Nikki Williams is a Product Director at Tunstall Healthcare.
Nikki’s role involves developing new products that harness health and care data to support vulnerable people in countries across the globe, alongside managing the UX team and Product Managers.
Before becoming a part of her current team, Nikki worked across Tunstall’s hardware and independent living portfolio.
Nikki graduated from the University of Bradford in 2006 with a BSC in Marketing and has held roles at a number of organisations including The Rugby Football League, Superstat, Evans Property Group and CPP Group PLC.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
I’ve worked across a number of roles over the years, but my current position as Product Director at Tunstall Healthcare wasn’t planned. I stepped into the role after more than five years at Tunstall in a couple of different roles in and around the Product Marketing team where I oversaw the independent living portfolio and hardware. Most recently I’d been working on a new project which looked at the utilisation of health and care data, supported by functionality and system knowledge.
What are the key roles in your field of work, and why did you choose your current expertise?
The main roles in my current field of work are Delivery Manager, Product Manager, Product Owner, Product Design (UX), Finance Partner and Project Governance. The research, development and production of products is at the core of my role and the team I work in. We have recently transitioned to an agile framework, and I am therefore much closer to the development teams than I was previously.
I decided to progress with this career path thanks to an opportunity that helped me realise that I suit the work in this sector and really enjoy it. Taking on a career in this field has helped me achieve my personal goals more quickly than I would have done if I’d gone down a different route.
Did you (or do you) have a role model in tech or business in general?
I don’t necessarily have a tech-specific role model, however I’ve always admired Baroness Brady, CBE, and her impressive ability to operate in and navigate a male dominated environment.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
Creating the vision and functionality map for the new platform being developed at Tunstall has been a real highlight for me. I had to start from scratch and evolve our offering into a full software transformation plan. My role and team have now transitioned to delivering the plan.
What does an average work day look like for you?
I work closely with Tunstall Technology Group (TTG), to generate digital solutions that enable providers to deliver integrated, efficient, and person-centred care in the community. I spend a lot of time liaising with stakeholders across the business to help build business cases, scope requirements and track progress. I also prepare visualisations to communicate the direction and scope of the products.
An average day sees me investing time in exploring the successes of current and emerging technology to enable me to work with our team to ensure our technologies and products continue to evolve. I work very hard to keep us at the forefront of product and software development to ensure we can harness the power of digital technology.
I also find that a run in the morning before work is crucial can help me to clear my head and set my intentions for the day.
Are there any specific skills or traits that you notice companies look for when you’re searching for roles in your field?
The ability to communicate clearly and concisely to a wide range of stakeholders at different levels is absolutely essential. This ensures I can communicate my vision effectively, engage my team to see projects through from end to end, and secure buy-in from the right people.
Have you ever faced insecurities or anxieties during your career, and how did you overcome them?
I’ve definitely faced insecurities and anxieties throughout my career, especially when it comes to presenting.
One practical tip I can suggest is to confront your fears, rather than running away from them. When I realised that presenting made me anxious, I first tried to avoid it at all costs but this made my fears even worse. I therefore made the decision to invest time in becoming a confident speaker. I’ve watched multiple TED talks on presenting skills, worked to understand how I want to come across, and regularly put myself forward to talk and present. I also find that being prepared is very important and I always make sure I know my material and have rehearsed thoroughly.
Entering the world of work can be daunting. Do you have any words of advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed?
My main advice would be to embrace the opportunities rather than shying away from them. It’s important to remember that everyone has had to start somewhere and you are never alone in your experiences and journey. Most people won’t expect you to know everything straight away, so take this time to identify who you think you can learn from and spend time with them. This will give you experience in communication, managing workload and achieving your goals.
What advice would you give other women wanting to reach their career goals in technology?
Never think that you’ve learnt everything there is to know. There is always more knowledge to learn and skills to hone, and the more open minded you are about learning and development, the quicker you’ll gain the right experience you need to reach your goals.
