A new group of trainees recently joined Accensis, embarking on what will undoubtedly be one of the most transformative experiences of their careers.

I welcomed them to the firm and outlined the next three years, emphasizing how much they will gain from the program—depending on how much they put into it. It will be the steepest learning curve of their professional lives. 

As I reflected on their beginnings, I couldn't help but think back to my first day as a trainee, which began in January 1988. This was still during apartheid.

I attended a school designated for "Indian" students under apartheid's discriminatory policies. I later went on to the University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN), which was also reserved for "Indian" students. 

Joining Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte) presented an entirely new challenge. I was entering an environment that was hostile to people of colour, and this made the experience daunting.

For me, it was not just a new job—it was a whole new world.

While there were a few "Indians" in senior positions, they had been selected for their compliance with the system, and many spent their time enjoying the privileges granted to them.

The environment was charged with hostility, and every day involved navigating the attitudes of clients, managers, partners, and colleagues. 

In contrast, the new trainees at Accensis today are able to focus on their learning and careers without the unnecessary distractions I faced.

During my time, some clients barred people of colour from working with them. Partners at Deloitte, including those who were "Indian," supported and upheld this racist policy.

I experienced this as a trainee. I was asked to leave a client site because only white individuals were allowed to be present. Needless to say, Deloitte did not challenge the client's discriminatory stance. 

Looking back, the trainee period is when you start to understand and apply the knowledge gained during university truly. At university, you acquire theoretical knowledge but don't yet know how it will translate into real-world scenarios. The three years of a training contract take that extensive learning and teach you how to apply it in practical, professional contexts.

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Over the years, I've observed that the top academic performers entering audit firms are often not the best at executing the work. However, becoming an exceptional professional requires a different set of skills. 

When trainees first arrive, you can often see the excitement in their eyes, especially when they realize how the concepts they learned at university—such as standard costing—come to life during actual client audits, like assessing inventory. 

Despite the many challenges we faced as trainees during apartheid, many of us were determined to learn as much as we could from these firms, as they held the most prestigious clients in South Africa.

The experience we gained was invaluable to our career growth. I often wonder: "how much more we could have contributed if we had been treated equitably from the start?".

Our new trainees are fortunate in that they can focus on their development without the distractions we faced.

To all the new trainees in firms across the country, remember that this is your time to grow—intellectually, professionally, and personally. The next few years are an opportunity to expand your mind in ways you may never have imagined. 

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