and webinars. Our website is designed to make it easy for you to access relevant
information about PwC, our services, your alumni network and professional development.
We believe that PwC is a lifelong experience. You’re part of a network of thousands of professionals who
call themselves PwC Canada alumni – so stay connected through our website and program and reach out
often. To find and connect with your fellow alumni and current PwC staff and partners, join our PwC
Canada LinkedIn group and follow our LinkedIn page.
Thank you for your ongoing friendship and commitment to the firm. We’d love to hear your feedback! Let
us know what you think or if you have any questions about the new Alumni Relations website at
[email protected].
Please note that our former website, PwC Connect, is now closed.
National news
Recent acquisitions and hot services update
Want to know more about how we’re investing in the future? Read about PwC’s recent acquisitions
(Balkon, West Monroe Partners, etc.) by clicking here. You’ll also get an update on the hot service areas
our clients say we’re adding value and making a difference.
Meet your regional Alumni Relations ambassadors
We’re excited to introduce our regional alumni ambassadors. Find out who they are and what they're
looking forward to in the year ahead, here.
Your career on your terms - PwC's Flexible Talent Network
Do you have a start-up business that only takes up some of your time? Or maybe you volunteer for part of
the year but still want to supplement your income? At PwC, we support a culture that encourages greater
flexibility.
If you want to stay current and connected to the business world but also are looking to pursue other
personal interests for the remainder of the year, consider joining our Flexible Talent Network (FTN). We
are currently looking for Corporate and Private Company Services (PCS) Managers for short periods and
recurring positions in Tax. Click here to visit our FTN webpage.
Congratulations to PwC’s successful UFE writers
Passing the UFE is an important career milestone that takes hard work and commitment. In 2014, eight
PwC UFE writers made the Chartered Accountants of Canada National Honour Roll. Find out who and
read about PwC’s Anouk Laforest’s reaction when she learned she’d won the Quebec Gold Medal. Please
join us in congratulating all of our successful writers.
PwC's Carol Devenny and Sandra Pupatello recognized amongst Canada's Most Powerful
Women
Congratulations to Carol Devenny and Sandra Pupatello who have both been recognized among the Top
100 Award Winners of the Women’s Executive Network’s (WXN) 2014 Canada’s Most Powerful Women.
The award recognizes Canada’s strong, fearless female leaders who have become agents of change in
reshaping Canadian organizations at the highest level. Click here to read more about Carol and Sandra,
and the awards.
Discount for PwC alumni on Tax News Network
We invite you to take advantage of your Tax News Network (TNN) discount. As a PwC alumnus you
receive a discount off your annual subscription to TNN, a service which provides subscribers with
Canadian and international information, insight and analysis to support well-informed tax and business
decisions. Subscribe at www.ca.taxnews.com or 1 866 Tax News (1 866 829 6397).
Alumni TV
Thought leadership
You can access all PwC publications and thought leadership on our website at www.pwc.com/ca/publications.
18th Annual Global CEO Survey: The Canadian results
As a part of this year’s Global CEO Survey, we spoke with CEOs from across Canada to obtain their
perspectives on everything from growth trends and models of business to digital transformation and
talent management. To download the full Canadian report, click here.
For the global report, click here.
Gain more perspective and explore through our videos and resources:
- Monique Leroux, President and CEO of Desjardins Group discusses competition and disruption,
- David I. McKay, President and CEO of RBC discusses capabilities needed for the CEO of tomorrow,
- Explore the data by theme, industry or country.
Capital Markets Flash
In this issue we have a look ahead at 2015, a lot of positive forces are converging to make 2015 a good year
for deal-making in Canada. This issue also includes an overview of 2014, sector spotlights on Canadian
M&A and more.
Wealth and Tax Matters for individuals and private companies 2014
This edition includes eight articles on a variety of topics relevant to private businesses, executives,
entrepreneurs and investors.
Revenue Recognition
The FASB and IASB recently released a final converged standard on revenue recognition. Companies
across all industries will use a new five-step model to recognize revenue from customer contracts.
The new standard, which replaces nearly all existing US GAAP and IFRS guidance, will require significant
management judgment, in addition to changing the way many companies recognize revenue in their
financial statements.
Read more here and find out how we can provide an integrated approach to help you understand the new
standard and be prepared for the change.
Budget 2015: Looking back and looking ahead
As 2015 is an election year, there will be great interest in what the federal government’s pre-election
budget might hold in store for Canadians and Canadian businesses.
Chris Kong, National Managing Partner - Tax discusses what we can expect to see in the 2015 pre-election
budget.
Quote of the quarter
“A product that I think will reshape the world is bitcoin, or any similar
cyber currency. I think they have the potential and the tools to reshape
the way we live our daily lives.”
– PwC alumnus, Gorkem Gurgun, Managing Director & Controller,
Finance, Manulife Asset Management
Get to know Gorkem including where he sees himself in five years, his dream job and where you can
find him on the weekends by reading his profile here.
Do you know an alumnus with an interesting story to tell? Let us know at [email protected].
Upcoming events
For a complete list of PwC events, please visit www.pwc.com/ca/events.
Aspire to Lead - Webcast
The PwC women's leadership series
Join us for a global webcast What would you do if you were not afraid? Building the confidence to lead.
We'll be talking to Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, authors of The Confidence Code, and Eileen Naughton,
Leader of Google UK about how women develop the confidence to lead, and explore the role of men in this
dialogue.
Catch the on-demand version online following the broadcast.
Calgary alumni - save the date!
Join us for our Calgary Alumni Reception on April 16, 2015. Look out for an email invitation soon.
2015 GTA Alumni Reception
On Thursday, May 7, 2015 join us as we celebrate our GTA alumni at the 2015 GTA Alumni Reception at
the Delta Toronto from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. To RSVP, click here.
Montreal alumni - save the date!
Mark your calendars! We’ll be hosting our Montreal Alumni Reception on June 4, 2015. Look out for an
invitation soon.
Regional News
Alberta
Joe’s Team Calgary
PwC will be sponsoring the fifth annual Joe’s Team Calgary Triathlon on June 27,
2015. Sign up for a triathlon, duathlon, as an individual or team and support the
Alberta Cancer Foundation. Click here to register and find out more.
British Columbia
Staying in touch with PwC Retired Partner Rod Johnston
We caught up with retired partner Rod Johnston to see what he has been up to since
his time at PwC. Rod talks about his new company which he co-founded, reflects on his
time at PwC and declares himself a Blackberry fan. To read more, click here.
PwC’s Lana Kirk awarded Rising Star Award for 2015
Congratulations to Lana Kirk who was awarded the Association of Women in Finance
(AWF) PEAK Award for Rising Star. AWF is a group of finance professionals dedicated
to supporting the advancement of women in finance and the PEAK Awards honour and
celebrate women of excellence. Lana has made a significant impact within PwC starting
PwC BC Region’s Shine Mining Executive Network, in the mining industry and in the
community. To find out more about Lana and the award, click here.
Ontario & Greater Toronto Area
Love to cycle? Sign up early for PwC’s Epic Tour
Register early for PwC Epic Tour, a cycling event with route distances ranging from 10k
– 170k, on September 13, 2015 at the Kelso Quarry Park in Milton.
Use the PwC discount code PWC1309 to save 25% on registration! Click here to
register and find out more.
Staying in touch with PwC alumnus Christine Marino
Read Christine’s profile and find out the lessons she learned from her time at PwC, her
perspectives on what’s happening in the mining industry, the most unusual place she’s
travelled for work, and more.
Staying in touch with PwC alumnus Christian Wray
We caught up with Christian to find out who in the PwC network inspires him, what he
thinks is the most underrated characteristic, what has shocked him in the last month,
and more.
Quebec
PwC helps people move forward: Spin-O-Don for Centraide
On January 14, five PwC teams participated in Spin-O-Don, an event to raise money
for Centraide. Centraide supports various community agencies that give help to people
in need. Teams spun for three hours straight and the PwC teams collectively raised
more than $5,000! Click here to see photos and read more.
PwC strengthens its Supply Chain Consulting services with acquisition of
the West Monroe Partners’ Canadian Supply Chain Practice
PwC Canada is pleased to announce the acquisition of the West Monroe Partners’
Canadian Supply Chain Practice, a firm specializing in demand planning, inventory
optimization, sales & operations planning (S&OP), production planning and
scheduling. Click here to find out more.
www.pwc.com/ca/alumni
Contact us
Unsubscribe
© 2015 PwC. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which
is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.