Team spotlight: 5 minutes with Emma Hicks, Connectr’s CCO

To celebrate Connectr’s first birthday, we spoke to a number of key members of the team to find out what they think about our achievements and milestones during the last twelve months. In the first of our team spotlight series of blogs, here’s what our amazing Chief Commercial Officer – Emma Hicks – had to say.  

What achievement are you most proud of?

Joining Connectr at such an exciting period of growth.  I feel privileged to be working with such a passionate and committed team of colleagues who care deeply about our customers and partners.

As a mission-locked company – Connectr’s purpose aligns with my own values entirely and our ambition to scale even further over the next year is energising.

To be part of Connectr’s leadership team and to play a role in delivering tangible impact for our clients and the wider business community gives me so much joy.

What has been the biggest challenge which has been overcome in the 12 months?

Like most organisations, Connectr has also had to evolve with agility post – pandemic. We’ve grown so much over the past year – and recruited talent from across the UK.

Managing a remote workforce, and the shift to hybrid working has been a learning curve but one that we have embraced.  The beauty of technology means that we can work successfully anywhere and still build strong relationships across boundaries and borders.

In-person interactions and connections, however, are still key. We have achieved a balance of office and home-based working to ensure our employees enjoy the benefits of both. With hybrid working here to stay, this is an important and key to helping people achieve a healthy work/life balance.

We have also tested ourselves this year in relation to our employee value proposition and DEI strategy – undertaking an independent review to ensure we are practising what we preach. One of the key outcomes of this has been to set up an Employee Resource Group – the voice of our people – who will ensure we focus on the right priorities and hold our leadership team to account. I am delighted to be the executive sponsor for our ERG and look forward to what we can achieve together over the next 12 months!

Who has provided you with help, support, and guidance over the course of the last year?

My fabulous colleagues, my own mentors (who all operate in different industries and sectors but share a love for learning, development, and growth). My partner (who I am incredibly proud of as he started his own business following redundancy in the pandemic) and the leadership team at the Learning and Performance Institute (where I am a fellow).

I care passionately about mentoring, and thoroughly enjoy my role as a mentor. I recently mentored students who took part in the IoD’s 2021 Enterprise Challenge.

The Challenge was run in collaboration with Nottingham Business School, with the aim of enhancing students’ business skills, gaining work experience, and developing an entrepreneurial mindset.

My mentors include Gill White CDir, FloD, Chartered FCIPD and Charlotte Valeur.

Gill has an exemplary track record in people development and operational success delivered through influencing and building relationships at board level onwards.

Charlotte is an internationally renowned expert in leadership development, diversity and inclusion, real estate, financial analysis, and financial reporting.

Are there any examples of projects that have helped people from underrepresented groups progress due to digital mentoring?

 The work we are doing to support the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) is very exciting. I was proud to lead the team in our bid for this government-funded project and to have secured the tender award.

Our platform will enable OxLEP to connect underrepresented groups of people in Oxfordshire who have been hit hardest by the pandemic to connect with local business mentors. This will help them develop their knowledge, skills and grow their network, and employment prospects. It’s a win for businesses too who are currently struggling with skills gaps that a diverse pipeline of talent could help them fill.

It’s a brilliant project and it’s great to be playing a part in it in the wider social contract in partnership with OxLEP.

Interested to hear how Connectr can help your people become happier and more productive employees? Please get in touch!