Insider profil
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Top Insider Advice
Often people have limitations set by others or sometimes even by themselves that stop them from progressing to that next level both in life and in their career. Self-belief is one of the key stepping stones to building confidence in yourself and your abilities. Imposter syndrome is something most people who enjoy varying levels of success have dealt with at some point or another in their careers. It is important to recognise that this can manifest in many forms, such as doubts about your skill level, not applying for that role even when you meet the requirements or generally not going for the things you want. Once you see that happening, you can start to take the necessary steps to overcome the negative self-talk. Start to engage with people who’ve achieved the type of career success you’re looking for. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage and believe in your success. Apply for that role! You never know what could happen
Career path
Head of Operational Excellence Development
First Central
Started 02/2023 to PresentOperational Excellence Deployment Manager
First Central
From 11/2021 to 01/2023Operational Excellence Delivery Lead
First Central
From 07/2018 to 10/2021Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
A big part of my role involves developing the maturity of key business capabilities. I love collaborating with people from across the business and seeing the evolution of their skills and capabilities aligned with ‘The First Central Way’. Possessing these skills and capabilities is a fundamental lever that will help all our people play a significant role in delivering our strategy. Getting to be a part of someone’s development journey and watching them become a role model for a Continuous Improvement and Growth Mindset is a major source of joy for me. That is why supporting the business and its people to grow and evolve gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.
Greatest achievements
Our approach to change and Continuous Improvement holds people and customers at the centre of everything we do. The success of Operational Excellence relies on communication and respect for people and, one of the best ways to demonstrate that respect, is to work directly with the people closest to the area of focus. Collaboration is key. This approach means that whenever we start an improvement initiative, we look to bring people on that change journey with us. Who better to show us how things really work and how processes could be improved than the people doing the work! This has allowed me to share OpEx skills and knowledge with individuals who have then taken that knowledge and applied it to progress into other roles across the business including roles within the Operational Excellence team. There is nothing better than seeing people who had little to no knowledge of Continuous Improvement and Lean Agile ways of working progressing into new roles and leading the charge in bringing others on that same improvement journey
Paul F
Director of Data and Analytics
Top Insider Advice
My career experience causes me to provide the following advice, which is relevant for opportunities here at First Central: • Build credibility by doing what you say you will • Team spirit trumps all • Seek to understand and don’t judge a book by its cover • Give people space; micro-management is a killer • Be relentless in seeking to understand yourself • Coaching and mentoring are transformational and are amazing gifts you can give to others • Take risks and be brave • Be human, be vulnerable, show emotion to make yourself accessible
Luke P
Test Engineer
Top Insider Advice
Going above and beyond in your career can be a game changer. It’s not just about meeting expectations, it’s about exceeding them consistently. When moving to the Test Engineering team I had a lot to learn instantly and a few things that I could pick up once I got more confident in the role. To be more efficient I wanted to make sure I could do the more complex parts of the role so I taught myself how to do database searches and automation testing using Selenium in my own time. Going the extra mile not only showcases your dedication but also your commitment to the department and company. Going above and beyond can set you apart and open doors to new and exciting possibilities.
Marco D
Operational Excellence Deployment Manager
Top Insider Advice
I am a strong believer that opportunities are there for people if they have the work ethic and desire to seek them out. Having not gone to university, I chose to get my foot in the door of a company and seek out opportunities for careers once I was there. My advice is to research various roles within a company and find a few that interest you. Reach out to colleagues who do that role and find out what skills and experience are required and put yourself forward for opportunities to stretch yourself. Additionally, look for colleagues who are in senior roles and present themselves in a way that aligns with your values and ask them for advice!
