? On this #allyship special, I'm joined by a panel of special guests discussing the choices involved when seeking or offering allyship. Georgina Otubela (Payne) - A seasoned service delivery leader. Georgina is passionate about developing teams and empowering them to achieve their goals through dedicated leadership and mentoring. Jag Sohal - An IT Business Partner, and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Early Careers Ambassador. Jag is an early careers myth-buster who co-hosted the 2022 IT & Digital Apprentice Awards for the BCS. Lucy Grimwade ACC - Lucy is a career coach, an IT Consul ..read more

In Episode 10 of IT's all about Choices I'm joined by an old client, Arthur Barnes. We discuss working in IT Security and Learning from your mistakes.  Arthur and I met in 2015. I had chosen to give up the security of full-time employment to work as a self-employed contractor, not only did I give up a good job, but I also chose to work in what was to me a whole new part of the industry - IT Security Operations.  I'd spent the best part of 5 years wondering whether to give up full-time employment. Choosing to do so is the best professional decision I've ever made - though it didn't ..read more

In Episode 9 of IT's all about choices I’ll be joined by my former manager and mentor Liz Lyne. Liz and I met in 2010 working together for several years. In my career, I've been lucky enough to have some great mentors. Working with Liz and learning from her was pivotal to my own self-development and I hope I now pass this on to others. Liz was especially helpful when it came to my ability to read through the lines using listening and empathy. In this episode, we'll discuss Liz's career choices and her own journey working in the technology sector, our time working together and Liz's future ch ..read more

In Episode 8 of IT's all about choices I’ll be joined by a mentor of mine, Dave Laycock. Dave and I met in 2010, back then I worked for Dave, and if I'm honest this time working together reset and challenged so much of my thinking and approach to work. I'd grown confident, considered myself experienced and I wasn't shy in my belief. Working with Dave showed me that you could blend approaches and styles to achieve even better results. Dave and I will discuss the choices that led to us working together, how Dave changed my approach, and Dave's future choices.  ..read more

In Episode 7 of IT's all about choices I'm joined by Ricky Raithatha. Back in August 2008, I interviewed Ricky, offering him a role in my London-based Service Management team. Ricky was excellent, the missing piece of the jigsaw, in fact, Ricky was so good that my job was done and I chose to move on to pastures new 3 months later.   We will discuss the choices that led to us working together and whether Ricky thinks I left him in the lurch!  Ricky has since gone on to have an amazing career, we'll cover how he switched from employee to consultant, and back again as well as his dec ..read more

In Episode 6 of 'IT's all about Choices' I speak with Bec’s Doherty and James Doherty, all the way from Auckland, New Zealand. Today, Bec’s works as a People & Culture Manager, and James as a Project Delivery Leader. Back in the mid-2000s, we all worked in and around the City of London. Bec’s working with a team of highly skilled coordinators with James and I supporting the critical information technology of the same investment management business, each of us choosing to operate in this highly pressurized environment. We will discuss the choices that led to us working around one another ..read more

In Episode 5 of IT's all about choices I’ll speak with Doug Oram, a fellow Enterprise Service Management Professional and the man who introduced me to classical music. Back in 2005, I took my first steps out of the sanctuary of IBM, stepping into a whole new world of Investment Management. A choice to leap into the unknown could have ended in failure had it not been for Doug's guidance during some turbulent times. Doug himself was no stranger to leaping into the unknown. Growing up in Kentucky, USA, Doug's choices took him to London and then into Europe before returning to the UK and being p ..read more

In Episode 4 of IT's all about choices I’ll speak with Nick Evans. Nick is recently retired having been a long-time employee with IBM. In the early 2000's Nick was managing IBM's largest helpdesk of that time. During this period I was transitioning from a Helpdesk analyst to a more Service Management focussed professional. A big step for me. My career choices have been heavily influenced by Nick and the faith he put into me, possibly more faith than I had in myself. So please join Nick and I as we reflect on the choices that led to us working together and those we have made since, as well a ..read more

In Episode 3 of IT's all about choices - I’ll speak with Derek Kelly. Derek and I made a series of choices that led to us working together in the more formative years of our careers from 1998 through to 2005. At the time our career paths seemed almost entwined, but sometimes choices are made that lead to separate paths being taken. We’ll reflect on the choices that led to us working together and those we made in 2005 which led to us taking different directions, as well as those choices that are still to come. This should be a really fun and insightful episode, and we hope a useful reminder ..read more

Back in 1998, I made a choice that would change my life and my career forever. In Episode 2 of ITs all about choices - I’ll speak with Marion Herholdt, Marion gave me confidence during a period where I really doubted my own choices and my ability to ‘make it'. We’ll reflect on the choices that led to us working together and those that have come since and are still to come. It’s been 20 years since we worked together and I cannot wait to catch up with Marion and illustrate that even when you think you’ve made a terrible choice - it can be the making of you ..read more