Her Story
About Pooja
Pooja Gopi is a Senior Assurance professional at EY in Boston with approximately eight years of audit and assurance experience across India and the United States. A Cornell University graduate, she has built her career on a foundation of integrity, excellence, and lifelong learning. Beyond her client work, she co-leads EY’s International Culture Exchange Community(New England Chapter), fostering meaningful connections and advancing an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued. Behind her professional accomplishments is a remarkable story of resilience and reinvention. After being forced out of her marital home during a fraudulent and abusive marriage, Pooja refused to let those circumstances define her future. Instead, she made the courageous decision to invest in herself, pursue a master’s degree at Cornell University, and rebuild her life with purpose, determination, and unwavering integrity. That decision became the foundation for the career and life she has built today. Guided by the belief that character is revealed through the choices we make, Pooja is passionate about empowering others through mentorship, championing inclusive leadership, and creating opportunities for people to grow personally and professionally. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, courage, and intentional choices, proving that while circumstances may test us, they never have to define our future.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Pooja
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, continuous learning, and the courage to keep moving forward despite adversity. I have learned that while we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can always choose our response. I am deeply grateful to my parents and my sister, whose unconditional love, unwavering support, and belief in me gave me the strength to rebuild and pursue my goals. Their encouragement, together with the guidance of mentors and colleagues, reminds me that success is never achieved alone, it is built through the people who stand beside us and the choices we make every day.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Never let your current circumstances define your potential”
That advice changed the way I approached both my career and my life. Instead of focusing on limitations, I learned to focus on what I could control like my education, my work ethic, my attitude, and my willingness to keep moving forward. Every opportunity I’ve earned has come from consistently investing in those things.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Invest in yourself before you expect others to invest in you. Build strong technical skills, stay curious, and never underestimate the value of integrity and resilience. There will be moments of self doubt and challenges you did not choose, but those moments do not determine your future. Keep learning, seek mentors, and remember that your career is a marathon and not a sprint. Every experience, even the difficult ones, can become part of your strength.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in assurance today is the rapid transformation driven by technology and artificial intelligence. Professionals who combine strong technical expertise with adaptability and critical thinking will create the greatest value for clients. At the same time, organizations need leaders who can build trust, embrace diverse perspectives, and develop talent in an increasingly global workplace. The future belongs to professionals who are both technically excellent and people focused.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are honesty, integrity, resilience, empathy, and lifelong learning. I believe that being true to my conscience and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, is the foundation of meaningful leadership and lasting trust. Resilience has taught me that setbacks do not define us, our response to them does. Empathy reminds me to support and uplift others, while lifelong learning keeps me open to growth and new perspectives. Every experience, whether a success or a challenge, is an opportunity to grow, lead with greater wisdom, and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
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