Reflecting on my first year: Insights, Challenges, and the Power of Listening

Today marks my one-year anniversary in my role, and it has been an incredibly eye-opening and rewarding journey. When I first stepped into this position, I anticipated challenges—every business has them. I knew there would be many layers of issues to uncover, a bit like peeling an onion, each one revealing more beneath.

Early on, it became clear that the business was resilient, with many talented and deeply dedicated people. The environment here is both friendly and supportive, a place where people genuinely want to contribute to the company’s success and to see their ideas valued. Yet, for all the strength within these people, there were underlying pains and frustrations - both obvious and hidden - that impacted our daily operations and, ultimately, our long-term goals.

In many ways, my first year has been about listening, understanding, and empathising. I’ve learned (again) that more often than not, what most people are looking for is quite simple: to be heard! They want to know that their insights, experience and feedback are valued and that their voices matter. Listening is the foundation of any effective change, but it’s not enough on its own. After all, people also want to see actions that reflect their input - actions that show we’re not just listening but acting to make things better. Even if the decision is a tough and unpopular one!

This journey has taught me to not just continue to embrace patience and persistence (core skills I’ve developed over many years) but to take it to a whole new level. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but each step forward - no matter how small - brings us closer to addressing these issues meaningfully. Together we’ve started initiatives to improve communication, streamline workflows, and foster a culture of transparency and trust. There’s more work to be done, but I am inspired every day by the team’s (and broader business’s) willingness to engage in the process, give honest feedback, and rally around the solutions we’re building and problems we are solving.

As I look ahead to the next year, I’m committed to continuing this journey of uncovering, listening, stepping into my discomfort, and taking action. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and the support provided to me not just from my team, but from the rest of the business, along with the Exec and Board. Here’s to another year of progress, collaboration, challenges, and creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be heard and feel empowered to make a difference, and to my continued personal and professional growth.

#growth #leadership #change #changemanagement #challenge #celebrate