On April 16, Amaia Otaola, partner at PwC in the People & Organization area and manager Human Resources Solutions at PwC Spain, visited the University of Navarra. Accompanying her were two alumni of the Master’s in Personnel Management Service Organizations at the University of Navarra, Anja and María, who shared with us all their staff professional experiences regarding day-to-day life at the signature.

During the session, we were given a glimpse into what it’s like to work at a signature PwC—an organization with an international presence, approximately 5,500 professionals in Spain, and four major business lines: audit, consultancy service, transactions, and legal and tax services.

The People & Organization area , where they work, is a team of about 110 people dedicated to supporting human resources departments in addressing the various challenges they face on a daily basis.

One of the aspects that stood out most about the company was the highly dynamic work . They explained that it’s a setting where projects change frequently, you work on several at once, and there’s partnership between departments. This requires you to develop strong adaptability skills, learn to organize yourself effectively, and continually step outside your comfort zone. This demanding environment makes the learning process very fast-paced and valuable, since from the very beginning you’re integrated into real projects and can apply internship of the knowledge gained during your Master's Degree to the internship .

Anja and María also talked about what day-to-day life is like at the signature. They described it as a very dynamic environment where it’s hard to get bored, because there are always new challenges, new companies, and new situations. At the same time, they noted that it is a demanding environment, with a lot of pressure and a high level of responsibility. However, they explained that this demand also has a positive side: it forces you to constantly challenge yourself, to give more of yourself, and to develop skills you may not have known you had. Among these, they particularly highlighted organization, the ability to communicate, to express oneself well, and to interact with very different people.

Another key takeaway from the talk was that working at PwC provides a very broad perspective on area human resources. By collaborating with companies across different sectors and addressing a wide range of challenges, one gains a broad and highly enriching perspective. In addition, they emphasized the importance of staying up to date, especially at a time when technological tools and artificial intelligence are transforming business and the way we work in human resources.

Despite the demanding nature of the work environment, all three agreed that one of the key factors that sets PwC apart from the other Big Four firms is its people. They placed great emphasis on camaraderie, on the financial aid teams, and on the supportive atmosphere fostered within the signature. In fact, they noted that this bond with the team can last a lifetime. In their view, that is precisely what sets PwC apart the most: not just the professional caliber, but the human qualities of the people you work with.

They also explained that, although PwC is firmly committed to in-person work—because they believe it’s important to be close to clients and to be physically present when necessary—that doesn’t preclude flexibility. For them, learning alongside the team and sharing the day-to-day experience in person greatly accelerates development .

Amaia emphasized the importance of challenging yourself, not settling for the first thing you’re told, and always maintaining a critical, curious, and inquisitive mindset. Along with that, she stressed the need to never stop learning, to take the initiative, to ask questions without fear, and to make mistakes without seeing them as something negative. As they told us, no one expects a young person to know everything from the start, but they do highly value attitude, proactivity, a desire to learn, creativity, and, above all, that they are good people and fit well into the team.

Finally, one of the messages that resonated most strongly was the importance of always putting values first: being authentic, honest, and consistent in our actions. Overall, it was a very down-to-earth, relatable, and inspiring talk that gave us a better understanding of what professional life is like at a signature PwC and, above all, helped us grasp subject and mindset needed to thrive in an environment that is as demanding as it is rewarding.