Champions in the workplace!

Since I first studied Psychology in school at the age of 16, I’ve been genuinely interested in working with people. After pursuing Psychology at University, I returned to the island to my first “proper job” which was a graduate scheme within Finance. This role provided an excellent introduction to the world of work and office life. Whilst working there, I found myself curious about what ‘HR’ did and when I found out it was the team who oversaw all ‘people matters’ within an organisation, I felt like it had my name on it!

Soon after deciding this was my goal, I received an offer to work at a local recruitment agency which I absolutely loved. Meeting with people daily and listening to their career aspirations was not just fascinating but incredibly fulfilling, especially when I could assist them in reaching their goals. I left this role to relocate to Brighton and it was there that my HR career and studies began.

Whilst working in a generalist HR role in Brighton, I studied part time for a MSc in Human Resource Management. One of the modules of the course was ‘Leadership Styles’ which analysed different leadership styles and their pros and cons. It was completing this module that made me understand the importance of authenticity in leadership and have since always aimed to channel that when managing or leading a team.

The main influence in my decision-making skills was that first role in Brighton. I was the HR Department for the business and therefore had to think on my feet, make decisions, and rely on my initiative. I quickly realised that panic and stress were counterproductive in any situation and that often the best thing I could do in any scenario was to stay calm, which in turn kept others calm too. A skill I learnt in that role and have used nearly every day since is to discern when quick, clear decisions are necessary and when it is acceptable not to have all the answers immediately.

Like any career path, it takes time to build knowledge and experience and so there were many times in my career when I was leading complex HR scenarios or processes for the first time, which can be extremely daunting. For me, the way to overcome these challenges has been through gaining confidence through continuous learning and development. Learning and understanding Employment Law has been absolutely vital in my role and the part of HR that I’ve developed a real passion for. More recently, I completed a Level 2 Counselling qualification in Listening Skills, which has proven incredibly valuable. In today’s world, people are opening up more about their struggles—both within and outside the workplace— so the skill to really listen without judgement is of great benefit and one I hope to keep building upon. As an aside, it really helps in my role as a parent too!

I would have to say the pursuit of the MSc in HR Management. This was a 3 year course which I completed whilst working full time and there were certainly moments, usually ahead of an exam or my final year dissertation, when I regretted the commitment. However, upon completion, I felt an immense sense of pride. Gaining this qualification marked a pivotal step in my career, opening doors to new opportunities and I’m so grateful to my younger self for sticking with it!

I was interested in pursuing the IoD Certificate in Company Direction as the role of ‘Director’ had been discussed within my sights at work. Whilst I felt assured of my experience and knowledge within the World of HR, I understood that a director’s role required a broader depth of understanding beyond this field and came with legal responsibilities.

Reverting to type, I wanted to seek some training that could help me start to fill the gaps. The comprehensive course provided invaluable knowledge and of all my studies, has given me the biggest boost in confidence and now feeling well-prepared to take on this new role at work.

Reflecting on my leadership journey, I’ve transitioned from a management role—where I focused on team and workload management—to a more strategic position that demands leadership and coaching. As a leader, I prioritise giving people time—listening more and speaking less. This principle stems from my own experiences: the moments when I felt most motivated and engaged were when I had champions in the workplace who believed in me. Their unwavering support inspired me to live up to their belief, reinforcing my certainty that championing others is a key ingredient of effective leadership.

Additionally, I hold true to the timeless value of treating people with dignity and respect. I strive to understand others’ perspectives and offer meaningful help in various scenarios. This value has been central to my HR career and remains equally important in leadership.

When signing up to the Certificate in Company Direction, I noticed that the IoD Jersey website was advertising a mentoring scheme whereby I could sign up to be mentored, so I did just that. I was fortunate to not only be selected for the programme but I was matched with a fantastic mentor who I still meet with today, 2 years on!

Upon completing the course and the mentorship scheme, I held the IoD in such high regard and was keen to engage with all they were doing so I reached out to Alex, who offered me the position.

In terms of balancing the role, I think like most people, I’m used to juggling a number of tasks and wearing different hats throughout the day. There is a common understanding amongst committee members that this is a voluntary role and everyone has their professional commitments too and I just try to do the best I can, in the time I can. In addition, I’ve got the wonderful David as my fellow member in the Sponsorship committee so we agree how we can divide and conquer together.

I’m still relatively new to the position and the team, so there's a lot I'm still learning. So far, my biggest challenge has been managing the timing between sponsors and events. For example, each January, we release a new calendar of events, so all of the Sub-Committees are meeting to discuss and finalise their event content, which takes time. Meanwhile, many organisations set their budgets for the year in January, making it a prime time to connect with potential sponsors. The challenge arises when sponsors want detailed information about events that are not yet confirmed and/or are changing. So, I've learned to be transparent about what I do and do not yet know and the importance of keeping myself updated with the latest information from the other Sub-Committees.

Gosh, this is a big question and so much I could say for both the industry I work in or the profession. I’ll stick to HR and the topic of technology.

I think everyone would agree that the rapid pace of technological advancement is nothing short of phenomenal. To navigate these advances, I try to embrace technology, especially when it offers opportunities for efficiency. For example, last year at work we implemented a new HR system called Hi Bob, which has revolutionised our work. The system has significantly improved efficiency, both in terms of time and reducing our carbon footprint, as we now print only a third of what we used to. Additionally, we upgraded our payroll system to ensure compatibility with the HR system, and both are now cloud-based. This allows our colleagues to access all their HR and payroll information via an app on their phones.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by new technologies but I reassure myself that no one could keep up with all the various advances and I don’t believe that burying my head in the sand would not be a good option!

I had the privilege of working with an exceptional HR Consultant in Brighton, who shared two invaluable pieces of advice early in my career that have been immensely beneficial so will share these:

1.      The most important investment you can make is in yourself and your education.

2.      Always seize an opportunity to be in the room, even if at first you feel like an imposter! (i.e. whether it's a management meeting, Board meeting, committee meeting, or panel discussion).