None of us does this alone
Bill Thompson
Head of Future Value Research & Principal Research Engineer, BBC R&D at BBC
I've been working at the BBC for over thirteen years now in a 'staff' job - ie with a payroll number, as opposed to a weekly booking on Digital Planet, or some training, consulting or answering drunken phone calls from senior executives at 2am, and it’s been fun, largely because of the people I’ve worked with.
On this year's International Women's Day I wanted to say thanks to some of the women who have supported and inspired me, who have been remarkable colleagues and firm friends, and who have put so much into making the BBC a great organisation that - despite many flaws* - has done and continues to do so much good in the world, and made it a wonderful place for me to work.
Thank you, for sharing the journey and helping me be the best I can.
So, I'd like to thank Hilary Bishop who steered so many great archive development projects, Rebecca Hoyle whose ability to negotiate with strategy got us so far, Brenda Timmons who managed the unmanageable and kept our schedules in order, Tine Blomme who shaped RES, and our business manager?Rahda Satkunam. A special call out to Mairi Brewis over in strategy who was always sympathetic to our more excessive ideas, and working with Caroline Thomson taught me a lot.
Make it Digital would not have happened without the formidable Jess Cecil, but without Claire Rice and Olivia Lockyer it would have been much less fun and achieved a lot less - and we relied on Ros Smith to make the weather work.
Within R&D, where I've been for the past several years, my female colleagues have been brilliant, inspirational and extremely effective. I miss those who have moved on, great people like Rowena Goldman, Rosie Campbell, Barbara Zambrini, Vinoba Vinayagamoorthy, Emily Cook and Georgia Phillips. And it's nice to catch up with Zillah Watson and Myrna Macgregor from time to time.
Fortunately I still get to work with Rhianne Jones and Miranda Marcus, Lianne Kerlin and Laura Harrison, Sam Chadwick, Libby Miller and Jasmine Cox, the wonderful Simone Eubanks, the inspirational Leena Haque, the fabulous Kate Coughlan, the inspirational Elizabeth Samson, and the always thoughtful Judy Parnall.
More recently I've been fortunate enough to find Antonia Kerle, Kristin Sherman, Colleen Osborne and Danijela Horak in my orbit, not to mention the BBC's CPO Storm Fagan, Newcastle's Nayeema Chowdhury, and our COO Leigh Tavaziva?
And of course there are June Prunty and Charlotte Clark, Sinéad O'Brien and her calmness under pressure, and Sarah Mines who holds things together so effectively.?
Not to forget Eleanor van Heyningen in her various roles, Cathy Derrick who has been there over the years offering advice on many unlikely projects, Katarina Bahula, Bee Godwin, Alia Sheikh, Louise Stannard, Emma Young and Alana Boles, all of whom add to the richness of my time at work.
And I must offer a final bow to the brilliant star that is Laura Ellis, who has shone through dark days, encouraged me to push on against the flow, and made me laugh on Slack backchannels in far too many meetings.
Thank you all.?
*we are contractually obliged to put that into any positive post about the organisation.
The people
Hilary Bishop
Rebecca Hoyle?
Brenda Timmons?
Tine Blomme?
Rahda Satkunam
Mairi Brewis
Caroline Thomson
Jessica Cecil
Claire Rice
Olivia Lockyer
Rowena Goldman
Rosie Campbell
Barbara Zambrini
Vinoba Vinayagamoorthy
Emily Cook
Georgia Phillips?
Zillah Watson
Myrna Macgregor
https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/myrna-macgregor-17759b144/
Rhianne Jones
Miranda Marcus
Lianne Kerlin
Laura Harrison
领英推荐
Sam Chadwick
Libby Miller
Jasmine Cox
Simone Eubanks?
Leena Haque
Kate Coughlan
Elizabeth Samson
https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/elizabeth-s-a9275666/
Judy Parnall
https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/judy-parnall-6693567/
Antonia Kerle
Kristin Sherman
Colleen Osborne
Danijela Horak
Storm Fagan
Nayeema Chowdhury
Leigh Tazivia
June Prunty?
Charlotte Clark
Sinéad O'Brien
Sarah Mines
Eleanor van Heyningen
Cathy Derrick
[no social media presence]
Katarina Bahula
Bee Godwin
Alia Sheikh
Louise Stannard
https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/louise-stannard-03314455/
Emma Young
Alana Boles
Laura Ellis
EA, Office of the Chairman and Director-General at the BBC
2 年Thank you so much Bill! Such lovely words and having a shout out has put a big smile on my face ?? I'm so lucky to work with such great women, within the BBC and outside of it too - cheers to you all and thanks again Bill, looking forward to seeing you on the 4th floor again soon!
Director - Nick O'Time Films Ltd/ BBC Trained Executive Leadership Coach
2 年I’m really honoured, Bill, to be included in your roll call! It was always a total joy working with you and I really miss that . May you keep rocking on and being brilliant at what you do and being the most excellent company.
Head of Standards & Industry at BBC
2 年This is so lovely to read this. Here's to more thoughtful discussions and side comments - keep practicing the poker face
Freelance project and programme manager specialising in R&D
2 年So many amazing women. I’ve loved working for and with the BBC over the years, and have had the privilege of working with a fair few of those mentioned ??
Head of AI Research, R&D @ BBC | AI, Machine Learning
2 年Once upon a time, in a far away land, there was a place where the world would stop every year for a day. The streets and shop windows would fill with red carnations, teachers would tell the story of Clara Zetkin, and every little girl would listen in awe. It was magical … but the struggle was real. Grateful for how far we’ve come since then, and thank you for adding a bit of magic to this day Bill. ??