.jpg)
Global People Project Manager, The Hut Group
The Master in Management MiM degree is extremely versatile, making job searches very exciting. We had qualified in modules such as Accounting, Supply Chain, Ethics and Strategy, just to name a few – all of which can be utilised in almost any organisation. This was extremely comforting as a new graduate, and something I’ll be forever grateful for.
During my MiM course, there was a huge focus on developing confidence in how you speak and what you say – we even attended a networking event in Paris, France. We did numerous presentations, including an on-the-spot ‘speak about yourself into this microphone for 60 seconds’ exercise weekly in our Strategic Innovation class.
I didn’t realise at the time how much these skills would come into play in my future career. Learning how to speak confidently and network effectively has helped me pitch my ideas constructively, build very strong connections within the business and lead some long-standing initiatives that I am very proud of.
Shortly after graduating from my MiM, I started at The Hut Group as a Graduate Team Manager, taking on a team of around 30 Pickers and Packers distributing Health and Beauty goods around the world.
After a year in the Team Manager role, I was promoted to Shift Manager, launching our fully automated flagship Operations site. We built the empty sites operational processes, teams, and culture from the ground up. My team sent the first ever parcel to leave the warehouse, something I’m immensely proud of.
A year later, an opportunity to head a new, function arose within my company’s People Team. I interviewed and got the role of People Project Manager for UK Operations. My function started with nothing, and alongside my team of Project Co-Ordinators, we built a team structure, processes, and everything in between.
After 10 months the success of the function has developed global exposure, leading to our function now taking on Global projects, in areas such as Kentucky, New Jersey and Poland and I feel incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to grow the function to its current standing.
I have used different learnings from different modules from ULMS at different stages in my career. As a manager, the personal and professional development module played a huge role in directing my leadership style and understanding that although my role is to develop others, working on yourself at work is a massive part of your career journey, especially in dynamic roles.
Now I am in more of a strategic role, the Strategic Innovation module has allowed me to purposefully propose plans – it has also taught me that innovation and strategy are both things that are best placed together.
The Ethical Management module taught me the macro and micro importance of ethics, and how confidently bringing your own personal values and morals to a business will almost always subconsciously direct you to the department you are naturally suited to.
I would recommend that any graduate spends some time at the start of their career thinking about what they can bring to any business that is different to the next person and show that at every stage in the process. I find that quite often we tend to stick to the norm, do what is expected of us and blend into a very saturated (and qualified) crowd.