I have always been intrigued by human behaviour; why we act in certain ways, what motivates us and how we can effectively influence change. It’s why I studied Psychology at university and what led me to join a management consulting graduate scheme after my degree.
In my first consulting role, I was immediately sent across the country to work on-site with a UK police force. Here, I was part of transforming how police officers learn and how they effectively run their training to ensure compliance.
Through this experience, I became passionate about pursuing a career in public safety. Soon, I was able to merge this with technology, when I moved into a position managing the development and delivery of mission critical command and control software.
Combining a passion for public safety and tech
It fascinated me to see how technology enables humans to better carry out their jobs. This, alongside my passion for working in public safety, meant that when I had the opportunity to join BAE Systems Digital Intelligence as a Product Owner for Public Sector clients, I jumped at the chance.
The beauty of the role is that every day is completely different from the next. One day, I could be in nine to five meetings, collaborating with key client stakeholders on innovation opportunities, making decisions on priorities and discussing any challenges we need to navigate.
Another day, I could be working closely with the engineers who build the products to understand if there are any bugs that need attention, or to discuss the technical options for implementing features. What remains constant is that I spend a lot of time on collaboration tools like Confluence and Jira to create process and business value maps, manage product backlogs and more.
As much as possible, I balance work with my long list of hobbies. I absolutely love the outdoors so you’ll often find me travelling back up to my home county, Yorkshire, to explore the dales. Otherwise on a rainy day, I will be trying out the climbing walls in London.
People and impact at the heart
There are two things I enjoy most about my role. First and foremost it’s the people, who are the best around. No question is ever a silly one and everyone is so enthusiastic about the work we do. My colleagues always make time to collaborate, offer guidance and learning opportunities and hear my thoughts. Because of this wonderful culture, I’m excited to come to work every day.
My second favourite thing is impact of the work we do. Day-on-day, I see how we have improved the efficiency and productivity of our public sector customers which is incredibly rewarding.
Contributing to something great
If anyone was thinking of applying to a role at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, I would say to absolutely do it. The organisation is filled with impressive, kind minds. You will never feel that your day has been a waste or that you haven’t contributed to something great. Our senior leaders are accessible and want to hear from everyone across the company about fresh ways to do things, meaning you will feel close to key decisions.
Finally, we also have unlimited free Kit-Kats in the office! If that doesn’t persuade you, nothing will!
If you feel inspired by El’s story, we’re currently recruiting diverse teams of driven individuals who share our passion for technology and mission to protect the connected world.
Our people are the heart of BAE Systems
We’ve built a place that supports the ever changing needs of our multi-cultural, diverse and global workforce. Take a look at our open roles and apply online. Search and apply today