Did you always want to work within the tech industry?
Originally at school I wanted to be a teacher!
I fell into tech through good fortune – I carried out some temp work one summer working as an admin assistant at a local firm and they then subsequently offered me a job at their company managing their stock management and invoicing system.
After that it was a no brainer that I would stay in tech in some shape.
Tech is generally a fast paced, dynamic environment. Would you agree with that?
When I first started working in tech, changes were slower to happen. Nowadays the changes are so quick and reactive that it can be hard to keep up. It’s also important to ensure you are using the right tech for your demands rather than jumping on the ‘latest’ bandwagon.
How did you get to where you are today, in terms of training/ where did you start?
Initially I started working in a small office looking after their stock management and invoicing. At that stage I didn’t really know what my next steps would be and if I am completely honest I never had an overall plan and have kept that mind-set even to this day. It’s worked for me but wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea!
The only ‘plan’ I have had is that in each role I have moved into I have always ensured that it is a challenge rather than just a straight swap from one company to another.
Being given the opportunity to grow in each role has been very beneficial to me and I have always pushed myself forward to an opportunity. A prime example of this is when I moved into a tester role for a software company. I could see that there was an opportunity to write an end user manual and then go on-site and train the staff so I put my case forward and was given the opportunity.
That has been my mode of working ever since – see an opportunity and build a case to push yourself forward for it.
What have been your key achievements to date and how did you achieve them?
There is a long list of achievements that are based on what we have done as a team rather than me taking the credit for them. That is probably the best achievement to be honest – no-one takes credit individually for what we have done. In every place I have worked I have ensured that we have a team spirit – our successes and failures are felt as a group rather than as an individual.
My own personal achievement is to have pushed myself harder to take the more difficult roles. I had to be based on a client site for over 6 months in a dual role of Programme Manager and CTO – that role definitely challenged my confidence as I was on my own representing my company while at the same time helping our client to move forward to meet their goals. I’m not saying I did everything perfectly but I realised at that point that everyone has a version of the same issues wherever you go and never be afraid to use your experience to help.
What have been your key challenges and how did you overcome them?
Self-confidence/belief in my abilities. I am by nature a doubter of what I can do for no good reason.
I still struggle at times with this but I had the great fortune to go on Dale Carnegie training a few years ago and met the most wonderful woman (Kate Peacock) who made me realise that I was the only person getting in my way of success!
What have been your key motivators?
I have always had the mind-set of work hard and treat everyone as you would want to be treated.
Having children also made it more important to me to demonstrate that nothing is impossible and to always shoot for the moon.
From a work perspective, being able to make a difference no matter how small is very important and to feel I have added value.
I am very fortunate in the role I have to be able to bring our teams on the journey and watch them sail – that is the biggest motivator for me.
What advice would you give to your younger self or those who are just starting out in the tech industry?
To myself – never doubt your abilities
To others – you have such opportunities – don’t try to pigeon-hole yourself too soon into a role. Get as much experience as you can as that will then help you realise your strengths and what/where you want your career to go to.
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