Aliah Lalani, CPA-CA, CBV

Executive Director, Hilco Diligence Services

Biography:

Aliah is an executive director at Hilco Diligence Services (HDS). Aliah joined HDS’ New York office in January 2014 as one of the first members of the HDS team.  At its inception, HDS had teams based in New York and Chicago and has since grown to include teams in several major cities including Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and London. Throughout her tenure at Hilco, Aliah has been and continues to be instrumental in the growth of the business as well as developing internal processes and procedures. As part of her role, Aliah is responsible for managing teams in connection with new business surveys and recurring exams.  She also assists with business development and client management.  In addition, Aliah is responsible for hiring, mentoring, coaching and training staff. 

Aliah began her career at KPMG in Vancouver, Canada.  While at KPMG, Aliah earned her Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA-CA) as well as her Chartered Business Valuation (CBV) designation. Aliah commenced her time at KPMG in the audit practice focusing on high-tech and Biography:-tech companies and then moved to KPMG’s advisory practice focusing on business valuations and M&A. 

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

For women starting out in the industry, my advice would be to be yourself and be confident.  You cannot be successful in your career without being true to who you are.    Another important thing to do when starting your career is to find a mentor.  A mentor is someone that can help guide you and has been there before.  At the end of the day, your career decisions are your own, but it is helpful to listen and learn from others’ experiences. In order to continually develop in your career, you have to keep learning.  Always be open to new experiences and new challenges. Lastly and most importantly, enjoy your day. You will spend a lot of time at work building a career. Don’t forget to have fun while laying the bricks in this building process.

Studies have shown women are more reluctant to tout their accomplishments in the workplace. What advice would you give to help women be more comfortable with speaking up?

Developing relationships is an essential part of your career and personal development.  With strong relationships, comes a more comfortable environment.  When you are comfortable in your environment, it is easier to speak up. 

Also, always remember to use your voice. You are your biggest advocate. Don’t be afraid to ask for things, whether it is a change in role, a promotion or a raise.  You will never know what is available until you ask.

Finally, I would say have regular dialogue with your mentor or supervisor.  Check in on a regular basis and find out what you are doing well and where you need to improve. This is a good way to track your development and gives you a forum to discuss your achievements and further develop your relationship with that person.

How do you balance work/personal time?

As a mom to a three-year-old girl and a boy due in March, work-life balance is especially important to me.  The most important thing to do is sort out your personal and professional priorities and talk to your employer to find a way to find flexible solutions so that you can accomplish both your personal and professional goals. 

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career?

Don’t just stick with the status quo.  If something isn’t the right fit for you, don’t be afraid to make a change and find something that works for you.  That being said, don’t say no to opportunities and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  You never know what you are going to find behind each door.

The other thing I would recommend is finding balance.  It is important to work hard but it is just as important to take care of yourself.  The best thing you can do for your career is to find the right balance between your work and your personal life.  You are a better, more productive person if you take care of yourself and that will manifest in your work product.