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This International Women’s Day, we asked Senior Leaders to share the advice they would give the next generation of leaders or the wisdom they wish they’d received early in their own careers.
We hope you had a wonderful International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8 March, and that you find something valuable in the insights shared. In the spirit of this year’s theme, #GiveToGain, may their reflections remind us that when we lift others, we all rise.
Sharon Vize - Chief People Officer, People Experience
I probably have quite old fashioned values when it comes to managing your career. You should always strive to do your best work, take pride in what you deliver, and take opportunities even when you feel a little out of your depth, that’s how you grow & develop.
Be reliable in what you commit to and be curious about how the business really works. Be respectful, kind and supportive to the people around you, being a decent person matters more than people think, your reputation will follow you throughout your career.
Lisa Holt - Group Managing Director, Recruitment
Hard work always always pays off, you don’t have to be perfect at what you do but if you work really hard life is more rewarding and you get further faster…. I did not know this in school!
Be your true self of course but there are some aspects you might have to manage so be very self aware of your reactions and behaviours as best you can every day…. Not easy.
If you love what you do, you will be brilliant at it so find out what you love doing even if it takes a while…
If you can count your best friends on one hand you are winning… you only find out when the chips are down.
Alice Brereton-Halls - Associate Director, People Experience
Invest time into building strong relationships with your colleagues. Treat everybody with respect, deliver what you promise, and take the time to consider the perspective of others. When you work alongside others, there is a very good chance that you might become aware of a potential risk before it develops - which in turn, will help both you, your team and the business.
I would also say to always remember to keep learning. Real growth can come from the instances where you may feel out of your depth. Always grab an opportunity to learn something new if you can!
Annmarie Gallacher - Senior Manager, Cpl Healthcare
Recognise what you're good at, and be confident in your skills, but don’t let yourself become stagnant – continuous learning and improving your knowledge is important and can ignite excitement in your daily working life.
Don’t be afraid of voicing your opinion, or how you feel; you can disagree respectfully, without being aggressive/rude.
Set healthy boundaries – saying ‘no’ is an essential skill for managing your time and reducing stress levels, allowing you to prioritise personal wellbeing over people pleasing. Be direct without over explaining, acknowledge your thanks for the request, and do offer an alternative, ie, what you could do.
Jamie Bushell - Director, Transformation Team
The advice I would give the next generation is to stay curious and always take the time to understand the “why” behind how things work. Early in my career I thought leadership meant having the answers and driving decisions, but I’ve since learned that the best outcomes usually come from collaboration — even when working with strong or very directive personalities. Ways of working evolve, so it’s important to respectfully question assumptions and help shape better approaches rather than simply repeating what has always been done.
Aralia Norris - Associate Director, Cpl Healthcare
Sometimes the personal and professional journeys we hope and plan for don't always work out. As you develop and grow, you'll realise that it takes all of your experiences , the successes and the challenges, to be an authentic leader, colleague and friend