Big Four CEO Advises Youngsters To Say 'Yes' A Lot To Climb Corporate Ladder

PwC US Chief Executive Officer Paul Griggs has advised young professionals to embrace new opportunities, remain curious and consistently go beyond expectations to accelerate their career growth. In a recent interview with Business Insider, the Big Four executive said career progression is often determined by the effort employees invest outside their routine responsibilities and their willingness to keep learning.

Griggs said one of the most important habits for early-career professionals is saying "yes" to new challenges and assignments. According to him, those who advance more quickly are often the ones who put in additional effort when no one is watching, rather than limiting themselves to their assigned tasks. He stressed that long-term success is closely linked to continuous learning and maintaining a proactive mindset.

Illustrating his point, Griggs compared two employees at the end of a workweek. He said one individual spends time reflecting on the week's experiences, researching new ideas and building additional knowledge before pursuing personal activities, while the other simply disconnects from work. Over time, he argued, the employee who continues learning and developing new skills is more likely to earn greater responsibilities and progress into higher roles within the organisation.

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Griggs also shared an optimistic outlook on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the workplace, describing it as one of the biggest opportunities businesses have encountered. He said AI has the potential to create value, drive business growth and generate demand for workers with diverse skills rather than replacing them outright. According to him, organisations that effectively integrate AI can unlock new opportunities across industries.

Reflecting this shift, Griggs said PwC is increasingly recruiting candidates from non-traditional educational backgrounds and expects to see more graduates from liberal arts disciplines entering consulting and business roles. He believes AI will increase the value of broad knowledge, critical thinking and adaptability, making professionals with diverse academic experiences an important part of the future workforce.

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