Tell us a bit about your career journey. How did you get into strategy development and change management?
Largely happenstance! After university, I joined the consulting graduate scheme at Deloitte, before moving to Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, where I was responsible for delivering major growth initiatives and change programmes for private banks and asset managers. I was fortunate to experience working in Switzerland, Luxembourg, New Zealand and the US, alongside the UK.
Working as a consultant delivering large-scale projects, the need for effective change management was critical. I then became Head of Strategic Delivery for a UK investment manager, where my focus was on developing and implementing growth strategies for the business.
Working as a consultant delivering large-scale projects, the need for effective change management was critical. I then became Head of Strategic Delivery for a UK investment manager, where my focus was on developing and implementing growth strategies for the business.
What has been the biggest career highlight for you so far?
Mistakes are par for the course, in fact, they’re often helpful. Just make sure you learn from them.
Katy Brown
...And your greatest learning?
There are so many! A few that spring to mind:
- Always stay true to your values
- Try not to compare your journey to others
- Mistakes are par for the course, in fact, they’re often helpful. Just make sure you learn from them
- Your wellbeing is so important, make space for it. And don’t sacrifice it, it’s never worth it...
What was important to you in developing an online course, and how did you find the process of its development?
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
As clichéd as it sounds, life really is too short, so don’t live to work and don’t let work define you.
Katy Brown
In your experience, how can online learning best help support people and accelerate change?
By empowering people through giving them the skills, tools and confidence they need to go out there and make positive social change happen.
What excites you right now in your sector and wider social impact world? Do you see important innovations emerging and new ways of creating impact?
We need to work across sectors to shift paradigms and challenge assumptions, enabling innovative solutions and strategic partnerships that deliver sustainable social good.
Katy Brown
Whether you work for a non-profit or in a bank, we believe you can have a positive impact in your career. What does ‘purpose-driven work’ mean to you and why is it important?
I once read that social purpose involves ‘doing well by doing good’. In my view, purpose-driven work is important because it’s about making a positive difference beyond yourself and your organisation. It reaches into the community, into society as a whole. It brings diverse people together to achieve a mutually beneficial goal. For an individual, I think purpose-driven work is so much more meaningful, engaging and ultimately, fulfilling.