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Parvati Das remembers a conversation with a mentor that altered her career’s trajectory. At the time, Das had already accomplished so much. After studying Indian taxation and learning US taw laws at her first job in India with public accounting firm Ernst & Young, Das immigrated to the US.
The pivotal conversation with her mentor—and boss at the time—took place when Das was working at Choice Hotels International. One of the largest lodging franchisors, Choice Hotels is headquartered in the Washington, DC, metro area. The tax department at Choice Hotels knew exactly what Das was working on, how they played into the bigger strategy, and what the group was working toward.
“I was great at what I did,” says Das, who is now vice president of tax operations at World Kinect, a leading global energy management company headquartered in Miami. “My team [at Choice Hotels] was great. But the growth and opportunity for that next level just didn’t come. It was confusing, and I was frustrated. I reached out to a mentor, who opened up the world for me.”
The lesson Das learned is critical for anyone hoping to elevate their career and pursue executive-level positions. Sure, everyone in Das’s department knew the score, but outside of it? Das didn’t know where to begin.
“My mentor asked me: What if I went to the marketing department or the CFO?” Das recalls. “Would they know what I was doing? Absolutely not.” She realized she needed to connect with people throughout the company to explain her contributions and skill set as well as how she was moving the organization forward.
Das became a passionate proponent of networking. She took the time to build her internal network, engaging with colleagues and networking in meetings to get better acquainted and compare notes on the company. Das, who was comfortable working in the weeds of accounting and tax, began to cultivate a more top-down perspective that emphasized collaboration and communication outside her strict purview.
“I’m someone who opens the door and asks you to flood the room with your ideas. I want the best idea to win, no matter where it comes from.”
Parvati Das
The conversation with her mentor, and Das’s work to broaden her perspective, changed everything.
“Networking changed my approach to how I grow as a leader and as a professional,” Das explains. “I take time to build relationships. [Entrepreneur and networking advocate] Porter Gale says, ‘Your network is your net worth,’ and that’s a mindset I align with today.”
Today, Das is a senior leader in the tax department at World Kinect, leading global tax operations. Previously, she served as head of tax at Fortune 500 company Travel Centers of America (TA), the largest full-service truck stop and travel center company in the US. In that role, she led the entire tax function and reported to the CFO as part of TA’s executive team.
Outside of work, Das serves on the board of the Tax Executives Institute (TEI) – Baltimore/Washington chapter, where she’s a past president. Taking on those leadership roles has enhanced her leadership capacity and helped her build strong relationships in what she calls the “small world of tax people.” At TEI, Das can offer her insights, compile diverse strategies organizations are making for common issues, and bring that knowledge back to her day job.
If it’s not already abundantly apparent, Das doesn’t rest on her laurels. She might be one of the very few tax executives who has skydived—an experience she says she’s intent on repeating in the future.
But as she has evolved into more of a leader and less of an individual contributor, Das has found ways to become like the mentor who aided her in her own career. Her leadership strategy comes down to one word: empowerment.
“I’m someone who opens the door and asks you to flood the room with your ideas,” Das says. “I want the best idea to win, no matter where it comes from. And when it’s time to execute, I believe in allowing people to learn through experience. I’m not a hand holder. I’ll always be there to lend a hand, but I want my people to grow into genuine and bold leaders themselves.”
While Das seeks out new and greater challenges, it’s important to note that she’s managed this growth while working for only a handful of organizations throughout her career. It’s not about jumping from opportunity to opportunity every three years. It’s about the challenges she can find, like building a tax team from the ground up, finding new ways to streamline processes across an organization, and transforming the tax function to a value center and a valuable voice at the decision-making table.
Das’s career is also proof that just because you operate in the traditionally conservative finance and accounting world doesn’t mean you can’t shake things up. Das keeps finding ways to innovate. It’s what keeps her feeling young as a veteran in her field.
It may not be skydiving, but golf is Das’s latest obsession. When she’s not on the fairway, the VP is getting ready to send her daughter to college— another first for the mother. There’s no doubt Das has empowered her own children, like her friends and colleagues, to seek out new experiences, engage with life, and connect with the world around them.
DMA’s corporate tax consultants cultivate strong partnerships with our clients to tailor solutions to their unique needs. With a deep understanding of tax strategies, software, processes, and regulations, our agility allows us to navigate complex fiscal landscapes and share in the success of our clients. We seamlessly integrate with internal client teams, facilitate informed decision-making, and drive sustainable growth. With a commitment to excellence and a proactive approach to corporate taxation, DMA – DuCharme, McMillen & Associates Inc. stands as a trusted partner for companies across the globe and acts as an extension of your tax department.
