Our next feature is Vanessa Robinson, a Project Manager at BT Group. In her profile, she shares how living in Dubai and Qatar allowed her to appreciate the beauty of multiculturalism and ethnic diversity. Vanessa also reflects on the importance of having a supportive line manager, pushing past imposter syndrome, and how being the youngest in the room is a great learning opportunity.
Vanessa Robinson: My Journey
I was originally born in Dubai before I then moved to Qatar. I lived there until I was nine until I moved to the UK. I am half Ethiopian and half British. I did experience a bit of a culture shock when arriving to the UK as I went to an international school surrounded by a variety of different cultures and people. Being in the UK, I went to a predominately white school and therefore had never experienced being the only person of colour in a room. Living in Dubai and Qatar at such a young age broadened my experiences and understanding and therefore made me appreciate that different cultures are beautiful.
I didn’t take the traditional route of going to university after completing my A levels. Instead, I took a gap year and travelled around Southeast Asia for six months. After arriving back in the UK, I started my career at BT. I originally joined as a supply chain apprentice and gained a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt qualification which focuses on business improvement. After this, I began a new role in the same team working in Transformation, where I was accountable for innovation of cellular products.
I have recently changed roles into project management, which was a completely different area. My previous role was more customer based and now I am business facing. In this role, I’m accountable for leading teams across BT and business partners to develop and launch profitable products as part of BT’s portfolio strategy. We focus on delivering broadband products for small to medium businesses.
My proudest achievement in my career so far is gaining a role in project management. I always wanted a career within project management however I didn’t have a clear path or vision for it. When I joined BT, I set my goal and believed I would get there. Therefore, I am proud that I reached my desired role at quite a young age of 24. I think it’s important to look at your achievements, big or small and celebrate these and this was a big step in my career.
I am also passionate about levelling the playing field therefore joining BT Group’s Ethnic Diversity Network was important to me. I joined four years ago in the communications team and now I’m leading the communications team. This has been a fun change and I now lead a team of six people. We amplify voices and messages through newsletters, campaigns, and events through the company. Seeing ethnically diverse people in leadership positions is so important and ensuring their value in the organisation is recognised.
My biggest struggle within my role is having imposter syndrome. I am usually the youngest in a room or on a call and therefore it can be difficult to have confidence in my skills and abilities. I am also a woman and of mixed heritage which makes me feel like others won’t see my potential. However, having a supportive and encouraging line manager has been really helpful. The very fact I obtained the job already shows myself I can do this role and therefore, I just need to believe in my own self and capabilities to offset these thoughts.
I also believe it’s so important to gather a support network to help you progress and grow. As well as having a supportive line manager, I also have a mentor who is a Director in the Digital industry. She is helpful, and I can ask her anything such as confidence tips etc. The Ethnic Diversity Network is also a great opportunity to connect with different people from different areas of the business. Networking in general, is so important to open a gateway of connections and opportunities.
My biggest advice for young people navigating their careers is to learn from people and don’t be afraid to ask questions. People know you are young and that you are here to learn. Therefore, showing you are eager to learn and willing to listen, goes a long way. It is also ok to say you don’t know something because not everyone knows everything. People make mistakes and that’s part of learning and progressing.
