Mark Russell – World Sight Day

I lost my sight nearly 20 years ago but found my vision at KPMG.

As I reflect on World Sight day I transport myself back to my 19 year old self, It’s 2002 having recently started working in the city, having deferred University for a year my road ahead was full of options, however in a matter of weeks my future felt like it had been turned upside down, sitting in a hospital consulting room being told by a Doctor that I would be registered as severely sight impaired (Blind) was hard to compute but at the time I thought it meant my life as I had dreamt it would be over. That diagnosis of Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) certainly changed my life forever but looking back I wouldn’t change it as I would not be the same person as I am now.

I was lucky to have had some amazing support my family and friends didn’t treat me differently and my employers at the time were amazing, making adjustments for me and not even considering that I wouldn’t be able to do the job anymore despite my own doubts, It was a small company and I felt like I belonged, so when in 2013 the company was acquired by KPMG I was once again unsure what my future would hold, I knew I was in the wrong role but I didn’t know how to change it.

Two things changed my perception and direction one, outside of work, I started to play competitive sport again in 2012 playing visually impaired football and cricket, and then in work at KPMG I came across their Disability Network. These were the first times I had got involved with disability and I can now say the start of the rest of my life. In work it gave me the platform to develop, learn and access an incredible network of Individuals both inside and outside of KPMG. I was proud to chair the WorkAbility Network for 4 years and learnt so much from the hundreds of people I worked with, I learnt that our differences are our super powers and it was the springboard to my career in our Inclusion, Diversity & Social Equality team, I am proud to work for a company that values difference, and work alongside people that want you to achieve and create your own ambitions. I love working in Inclusion & Diversity knowing that opportunities are there for people to transform their lives like I was able to.