Jon Holt, UK CEO at KPMG: From Serving Pints to Becoming Partner

Episode Guest:

Jon Holt is the UK CEO of KPMG, where he leads a team of over 16,000 professionals. With more than 30 years at the firm, Jon brings a reflective, values-led approach to leadership.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction – Jon Holt joins My Duvet Flip

1:28 Starting out washing dishes in a Yorkshire pub

3:10 What Jon learned behind the bar

4:42 Advice to young Jon: try everything, especially work experience

6:20 Why accountancy beat law for Jon

7:35 Do what you enjoy – or go do something else

9:10 Getting early career advice – and learning to stay

10:52 From Wakefield to KPMG partner

12:15 The value of diverse work experience

13:36 When to leave a job and when to double down

15:00 Investing young – Jon’s biggest financial regret

16:30 How to spot good vs bad career advice

18:00 Feedback fear & learning from failure

20:15 What makes a great future accountant?

22:10 Curiosity in the age of echo chambers

24:00 Tips for building a curious mindset

25:45 Kindness and culture at KPMG

27:10 What it really takes to become a partner

28:50 The loneliness of leadership – and why outside mentors matter

30:10 Everyone’s the CEO of their own life

31:25 Why the journey matters more than the destination

33:00 The myth of enjoying success without earning it

34:20 Life after KPMG – Jon’s future beyond the firm

35:48 Final lessons from 30 years at the top

37:00 What flips Jon’s duvet every morning

38:25 Jack’s closing reflections on kindness, culture & leadership

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