Hannah’s Journey – Thriving Authentically at MHA
Hannah Black · Posted on: February 25th 2025 · read
Hannah Black, a Director in MHA’s Audit team in London, reflects on her career journey and the supportive culture that has enabled her to thrive. From starting just before the first lockdown to leading the firm’s Pride Network, Hannah shares insights into her professional growth, MHA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the value of bringing your authentic self to work.
Her story highlights MHA’s commitment to creating an inclusive culture where individuals are celebrated, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Can you tell us about your career journey and how it’s evolved at MHA?
"I joined MHA in February 2020, just before the first lockdown began. The team was incredibly supportive and quickly helped me settle in.
I was drawn to MHA because of the clear opportunities for career progression. From the beginning, I’ve had the chance to work across various sectors and clients, eventually specialising in retail. I’ve been positively challenged to take on bigger clients and more high-profile audits. The structured development plans, soft skills training, and mentoring I’ve received have all played a big part in helping me grow professionally."
What role has diversity and inclusion played in your experience at MHA?
Diversity and inclusion are central to MHA’s culture. Diverse perspectives are essential for bring in different thinking and ideas. It’s also so important to have representation at all levels of the organisation—it helps new colleagues see someone they can relate to.
Being part of the Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Societal Impact (DIBS) Committee has been incredibly rewarding. It’s allowed me to contribute to meaningful change, and on a personal level, it’s boosted my confidence through opportunities like giving presentations and connecting with colleagues across different offices.
What initiative are you most proud of?
I’m especially proud of the creation of our seven network groups, including the Pride Network, which I lead. These groups are key to supporting and celebrating differences across MHA. In terms of what we have achieved so far across all networks, we have hosted various awareness events, celebrated several religious festivals and brought people together across the firm. Within the Pride Network, we ran a number of events for Pride month including a firm-wide quiz and webinar highlighting the importance of allyship.
How has MHA supported you in bringing your authentic self to work?
Leading the Pride Network has been particularly important for me. It’s given me an opportunity to share my experiences and background, which has helped me connect with my colleagues. By being open about who I am, I hope to send a message to others that they can do the same. It’s amazing to work in an environment that genuinely celebrates people’s differences.
How does MHA demonstrate its people-first approach?
The leadership at MHA sets the tone. They’re approachable, open, and truly invested in everyone’s success. The open-plan layout in the London office helps as well—it encourages collaboration, and you can easily reach out to partners and managers.
Most of us have mentors, which has been incredibly helpful. The mentors I have worked with during my time at MHA have provided guidance on soft skills and shared valuable insights from their own experiences. Having a few key people to learn from and turn to has been so helpful for my development.
How has MHA grown as a firm in recent years, and what impact has that had on the culture?
"The firm has grown significantly, especially in the last few years. When I joined the London office, there were around 200 people, and now there are closer to 500. It feels like a different firm in terms of size and scale, but despite this growth, we’ve worked hard to maintain our people-first culture. It’s all about team relationships and looking out for each other. Even though the firm has grown, the focus on teamwork and collaboration remains strong."
If you had to describe MHA’s culture in one word, what would it be?
Welcoming
What advice would you give to someone joining MHA?
Get involved in the initiatives and networks that interest you. They’re a great way to connect with colleagues and make a real impact. I recently spoke with a new assistant manager who, on their second day, told me they wanted to get involved in the Pride network. They shared some great ideas, which we’re already starting to put into practice. MHA is on a journey when it comes to diversity and inclusion - we’ve made great progress, but we need more people who will help drive us forward.
