My KPMG Plot Twist

Dreaming of the skies, landing at KPMG

After graduating from Nanyang Technological University in 2018 with a degree in material science and engineering, Ronathan acquired a recreational pilot license in Australia. He had seen aviation as a way to travel, meet new people and immerse himself in different cultures. "I’ve always sought to collect new experiences, and at that time, aviation felt like the ideal avenue, an enabler of adventure and daily inspiration," he said.

He decided to look for work while waiting to start on a cadet pilot programme for a commercial airline. Curious about the IT audit profession, he spoke to a friend working at KPMG in Singapore. The conversation proved to be the catalyst.

"One of my friends was already working in KPMG Cyber. He was also from a non-IT background, and talking to him and hearing all the positive things he had to say about the firm really resonated with me. It got me thinking I could also have a successful cyber career at KPMG," Ronathan recalls.

Ronathan's friend had told him about the learning opportunities he was given at the firm, and that he enjoyed the vibrant, university-like team environment and diverse range of work available due to the firm's broad client base. Convinced that such an environment would be well-suited to his new-found professional interest, he joined the Cyber team six years ago – and never looked back. 

The value of a non-traditional path 

In his first two years at KPMG, Ronathan worked in the broader field of strategy and governance, focusing on helping clients define their cyber strategy, strengthen compliance with regulatory requirements, and establish effective oversight structures. This role exposed him to the ‘big picture’ of cybersecurity, showing how leadership decisions, risk frameworks, and governance controls translate into day-to-day security practices. Building on this perspective, Ronathan later made the shift to specialise in security testing, where the focus moves from policy to hands-on technical validation, systematically attempting to breach systems and providing targeted remediation advice to improve the security of clients’ applications and systems.

This specialised work demands deep technical skill, but Ronathan's non-traditional background proves to be one of his greatest strengths, making him a uniquely valuable team member.

"In security testing, you have to approach each assessment methodically – breaking down complex systems into smaller components, analysing its responses under different conditions, and documenting everything to uncover weaknesses. This structured problem-solving method is something I have carried directly over from my material science engineering lab training days,” he explains.

At the same time, Ronathan’s pilot training has instilled in him the core principles of meticulousness, precision, adaptability, and preparedness. “In aviation, you are always expected to prepare for the unexpected, so you have to be adaptable and agile,” he explains.

In aviation, pilots often say they want boring flights – the kind where nothing goes wrong – but they are trained to react and adapt swiftly when situations become more ‘interesting’. “That’s the kind of mindset that I always take to every client engagement,” Ronathan says.

Navigating with confidence 

Ronathan's success demonstrates KPMG’s recognition of the value of diverse backgrounds, skillsets and aptitudes and of professionals with non-traditional backgrounds. This approach stresses the importance of a multi-disciplinary workforce and acknowledges that diverse experiences fuel innovation.

At the same time, Ronathan’s learning journey within KPMG has been immersive, he says, with mentors building his confidence and skills organically. “In any client engagement, there's always somebody from one level up to guide you.”

The training at KPMG is also thoughtful and structured, he notes, describing the firm’s formal training platforms with courses for all skill levels and its active recognition and rewards for employees who acquire new skills and certifications. “Whether you are a new joiner or you're somebody who has been in the field for 20 years, there's always something for you," he notes.

It’s an environment in which this former potential pilot has thrived, despite ending up in a very different field from the one he set out to enter. "My career has definitely taken some unexpected turns; every day has brought new challenges, pushing me to grow very quickly, both professionally and technically,” he says.

And in cybersecurity, much like flying passengers safely across the globe, the rewards of doing a job with the same qualities of meticulousness, precision, adaptability and preparedness are still evident.

“Seeing the real impact my work has on different clients is very rewarding,” Ronathan says. “It’s what excites me every single day.”