I have always loved hats – I own several. In various shades and fabrics. And I am delighted that my career is now following a similar vein, enabling me to don different hats so that my passions can be appropriately channeled.
Most recently I have been appointed Interim Head of Smart Works Scotland – about which I am completely thrilled. Having been a volunteer coach at Smart Works for over 18 months, being given, after a rigorous recruitment process, the role for six months is both an honour and great fun.
Empowering women into work and leading the amazing team which does this, 8 full time members of the Smart Works permanent team and over 135 volunteers, is fascinating. Every day is for learning, whether about the resourceful initiatives our referral partners employ to encourage their clients to visit us for coaching guidance; hearing from clients about their own resilience in overcoming extreme challenges to get themselves back into work, or wonderful, creative initiatives from the team to raise funds for this incredible organisation – which receives no government funding. I could go on and on …
With 40 years, or so, of empowering women IN the workplace, to be helping women INTO the workplace feels entirely appropriate.
This is a part-time role so I am also able to continue being a passionate advocate and Ambassador for SnapDragon, helping businesses understand the value of their intellectual property and protecting it with all our might; while also mentoring and supporting several growing businesses across the UK, and fulfilling my NED responsibilities too. It’s a full but wonderful place to be.
These are hats which complement each other, frequently overlapping in the very best of ways, extending networks and impact. I just can’t, physically, wear more than one at once!
