Pedro Deus, Partner of PwC, graduated in Management at UPT, recently returned to the university, as a guest speaker at the Master’s Opening Session and Postgraduate courses. Currently, he is responsible for the incentives unit, at national level, to support companies in the identification and obtaining public financing for investment in Portugal, and leads the Data Analysis business unit, which assists companies in analysis and intelligence on large companies. volumes of data.

Comunica UPT: When you decided to study Management, what was your dream profession?
When I started my degree, I had the dream of creating a company, probably with some colleagues from the course, in order to help that company achieve success at national and international level, for which I would take advantage of the lessons I would obtain during the entire course.

What are the main memories of the university?
The main memories, which still accompany me today, include some people I came across during the entire journey, be they classmates, from different classes or courses, professors and even other university professionals. I experienced moments of extreme dedication and hard work, but I also had the opportunity to take advantage of the immense joys provided by student life.

This was an essential cycle for your life …
I have always considered the course as a transition process that provided me with a base of technical and behavioral skills, fundamental to being able to face a job market that, in 1995, started to become increasingly competitive, but, above all, had a great influence on what I am personally and professionally.

What were the main lessons that the course gave you?
Some disciplines and teachers were striking – I can mention by way of example “General Accounting” – and were even decisive in certain stages of my professional career. But looking at the distance of 20 years, I highlight the development of maturity as an individual and as an element inserted in different groups. It is in this phase of life that we realize, in a definitive way, that we will have to strive to achieve our goals and that we start to “be on our own”.

After graduation, how did your career progress?
Even before completing my degree, in June 1995, I applied for the position of audit assistant at Coopers & Lybrand (today PricewaterhouseCoopers) and today, after 20 years, I am a partner in this company, although in the consulting area. In fact, and as I usually mention in a joking tone, this is still my first job, although, within the organization in which I work, I have already gone through different areas and functions.

In your opinion, your professional success is due to…
Solid technical bases and constantly updated, an open mind to perceive opportunities and challenges, when they do not seem so evident, the ability to recruit, train and motivate teams of excellence and, of course, some happiness at certain times.

What are your professional goals in the short and medium term?
My professional goals are to develop the areas for which I am responsible and which, at the moment, already cover more than 40 people, and thus contribute to the growth of PwC, allowing it to remain one of the main employers at the national level of young people recent graduates.

What is your analysis of Management in Portugal?
It has been improving, as a result of the consolidation and generalization of technical qualifications with almost unlimited access to information, which was not possible 20 years ago. I understand that nowadays, our management professionals are at the level of the best, even from countries with greater tradition in this area. Perhaps more opportunities are lacking so that there are more Portuguese in top positions in international companies.

What characteristics do you consider essential to win in the current competitive and global job market?
Adaptability to change, ability to focus on the essentials and serious and honest commitment to the people who are part of our teams.

A year from now, how do you see your life?
Honestly, I hope my life is very similar to the life I lead now, a sign that the bets I made are still valid.

A management lesson?
“Plan for the worst, hope for the best”, this phrase has been with me since the time of auditing and remains very current.