What is your role at Antser?
Learning and Development Director.
What do you like most about your role?
The opportunity to make real change to people’s lives by helping them to see things in a different way, learn new skills and challenge their norms. Learning shouldn’t stop when we leave school. We learn every day in lots of different ways and this role is about capturing people’s imaginations through our training interventions and supporting them to take the time to stop and think – often a luxury in our busy lives. It’s a very people centric role and I am definitely a people person.
How did you get into your chosen career and why did you choose it?
I studied Business Studies at university, but didn’t specialise in a particular area. After graduating and spending ten years working in a number of different roles, I fell into a training sales role, which is where I first discovered my love of all things learning and development related. I decided to go back to university to do my masters in Human Resource Management, so that I could develop myself further in this field.
What achievement are you most proud of?
Working full time, doing my master’s degree and being pregnant with my first child, all at the same time! I could barely reach the keyboard to finish my dissertation. It was a challenge, but I was incredibly proud of what I achieved on all fronts during this time.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career?
Juggling a young family and a career is challenging. Trying to keep abreast of industry/sector trends in learning, ensuring I/we as an organisation stay relevant and keep innovating/driving forward, whilst looking after my little people is a constant juggling act, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter a career in your industry?
L&D typically attracts more women than men. However, as the roles become more senior, the balance shifts and more males are found in the top roles. My advice would be to take your time to explore if this is something you really want to do and if it is, go for it! Be inquisitive and challenging and get to know every aspect of the industry and all it has to offer to find the perfect fit for you, and let’s begin to close that gender inequality gap.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #ChooseToChallenge. How do you think we can take steps to challenge inequality, call out bias, question stereotypes and help forge an inclusive world?
Be brave and have that conversation! If something doesn’t feel/sit right with you, don’t be afraid to say so – the more we talk, the more we learn and that’s ultimately what I’m all about. #lifelonglearning
