Lynne Doughtie

Lynne Doughtie ’85, achieved professional success, breaking barriers in the business world along the way.

In 2015, she became the first female top executive at KPMG LLP, one of the world’s leading professional service firms. In June, she will retire as the company’s U.S. chairman and CEO. Throughout her career, Doughtie regularly has been named one of Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Business.

As a result of her extraordinary accomplishments, in 2018, Doughtie was awarded Virginia Tech’s University Distinguished Achievement Award.

Doughtie has also remained involved with Virginia Tech as a member of both the Pamplin College of Business Advisory Council and the Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Board. She is currently serving alongside Morgan Blackwood-Patel ’03 and Horacio Valeiras ’80 as a tri-chair of Boundless Impact: The Campaign for Virgina Tech.

Doughtie recently shared her thoughts on her career, her alma mater, and the direction of higher education with Virginia Tech Magazine.

Why did you pursue a career in professional services?

“Growing up I watched my parents build businesses and, from an early age, they allowed me to ‘help.’ I recall summers as a young girl, sitting with my mother and her teaching me to post accounts receivable and make deposits. Their drive sparked my desire to pursue a business career. Eventually, I made what felt like a natural choice to major in accounting at Virginia Tech.

“As the first in my family to go to college, it was important to me to find a university, and later a place to work, with a nurturing, supportive culture. I found that at Virginia Tech and at KPMG.

“When I was looking at what was next after graduation, I met recruiters from what was then the ‘Big 8’ accounting firms and the recruiter from KPMG was a woman. That was unusual in 1984. She was impressive, articulate, and kind, and I walked away from that conversation thinking that KPMG would be a good fit for me—culturally and from a professional standpoint. I was right!”

Each turn of your career has involved additional responsibilities and a widened scope of influence. What prepared you for these transitions?

“The foundation I had was strong. My parents instilled in my sister and me the confidence that we could achieve anything. I also had great mentors and sponsors at Virginia Tech and at KPMG who invested their time in me and supported me in career growth opportunities.

“I think what prepares you most for added responsibilities is just doing it. Doing the things that take you out of your comfort zone—the things that scare you a bit. I’ve found those are the times when you grow and learn the most. That leads then to gaining the confidence to take on that next hard challenge.”

What was the most unexpected turn in your career?

“When you’ve been at it as long as I have, you’re definitely going to have times when things don’t go as you expect. Sometimes things just happen—external forces, the marketplace changes, whatever it might be—you think you’re headed this way, and that’s no longer available to you.

“In the late 1990s, I was up for partner at KPMG and feeling confident I would be promoted that year. And then, market forces and client consolidation impacted my promotion that year.

I was really upset about it. It seemed unfair because it wasn’t anything I did wrong; there were external factors beyond my control. It was a time when I was disappointed and upset, but it actually led to a much bigger opportunity for me. I joined a different part of our business. It was a brand-new area for me where I learned so much, and it gave me a different experience to be a more successful leader down the road. I’m not sure I would have become chairman and CEO of KPMG if I hadn’t taken some risks, gotten out of my comfort zone, and tried new things.”

By a number of measures, KPMG is regarded as a great place to work. Why do you feel this is the case?

“Our caring and inclusive culture is what stands out the most to me. It attracts extraordinary people who want to work and build their careers here.

“I have been so blessed to be at a firm that I love dearly and work with people whom I love dearly. The people at KPMG have become like family. It’s the reason I’ve been with the firm for nearly 35 years.

“Culture is something that can’t be replicated. To ensure it remains the cornerstone for years to come, I’ve led initiatives that further strengthened the firm’s culture and accentuated our values, while also continuing to advance diversity and inclusion within our firm and the marketplace.”

Describe the principles that govern your life, professionally and personally.

“It starts with integrity and your character and ensuring that doing what’s right is front and center. Also important to me is authenticity—being true to who you are and not trying to be something you are not. In our family, we value humility and hard work. We are all here for a purpose and have a responsibility to help others—in other words, Ut Prosim—That I May Serve.

“Professionally, I trust my values to guide me, especially when making tough decisions. I focus on leading with my head, my heart, and my gut. Leading with your head is getting the facts and using your intellect to get to the truth. Leading with your heart—caring about others and being empathetic—is important, too. Leaders who care get to the right decisions. And leading with your gut means sometimes you have to do the really hard thing because it’s for the greater good. I put decisions through the head, heart, and gut check and move forward with courage to do what is right. It goes back to the core value of integrity.”

When you’re away from the office, what are you most passionate about?

“I love being home or at Smith Mountain Lake spending time with my family. Boating, fishing, snow skiing, and golf are some of my favorite things to do.

“And, of course, I’m passionate about Virginia Tech and love to attend basketball, football, and any sporting event involving the Hokies.”

Why have you continued to serve on the Pamplin advisory board and the accounting and information systems board?

“Virginia Tech had a huge impact on my life. My husband, son, and daughter are all alumni, too.

“I graduated with the educational foundation and the confidence to launch my career. I want to make sure tomorrow’s Hokies can build on their experience, just like I did, and I want them to know their horizons are only limited by their imagination, attitude, and willingness to work hard.

“Virginia Tech invested so much in me, and I want to pay it forward by serving and investing in future business leaders and Virginia Tech graduates.

“Ut Prosim lives on in me, and I will continue to do what I can to support Virginia Tech.”

What are your thoughts about Virginia Tech’s momentum and direction?

“Graduates today must be skilled in their disciplines but also be able to work together in teams, problem-solve, think critically, and function professionally.

“This combination of skills is not only crucial to employers across industry sectors, it is critical in the global economy, which is defined more and more by technology, innovation, and transformation.”

“At KPMG, for example, leaders must inspire trust, deliver impact, and seek growth—for themselves, and their teams. We look for individuals with the requisite skills to meet the fast-evolving needs of our profession, who also lead with passion and purpose, live and uphold our firm’s long-standing values, drive quality, and value an inclusive and diverse culture. VT students are well-positioned to succeed and lead.”

As you think about the top-rate talent needed for a successful business, what is higher education doing well, and where can it improve?

“Higher education has evolved in its approach to how students learn, particularly by using technology, inside and outside the classroom. Virginia Tech does a great job of surrounding students with access to services to help guide their careers by making ongoing and increasing investments in its students, through career services, job fairs, and meetings with companies through a variety of channels on campus.

“The university’s focus on bringing students together from different disciplines to tackle challenges, with a curriculum that gives students the opportunity to work on real-world, multifaceted problems that require people with different mindsets and skills, really prepares students for a working world where diversity of thought and experience is the norm.

“And, importantly, Virginia Tech should continue making investments like it has in its Innovation Campus. Not only will this investment drive economic growth in Virginia, but it affords Virginia Tech students the unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the expansion of technology education in this country, where they will learn the critical skills businesses are looking for in hiring.”

Virginia Tech paused its fundraising efforts so that members of the Hokie community can focus on their personal, business, and community responses to the pandemic. What would you say to Hokies about taking care of the needs closest to them, while also considering how they might someday continue giving to Virginia Tech to help students and faculty?

“This unprecedented crisis has thrust us into an uncertain world. We are navigating many unknowns, and it is more important than ever that we focus on those closest to us—our families, neighbors, colleagues, and communities.

“We have seen tremendous acts of kindness during this time, and I am certain that my fellow Hokies are amongst those who are doing their part in this crisis.

“Virginia Tech has given us so much and we are a strong and resilient community. This will pass, and we will find ourselves in a new normal. When that happens, I encourage the Hokie community to continue supporting Virginia Tech.”