The 2020 Rising Stars of the Profession: Kizzy Gift

Ask Kizzy Gift about an accomplishment that she is most proud of and her answer could be viewed as surprising—graduating college. "I was the first person in my family and extended family to earn a college degree," she says. "The degree also had a lot more meaning beyond an academic qualification. It was the first time I moved to this country from Trinidad and Tobago, lived away from friends and family, and had to navigate not only a new school, but a new country and culture. The experience has truly molded me."

In college, Gift earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting, which provided her a pipeline to an internship with one of the Big Four firms. Once she completed that internship, she was offered a permanent position that launched her formal career in external auditing. 

"After spending four years serving clients in that capacity and having become intimately acquainted with some of the more common pain points that arise in that field, I felt that it was time to direct my creative energy into generating solutions," Gift says. "This then pivoted me into pursuing an opportunity at Protiviti, and I have been a consultant here ever since."

Gift, an Associate Director, Business Process Improvement, Protiviti, says mentoring and meeting new talent is what she loves the most about her consulting career. "I love when we have interns and new consultants join the firm. They bring the type of energy and passion that often gets lost during the year between all the client deliverables and deadlines," she says. "Every year I look forward to facilitating one of Protiviti's trainings, particularly the Intern Challenge, and each year I grow from the experience."

And when it comes to winning a Rising Stars of the Profession award, Gift says she is truly humbled to receive the award. "I think that it is more of a reflection of the team members I have worked with, the mentors that have invested in me and the support system of family and friends around me. I am fortunate to have a village that empowers me to make a difference every day," Gift says. "It is a vivid reminder that when one person wins, we all win, and this is why we need to support each other. I am also even more motivated to continue to make a positive impact. I hope this award will inspire and encourage others to never give up.

Q&A:  What's been the biggest factor to your success so far? 

Gift: "God. It may sound cliché, but the people closest to me know how much I attribute my success to God. I truly believe I am who I am because of him and he manifests in everything that I do. Another factor is my mom. I have watched my mom persevere through life, and I have learned what it means to work hard, be dedicated, have faith and never give up."