The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to an unprecedented shift in where, when and how we work, with far-reaching implications for workers, employers and workspaces. Has the office sector now got to grips with this new reality? How has working life changed at PwC, specifically?

In the professional services sector in general, and at PwC in particular, the pandemic brought to the fore the value of physical proximity for understanding the client’s problems and concerns, and the real benefits of having our people under one roof, working together to find the best possible solutions. In this respect, as soon as the crisis had passed, we encouraged our teams to return to on-site working, whether at our clients’ offices or our own. As a result, we ended up creating new kinds of spaces, with a more open design conducive to innovation and collaboration and all the benefits of the latest technologies.

Technology and its applications in the business world have led to a paradigm shift in working practices. How do you encourage its adoption at PwC, and how does that gel with the company’s preference for on-site working? What role is there for new solutions like the cloud, big data and the IoT in everyday workflows?

New technologies are central to how we work. Internally, they help us work more efficiently so we can devote more quality time to our clients and offer them a better service, and part of our advisory role is helping clients leverage these tools in their own businesses. At the global level as well, just last year we announced a major three-year investment plan to further develop and scale our portfolio of services aided by generative AI.

Here in Spain, we’re already advising leading companies in various sectors on the opportunities AI can bring, looking at three main areas: raising productivity, developing new business models and improving client and employee experience.

A few days ago, at a PwC Women to Watch event, you said that “talent will be companies’ single greatest competitive asset in the world to come — even more so than today.” In your line of business, where attracting talent is a key challenge, what are your strategies for preserving a strong corporate culture that makes people want to stay? What benefits and extras are most appealing to this new generation when choosing an employer?

At PwC, we don’t sell physical products but rather the value and knowledge that resides within our teams. People are our number-one asset, and we have a duty as a company to nurture and support them so they can reach their full potential. In 2023, we offered promotions to 943 employees, a new record in the firm’s history.

In terms of keeping our people on board, we recently launched Work Academy, a real first for our industry, where formal training and on-the-job learning is accredited through our in-house Master’s programme. The challenge is always to find innovative formats that set us apart from the competition and make a career with PwC more attractive with every passing year.

From the start, PwC’s ultimate mission has been "solving complex problems", which requires diversity and inclusion at all levels of the company. How does the workplace itself come into play in the pursuit of diversity, creativity and talent? And how is the office environment changing to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce?

One of the most profound impacts of the pandemic was to highlight the importance of teamwork. The isolation we all experienced during that time forced us to rethink how we organise space: to facilitate collaboration, allow more people to work on a given project and respond to the new priorities that emerged. The only way for new employees to immerse themselves in company culture and learn from the experience of more senior colleagues is through continuous interaction and teamwork.

On the other hand, our professionals put a premium on communications, and they’re looking for technology and comfort — a frictionless working environment. They want flexible spaces that can adapt to all needs.

Finally, we’d like to hear your thoughts on the all-important question of sustainability. Companies have a vital role to play in steering the economy in a more sustainable direction. What is your roadmap for the future, and what are your goals in the short, medium and long term?

Our sustainability roadmap contains two main dimensions. First, as a company we have pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. This includes a 50% cut in absolute emissions, getting our offices running on 100% renewable energy and reducing emissions associated with business travel between 2019 and 2030.

Second, just as importantly or even more so, we are committed to helping the business community meet their sustainability challenges, achieve a successful energy transition and move towards more sustainable business models.