Babette Coke, Technology Programme Director at Tesco, reflects on her experience putting technology to work as an engine of progress for one of the largest private sector employers in the UK.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
The latest chapter in my career began in 2020, during the pandemic. The government had classed most Tesco colleagues as essential workers because the vital role we play in communities up and down the country. Our whole business rallied together to keep the nation fed – and to help with the vaccine rollout via our pharmacies in store. I took on various stretch responsibilities to support online food shopping and grocery delivery, which we had to get right, and in doing so I built and strengthened my network across the business. It’s when I realised how much respect I have for the retail industry. It’s like no other, and Tesco is like no other in the way we use our scale to make a difference across millions of homes and communities. From that point on, I started seeking out and saying yes to every opportunity I could find that let me leverage the business’ digital expertise to serve our customers better than anyone else can.
Now, as Technology Programme Director, I manage multi-discipline teams that harness the power of cutting-edge technology to help Tesco define the future of shopping at an enormous scale.
How did you find ways to make doors open for you?
It occurred to me that, for a long time, I wasn’t actively managing my career in the same way some people do. I was simply focused on and motivated by doing a good job, and by building a reputation as someone people wanted on their team. I’m proud of my work ethic, but I take ownership of my career choices now. I put myself out there, go after the opportunities that will serve me, and try and share my experiences so other people come to this realisation sooner. There are bags of technology career opportunities at Tesco and it’s one of the UK’s fastest growing tech employers, so I find joy in helping empower my colleagues to thrive.
That said, the brand I’d build for myself by working hard opened doors by putting me on people’s radars. I was trusted by senior leaders, like our CTO who sought me out during the pandemic to help support the online food shopping team. I was visible and well networked within our business, and meeting new people created numerous valuable learning opportunities that I harnessed to stand out.
What does an average work day at Tesco look like for you?
Tesco is at the forefront of retail innovation, which means every day has the potential to be truly exciting. We’re always looking ahead – not just to tomorrow, or to next year, but to what the next era of retail will look like in five or ten years. I am continuously context switching.
Our strong business means all ideas are welcome, and cutting-edge innovation is celebrated. We’ve got the tech, data, skills and investment to respond to some of the biggest challenges of today, so my job is to put those assets to work to achieve our strategic ambitions.
What are the key roles in your field of work, and why did you choose your current expertise?
I started my career on a graduate scheme at a supermarket chain that has since been acquired. That’s where I learnt to code and got experience in business analysis and programme management. I’d describe myself as a versatile problem-solver! To address the critical challenges ahead, I think STEM talent needs that mix of quality and quantity of skills.
At Tesco our priority is to do right by our customers, and we take pride in understanding what matters to them. Our data science and AI partners, dunnhumby, are part of the Tesco Group and help us with that. We use that insight to make better decisions across our business. For me and the teams I’m responsible for, that could be anything from using tech to deliver the basics even more brilliantly to creating groundbreaking industry-first solutions. Understanding and joining the dots to help keep us ahead of the curve and to future-proof our business in a competitive retail environment is incredibly satisfying.
Tech is only as good as the people behind it? Do you think you need that human element?
Absolutely. Success for our business isn’t just about using the most advanced technology and science – although we do. It’s about knowing when to apply the right techniques, how to prepare data, which data sources will drive the best outcomes. We have advantages others don’t, powered by a group of 6,000+ inventors and problem-solvers that are driven to do their best for our customers and for each other.
Are there any specific skills or traits that Tesco looks for when you’re searching for roles in your field?
We take pride in offering people rewarding careers, no matter who they are or what their background. It might surprise some people that there’s a lot of tech talent that don’t have a computer science degree. I don’t, but I’m good at connecting with people, which has served me well since the role I’m in is about understanding people and how I can make their lives easier through technology. I’m also naturally curious, and curiosity is something I look for in others. I want to hear from the person asking the unexpected questions, the person who isn’t afraid of not knowing something and is eager to learn, and the person wondering how something could be done quicker or more efficiently – even if nobody has tasked them with that challenge. That mindset is just as important as technical skills.
You spoke about how everything Tesco does begins and ends with customers. Is it helpful to have that consensus across the business?
Absolutely, yes. Understanding people – whether that’s our customers, colleagues, communities – and what matters to them, and then trying to make those things better, is at the heart of Tesco. Everyone understands how they contribute to the mission, and technology is a major driver.
Whoosh, our quick commerce platform, is a good and recent example of something real and usable that’s been born from a significant, cross-business effort to better fit into people’s busy lives. We built and launched Whoosh in a matter of months to respond to an immediate customer need in 2021, when demand for delivery was at a peak. It’s recently been rolled out to 1,500 stores and offers deliveries to customer doors in as little as 30 minutes.
We have a track record of anticipating people’s needs, being where they want us to be and giving them the products and services they want in a timely way. And we’re not standing still!
What advice would you give other women wanting to reach their career goals in technology?
My advice applies to anyone, in any career. You can’t make a list of things that don’t occur to you, so chase opportunities that broaden your horizons and that put you in front of new and interesting people.
