I started my career in the private surveying industry.
As a young woman coming from an academic background, with a degree in Surveying and Mapping Science, I didn’t fit into the surveying industry at the time – it was nearly entirely made up of men who learnt on the job. This meant I learnt to be resilient quickly and demonstrated my capability through action. I joined OS in 2018 as a surveyor and progressed through a number of roles before achieving my current role as Production Lead for our Field Surveyors. I am currently responsible for more than 240 OS surveyors who underpin data capture for Great Britain. They are part of a wider surveying force which captures more than 20,000 data updates daily.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
In some ways it was unplanned as I’d only just secured a new role as Principal Production Consultant three months before. In other ways, I’d spent the last 14 months working on the skills needed to secure the role after trying for it the year before.
What are the key roles in work, and why did you choose your current expertise?
I’ve had a couple of pivotal moments in my career, the first being at university. I was originally studying physical geography with surveying models. I had a natural talent for surveying which my lecturers spotted and helped me transfer to second year Surveying and Mapping Science. I’ve never looked back!
I’ve always been very technical, and never thought I would end up being a people leader as I now am. I got the opportunity to be a temporary Production Manager at OS for 4 months, which ignited my love of leading people – this was the second pivotal moment for me. Playing a part in other people’s learning and development and watching them grow and deliver really sparked a new pathway in my career, which is why my current role encompasses both elements.
Did you (or do you) have a role model in tech or business in general?
I’ve been very fortunate as I’ve had some amazing advocates who have helped me get to where I am now, many of whom are men. However, when I joined OS I saw Jo Shannon, our Director of Technology at the time, as a great role model. She was a real inspiration of what you can achieve if you work hard and can demonstrate your capability. She also made time for people. Although I was a Senior Production Manager at the time and in a completely different department, we had a number of check-ins to discuss how I could progress in my own career which was invaluable.
What are you most proud of in your career, so far?
I’m very proud of what I have achieved and also how much I’ve grown and learnt as an individual. One of my proudest moments at work was opening the OS All Field Event in 2023. Firstly, I was so proud of what our team had achieved, how passionate they were about their work and how resilient they had been through a significant period of change. Secondly, it really made me proud to be able to say I was the Production Lead for all of our field surveyors, the people who go out every day to underpin data capture for OS – our national mapping service – which has a great reputation worldwide for the quality of its maps and location data. Then finally, I was proud of my progression, knowing that at the last All Field Event I was only a few months in and a fresh-faced surveyor.
What does an average work day look like for you?
As Production Lead for Field I’m responsible for 240+ people who are geographically spread across the country and who go out every day to maintain our data. More often than not, I’m usually having lots of meetings, relating to anything from finance, delivery, strategy to supporting my people. Being responsible for so many people means there is usually something that needs to be resolved, however it does mean I get experience in handling a wide array of situations that some people might never come across. I sometimes get to go and speak at local team meetings and engage directly with our team. I love that every day can be different. I’m working with different people on different projects, trying to make what we do and how we do it better each day.
Has anyone ever tried to stop you from learning and developing in your professional life, or have you found the tech sector supportive?
I had a lot to prove when I entered the private sector, and I did that through sheer hard work. I’ve been told to ‘go play in the kitchen’ and been overlooked on site in favour of my older male assistants. It’s taught me to be resilient and confident in my abilities. I’ll never forget applying for a Senior Surveyor role after being made redundant and being told I needed 10-15 years’ experience to even be considered. I still don’t have 10 years’ experience post-graduation yet have been successfully leading a team of 240+ people for two years. My manager at the time was very supportive and told me that I could do anything that any of our senior surveyors could do, and if I didn’t know it, I’d learn it quickly. He really instilled in me that you need to know your worth and your capability and mustn’t allow others to limit your potential. That lesson has stuck with me and has very much guided my journey at OS, where I’ve felt very supported and never overlooked because of my age or gender.
Have you ever faced insecurities and anxieties during your career, and how did you overcome them?
There have been times where I’ve felt a little bit of an imposter, especially when I was only 26 and responsible for 70+ people. Now I’m very purposeful in my career and in my personal development. I’ve accepted that it’s fine to have gaps in knowledge or skills, as long as I’m working to improve on them. I honestly believe in always having a certain level of discomfort in a role because it means there’s space to learn and grow. When I feel comfortable somewhere, I know it’s time to make a change!
Entering the world of work can be daunting. Do you have any words of advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed?
Just to remember that everyone started somewhere and they will have had to ask the same questions as you. Also, a lot of people love to talk about what they do, so use that as an opportunity to learn from others; be a sponge and absorb as much as you can.
What advice would you give other women wanting to reach their career goals in technology?
As women we tend to want to know we can do a job before applying. Something Jo once said to me was that you need room to grow in a role. I would always encourage people to have a go when looking to make that move. If the answer is no, there is still an opportunity for valuable feedback. And if it’s an internal application, it usually opens a door to new experiences to grow your knowledge and improve. Never be disheartened by setbacks, they will help build resilience. It’s all about focusing on yourself and how you can develop as an individual.
