Emily Pillars, Office Managing Partner, Charlotte, PwC

In an interview with Invest: Emily Pillars, office managing partner at PwC in Charlotte, talked about the firm’s significant milestones over the past year, including community engagement initiatives and the launch of the My Marketplace talent management system. Pillars emphasized the growth opportunities in Charlotte, particularly in technology and infrastructure. 

What have been some of the biggest milestones and achievements for the firm over the past year?

I’ll start with our community engagement around education. My predecessor, who retired in June, was very passionate about education. As a retirement gift, we organized a crowdfunding campaign with a nonprofit that provides school supplies to teachers, and we adopted a Title I school in the area. We held a field day for them, which they had never experienced before, and initiated significant volunteer efforts. This is a great example of how we as a firm have made a significant impact on Charlotte.

We also benefit from many of the national areas of focus the firm has, one of which is My Marketplace. This is a new talent management system that uses AI to match our people with roles and projects of interest, highlighting opportunities at PwC and linking them to training so people can upskill if needed. This really allows our people to take the lead in their careers, which is exciting. It aligns with our people strategy, called My+, which focuses on people development, well-being and care.

Another major focus is AI, which I’m sure most companies are considering. Last year, PwC committed $1 billion over the next three years to expand and scale our AI offerings and upskill our employees with in-demand skills and knowledge in AI. We are investing to benefit our clients but also to empower our employees with a better toolkit to serve and prepare them for the future. It’s about changing how they work; if you are better skilled, you can only be more successful.

What are some of the biggest opportunities you see in the market?

One of the biggest opportunities here is growth. Over 110 people move to Charlotte every day, which brings a lot of talent into the market. As part of that, many large organizations are relocating their headquarters here or expanding their presence. With that kind of growth comes a lot of opportunities to address infrastructure and transportation needs within PwC and the city.

How have you had to adapt in response to the changing economic landscape?

It’s multifaceted. As the needs and expectations of our clients evolve, we adapt with them. AI is an example of this, as clients think about how to implement it within their organizations while we do the same. We also keep a close eye on the current landscape regarding interest rates and economic impact, constantly thinking about how we can be more efficient and provide value to clients.

What sectors are seeing significant interest from investors in the area?

Technology is an emerging area, and Charlotte is becoming a tech hub with growing investments and innovation. We recently released a periodical with the Urban Land Institute called the “Emerging Trends in Real Estate” report, and Charlotte is performing well in sectors like life sciences and corporate real estate. The industrial, retail, office and multifamily real estate markets are fluctuating as well.

One thing I’m excited about is the market opening up again. We’re actively seeing deals and tracking which subsectors will emerge. There are opportunities in wind farming and solar energy, along with possibilities in agriculture, timber, and sustainability lending. While there are still concerns about a recession, interest rates have decreased, and there’s cautious optimism among CEOs, which is encouraging.

How are you maintaining a strong talent pipeline in the region?

One of the great advantages of the Carolinas is access to higher education. We recruit heavily from schools, focusing on diverse talent through programs like our START internship, which provides a pipeline into the firm. Interns gain hands-on experience in internal, non-client-facing roles initially, but as they return each year, they gain more experience and increased responsibility until they receive an offer.

We also have a program called While You Work, which allows interns to work reduced schedules while earning their CPA. I have an intern working with me on our third quarterly review; she is getting her master’s at Northwestern University and works on a reduced schedule with us while being compensated.

Additionally, we have a program called Destination CPA, where students interested in becoming CPAs or entering the accounting field come together. We discuss the profession, its impact on clients and society, and the role we play. It’s an educational initiative designed to show students what we do at PwC and what the profession can offer.

How is sustainability being incorporated into the work you do?

We have offerings to help clients with ESG and sustainability. This includes navigating regulatory rules and disclosures, especially for companies engaging in green reporting or looking to increase their green investments. Even though we are not in California, there are companies with investments or real estate there, so we have experts on rules by state. We also have experts in operational sustainability, including areas like preventative maintenance for real estate using motion sensors for lights.

How do you leverage the firm’s global presence to address challenges faced by local businesses?

Given PwC’s global scale, we can leverage insights and reports from around the world. We also have specialists in various areas we can consult with, helping us navigate complex issues by connecting with experts in other jurisdictions. This is particularly helpful because rules change and vary by location. Our size and relationships allow us to use those connections to benefit our clients.

How do you see PwC’s role evolving over the next couple of years?

Our role will continue to evolve alongside our clients and the market. Embracing technology is key and we remain focused on our mission: building trust in society and solving important problems. We’ll continue to support our people, upskill them in new areas and deliver value. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Charlotte is special because of the community-focused business leaders here who collaborate to help the community. We’ll continue that collaboration while staying at the forefront of innovation.

Regarding our commitment to AI, our $1 billion investment excites me because it’s about upskilling all our people and equipping them with the right tools. We’re doing this responsibly and transparently, and I’m proud that we’re leading innovation, handling it in a high-quality and thoughtful way. Everyone is joining this journey with us, and that is something I want to highlight.