Hi, I'm Jess.
Change Manager in Tax and Legal Digital Innovation and avid gym-goer, Birmingham
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My journey so far…
I was born and brought up in Dudley in the West Midlands, and I’ve always had a lovely family to support me. I enjoyed school, but never saw a clear career path through university. Instead, I began working in a solicitor’s office as a secretary, training to become a legal executive. A few years later, I had the opportunity to move to Cambridge, which was really exciting. I applied for a job in the city as an executive assistant for Deloitte, without knowing anything about the firm. Before my interview I realised how successful and big they are, and I didn’t expect to get the job. I was over the moon when I was offered the position, but I suffered from serious imposter syndrome. I went from a tiny office in Wolverhampton to a big firm, where there was a lot to learn. I noticed that Cambridge was much more affluent than where I’m from. When I went out in the city, I’d meet people from more privileged backgrounds who had different educations and accents to me. It took me a long time to feel like I belonged there, but over time I built my confidence and really enjoyed my time there. I later moved to the Birmingham office to continue my career.
Work that matters
I enjoyed being an executive assistant because I liked helping people. But after 10 years, I was ready for a change. I started getting involved in project management, which I really enjoyed. I was fully supported by my managers to make a career shift, which made the transition much easier. While working as a project manager for the Corporate Tax and Real Estate Compliance teams, I began to take part in some change management work, and decided this was the perfect fit for me. It’s a really varied job, it’s people focussed, and you get the chance to help others to learn and develop. I’m now a change management consultant for the Digital Innovation team, and I recently got promoted. My role is to drive the adoption of new technologies within the tax teams. I help to prepare people for the change, raise awareness of what’s coming, identify knowledge gaps and consider where extra training is needed. I then manage the change process of the tech roll-out, supporting our people along the way. I enjoy the problem-solving aspects of the role, as well as being able to help people to improve their ways of working. I’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time, and I like the fact that I’m challenged.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We have our monthly team meeting, to work on our strategic priorities. It’s really interesting to see our progress and a good chance to catch up. |
I have a weekly project check in, to identify the challenges we need to address. In the evening I go to the gym to wind down. | I head into the Birmingham office, where we all meet as a team. We always play a board game together at lunchtime for some fun, socialising and teambuilding. | I run a training session for one of our projects, helping people get to grips with some of the new tech they’re using. At lunch I go for a walk to stretch my legs. | We have a morning coffee call, then I spend some time updating project plans to action next week. In the evening I walk to the local pub for a drink with my partner. |
My weekend looks like
I love going out for brunch, either with my partner or friends. I normally go to the gym at least once over the weekend, and I really enjoy weight training. I did a bodybuilding competition in the past, but at the moment I’m training for fun. I’m also passionate about travel, and jump at any excuse to go abroad. This year I’ve been to Egypt, Lisbon, Paris and Malaga and next year I’m going on a family holiday to Thailand. At Deloitte you have the option to purchase extra holiday, which I always take advantage of.
3 things I've learned
Find your focus
You can do anything you want, but you can’t do it all at once. Focus your energies on the areas you most enjoy and don’t be afraid to put your ideas forward.
Embrace learning
I try to put aside an hour a week for learning, both soft skills and topics that relate to my area of expertise. I always say yes to opportunities that come my way.
Your background doesn’t matter
When I first joined Deloitte, I felt less confident because of being from a small town and having not gone to university. But we have very diverse teams, and if you work hard, you will always be supported to succeed.
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Jess's book recommendation
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
This book delves into the science behind habits, and how we can build better ones. It focuses on the idea that small changes in your behaviour can make a big difference in your life when you apply them consistently. For me the psychology behind habit formation is really interesting, helping me in my role as a change manager, as well as my home life.
