Women in Leadership sponsored by ILM
The shortlist – click on a name to read their personal “Leadership Story”
Katy Chamberlain – (CEO), Business in Focus
Ann-Marie Harkin – (Financial Audit Director), Wales Audit Office
Helen Jones – (Manager, Dealer Support & Decision Risk), Lloyds Banking Group, Consumer Finance
Katy Chamberlain
Role: Chief Executive
Organisation: Business in Focus Limited
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Starting work as an accountant in 1984 I quickly discovered what made business fun was the people – sums were secondary. This translated into my work relationships, especially when I became a manager. Watching the people around me, plus copious reading – mostly fiction and history – taught me that the very best things happen when people are respected and encouraged to play to their strengths. A few tough experiences in work and outside helped me understand that even more deeply, and added an understanding of the need for resilience, persistence and unfailing positivity. This is hard to live up to, but worth the effort.
What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with Business in Focus?
When I joined, BIF held several key Business Support contracts with challenging targets. Working with a very intelligent, keen team to identify what was needed to deliver these and meet our objective of supporting enterprise has been great.
Bringing the whole team together to refresh our mission and agree our company values was fantastic – then watching these amazing people live up to them again and again.
Finally, the major challenge of retendering for our major contracts, and when successful, having to restructure the team to align with new requirements. I have been constantly impressed by the professionalism of everyone involved.
What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?
Communicate regularly, tell the whole story – the good and bad bits, ask people to respect confidential information and be scrupulously truthful and honest. I have found this the best way to build trust, and when a team trusts each other and their leaders, they will move mountains.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2016?
“More for less” – it’s a difficult concept and faces all teams and all leaders in Wales today, with budgets diminishing and markets becoming more competitive. It often acts as a stimulus for change and innovation, but it usually involves pain, and that’s tough for leaders and team members alike.
Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last ruling King of Wales until his death in 1282. Author Ellis Peters paints him as brave, adventurous, intelligent, diplomatic and honourable – a compelling picture. I wonder what he was really like?
And today? Jane Hutt – for her integrity, willingness to seek advice, decency and kindness.
What is one word that sums up leadership for you?
I’ve kept within the word count so please can I have two?
Creating passion
Ann-Marie Harkin
Role: Financial Audit Director
Organisation: Wales Audit Office
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
My parents were hugely supportive when I said that I wanted to go to University and then on to study for a professional accountancy qualification. Both of them had to leave school at 15 and to work really hard to give me opportunities. The understanding I developed of what that support meant for them, and the difference the educational opportunities I was being given meant to my life, have completely influenced my outlook on life and leadership.
What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with Wales Audit Office organisation?
The establishment of a Finance Skills Development Group comprising Senior Finance Leaders from publicly funded organisations across Wales presents us with a wonderful opportunity to develop the next generation of finance professionals. The secondments between public bodies, which are due to take place from autumn 2016, will help to provide our finance students with a greater understanding of the challenges facing public bodies and the skills and expertise needed to deal with them.
It can be challenging sometimes to persuade employees to focus on their professional development when they are already busy and resources are scarce, but the benefits to be gained for the individual and the employer definitely make it worthwhile.
What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?
Communicate and engage. There is no point having a vision if you can’t persuade others of the merits of it! And be patient- change isn’t achievable overnight.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2016?
Looking beyond today’s problems! For those of us in the public sector, the need to achieve financial savings against a backdrop of increasing demand and public expectations can cause us to focus on short term financial priorities rather than invest in training for the longer term.
Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?
It’s impossible to single out any one leader. In my role as an auditor I have been lucky to work with a wide range of inspiring and dedicated professionals at all levels, helping to influence the future shape and direction of the Welsh Public Sector.
What is one word that sums up leadership for you?
People
Helen Jones
Role: Manager, Dealer Support & Decision Risk
Organisation: Lloyds Banking Group, Consumer Finance
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Faced with a challenging personal life from an early age, it has made me a resilient, tenacious and independent person who’s not afraid to show vulnerability. Through having difficult experiences and circumstances to overcome it has given me a positive attitude and outlook on life and my motto is nothing is impossible, anything can be achieved. It has also instilled in me a natural ability to support and care for those around me and a want to help people succeed in both work and their and personal lives.
What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with Lloyds Banking Group?
My highlights are seeing my team members develop and progress, knowing that I have been a part of their journey and that I have helped them on their way to growth.
On a personal level with a young family it has been challenging to get my work life balance right. I enjoy work and am proud to have secured two promotions in a short space of time while balancing the needs of my family by agreeing a compressed working pattern, resulting in the best of both worlds.
What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?
I have learnt that constructive feedback and engagement are very important. While performance challenges do need to be addressed, it is imperative to listen to people and to praise someone when they have done a good job. A thank you or well done, go a long way.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2016?
Recruiting and investing in the right people for the right job are essential. Developing and nurturing talent results in the strongest performers being promoted and moving away from the business. Recruitment time to recover skills and experience can move focus from driving best customer outcomes and other colleague development.
Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?
Anna Louise Bates – a truly inspirational woman who in the face of the tragic and untimely death of both her husband and son prior to Christmas 2015, has established the Charity “Believe” to promote and support Organ Donation across Wales, encouraging families to discuss their wishes over organ donation.
What is one word that sums up leadership for you?
Respect
Disclaimer: All details included in these leadership stories have been provided by the finalists themselves. All information has been accepted in good faith. Any references to individuals or circumstances have been relayed in the finalist’s own words and have not been verified by the Leading Wales Awards Directors or its Consortium. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and are not necessarily the views of the Leading Wales Awards Directors or Consortium members.