Page 130 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

WHAT I DO

KARIMAH CAMPBELL, FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR, EY

‘I’m having a cracking time

doing a job that I love’

arimah Campbell, who lists where I was working part-time,
‘password cracking’ on helping them to reduce the level
Kher CV, has quickly of financial fraud they were
progressed through the susceptible to and to quickly
ranks at EY, securing three respond to complaints.
promotions in seven years. “After graduating
She explains the mentality there weren’t many jobs
that has helped her to available in the industry
achieve so much in such a for people without
short period of time. experience, so I moved
“I have found writing away from London to join
about what I do and the UK branch of a global
my career journey quite eDiscovery firm, where my
difficult. Why is my story main tasks were password
particularly special or cracking, data normalisation
stand-out? But I’ve realised and data analysis.
that, actually, we all have our “After a year, with some
own challenges that we overcome experience under my belt, I moved
and milestones we reach that are back to London and joined EY as an
special and meaningful to us and those Associate in their Forensic and Integrity
will inevitably be relatable to others, who are Services team.
carving their own career in their own way. “I’ve now been with EY for nearly seven years
“I was a high achiever at school and was encouraged to and during that time secured three promotions – I was made
follow a route – A levels – that I knew just wasn’t for me. Assistant Director in October of this year. I expected to be
Looking back, deciding to do a BTEC in IT was a significant in the job for no longer than three years and then move
crossroad for me, and my determination and conviction set on to progress my career, but the opportunities have been
me on the right path that has led me to a job and career that available at EY, coupled with the right support.
I love. “I’d say the speed of my progression is partially down
“I credit my mum for instilling in me self-belief and a to my personal drive and also a clear sense of where I want
strong work ethic that helped me to make that decision that to be.
went against the grain. She worked, studied and raised me “But a series of mentors and sponsors during my time
alone, and I knew that if I too worked hard, I would get to here, guiding and championing me, have been critical.
where I wanted to be. For example, one of my mentors suggested I apply for the
“After college I went to university to study a BSc in leadership programme EY Edge – an 18-month leadership
Forensic Computing. I remember scrolling through lists of programme for high-potential managers, which develops a
courses and it almost jumped out of the page. The description community of future leaders to help transform both our own
fitted me perfectly – I love working with computers and am business and our clients.
naturally curious. The course helps to develop the skills “My friends often ask what I do. My job has been likened to
needed to detect and investigate computer crime. a CSI agent. For me, what I do has given me the opportunity
“During my degree I was introduced to the term eDiscovery to travel and experience different cultures – in Oman
– identifying, collecting and producing electronically stored and Hong Kong, for example – and helped me to develop
information [ESI] to present as evidence in a lawsuit or a professionally and personally.
criminal investigation. ESI includes emails, documents, “What’s next? In the past I have had a five-year plan,
audio and video files and social media, to name a few. which has helped me to stay on track. But I’ve also learnt that
“My end-of-year project focussed on designing and plans don’t always fully work out and it’s more important to
implementing an eDiscovery framework for the call centre be happy and enjoy what you do.”

126 Powerlist 2019