I joined Beyondly fresh out of university without a plan, other than knowing that I wanted to work for a company where I’d be seen as a person and not just a number on the payroll.
Throughout my time at Beyondly, I’ve worked with my line manager to set quarterly goals in support of either my role specific or soft skill development. I’ve explored different opportunities and responsibilities to understand where my passion lies – they’ve not always worked out, but I have learnt from every experience.
Beyondly as a business has evolved a lot since I joined in 2014, and my role has pivoted to support business needs over the years. I was fortunate enough in 2019 to be given the opportunity to move from leading our WEEE compliance activity to our WEEE and Packaging activities during my manager’s maternity leave. As the regulations evolved, in 2021 we determined as a business that we needed distinct senior roles covering WEEE and Packaging and I stepped back from the world of electricals to focus on Packaging – I remember at the time wondering if I’d have enough to keep me busy.... It turns out that I did! Along came Packaging EPR with a whole host of complexity, and this presented an opportunity for me to move into our Senior Management Team as the rep for our Packaging and Data Services where I am using all my learnings from experiences over the years to have input into our wider organisational strategy.
- Resilience – my role involves a lot of moving parts across two of our key service areas, with commitments to our growing customer base and to our fab packaging and data teams as well as holding obligations as a compliance scheme. Things don’t always go to plan, but I have learnt to take it in my stride, take a step back and remain calm when under pressure – there is always a solution. This helps me ensure that my team and our customers feel supported in tricky times.
- Constructive challenge – my brain seems to be wired to question things! It has taken me time to have the confidence to speak up and share the thoughts whirring away in my brain, and it’s important in my role that when I do challenge, I do so constructively to help us make the best decisions for my team, our customers and Beyondly.
- Effective communication – for me this starts with listening, which is so important in my role. If we don’t actively listen to our customers, our team or wider stakeholders, then we’re limiting how successful we can be. Being mindful of individual communication styles and preferences also helps me to ensure that the message I need to deliver is received and understood as intended – EPR is complex enough, it doesn’t need me adding any confusion!
Having a supportive network of people around me to learn from, to share experiences and frustrations with and to bounce ideas off. Taking time to reflect and look ahead. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day but taking the time to celebrate wins and learn from mistakes helps me reset and gives me the motivation to see what I can achieve next!
It’s ok to not have a plan! If you don’t know where you see yourself in five - or ten years’ time, that’s ok too. Focus on what you enjoy, your skills and your strengths. Take opportunities that present themselves but also be prepared to carve out your own, challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. And finally, don’t be a lone ranger! Having a network of people to support you on your journey is so important.
