Programme Manager – Good Work, ShareAction

Why do you do your job?

I am passionate about making sure people have the best possible lives at work, but too often big companies aren’t held accountable for creating quality jobs. I’m drawn to the approach of ShareAction in focusing on the investment system because investors, like our pension funds, have an important role to play to help tackle that challenge. Through their influence over the companies they invest in, they have the power to encourage companies to create quality jobs. After all, money talks!

What job did you want or think you would be doing when you were younger?

When I was younger, I was more interested in the role of governments than the private sector, so was interested in roles within politics or policy advocacy.

Who in the sector do you admire the most?

I’m a huge fan of the work of Sarah Corbett at the Craftivist Collective – she’s a delight to work with and her approach is really moving campaigning forward by thoughtfully and artistically engaging with decision-makers as people!

What are the three most important attributes needed to do your job?

For my role, the three most important attributes are: 1) Being able to build strong relationships with a wide variety of people, 2) Being up for constant learning and 3) Being happy with and able to manage a variety of tasks and projects!

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

In the big picture, I find the impact this work the most rewarding – it’s amazing how powerful working with investors can be. On the day to day, I find nothing more rewarding than being able to introduce brilliant people who might work in very different roles but could really benefit from being in touch.

What advice would you give someone starting their career in a role similar to yours?

Nothing has helped me learn more than being open to feedback and asking for it! I find just talking to people the most valuable way of learning about new perspectives and approaches, and to digging into the details of why and how you could have approached something differently.

What is the best thing that you’ve been a part of during your career?

Getting investors behind the Living Wage campaign has been incredibly exciting – I never would have imagined it would get the traction it eventually did. It was so cool to see what a powerful alliance built up, and filled with lovely and passionate people.

What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by organisations like yours in the present day?

I think there is a big challenge in the grant funding model for charities. Short grants for new work make it difficult to stick with campaigns long enough to see them through!

Aside from your current organisation, which other organisations do you admire and why?

I’m so inspired by the work of Global Witness and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre. For me, they both embody the spirit of doing great work in research and building up expertise, and working through a combination of strategies to make sure this research and expertise go to practical use to make change happen.

If you weren’t doing the job that you are doing currently, what do you think you would be doing instead?

A psychotherapist or counsellor.