Secrets of my success: RSM's Jean Stephens

The boss of the world’s sixth-largest accountancy network and the first woman to lead a top 10 global number-cruncher on emigrating from California, constant travel and marathon running with jet lag.

What do you do?

I run RSM International, which is a network of audit, tax and consulting firms all around the world. I’ve been here for 21 years and spent 11 as chief executive.

The firms provide services to customers around the world, so they do audit and assurance, international tax, risk management and consulting engagements.

We’re a membership organisation and the firms are all independently owned so it’s not a command-and-control structure.

There’s no typical schedule for me because I’m travelling 70% of my time. I live in London so when I’m here, I commute into the office in Cannon Street. I try and get in for about 8.30-9am but there could have been an hour of phone calls before then.

What do you like about it?

I love solving problems. I’m fortunate to work with firms who deal with top people in different countries who are very intelligent and committed.

One of the great benefits I have is the opportunity to talk to people and get under the skin of a culture, and understand how they do business. People ask me how many countries I’ve travelled to and I guess I’m coming up to 100.

What do you find challenging about it?

There are benefits but I do find the travel the most challenging because it’s difficult to adhere to a regular schedule.

I committed to the London marathon last year. I did it but I didn’t train as much as I would have liked. It’s that type of thing where you have a goal, then you feel bad. Like jet lag, for example, when you start wondering if you’re going to fit in a run.

Also, everyone in life goes at different speeds of change, and my job is about change, and that can be challenging when people don’t want to go at the same pace.

Your biggest break?

I worked for RSM in Los Angeles, and a position to transfer opened up in London. The plan was to be here for two years and then go back but here I am 20 years later.

I grew up in the LA area, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to live abroad and have an international aspect to my career.

London is the greatest city in the world. I have dual citizenship and I absolutely love it here. It has everything … I even love the weather, coming from California.

Another break was working for Sabry Heakal, the chief executive before me here. Having that mentor taught me so much.

And biggest setback?

I went right out of university into an auditing and accounting firm and changed to another one, and it didn’t quite pan out.

I stayed for a year but it was clear it was not going to work. It just wasn’t the right place for me. It was a smaller firm and wasn’t big enough.

Looking back now, I can see it wasn’t where I should have been. It seemed a failure to me at the time. I’d committed to it and I wanted to keep going at it, but it wasn’t right. I could move on much quicker now.

When you’re young, it seems so much more monumental, when in reality it’s a big world out there with lots of opportunity.

How is your work-life balance?

I don’t have children so I don’t have those kinds of challenges. I’ve learned when I need to take a break, a day or two is enough. That allows me to keep up my energy and enthusiasm.

I have interests out of work, because it can be all-consuming. I have running and reading and art. They are very important. Otherwise it just becomes too one-dimensional. I never really switch off.

So much of our lives are work, we might as well integrate it and not let it take over. My aim is to take two weeks off in a row this year. I’ve never done that before.

Any advice?

Try to figure out where you want to go and don’t give up until you get there. Find your passion.

When things are very, very difficult or tough or failing, there’s something to be learned from that.