Can you tell me about your journey with Advanced so far?

It was a wonderful experience to be able to go on the Top Achievers trip and for my hard work and dedication to be recognised within my first role in the business. So, to do so well in such a short space of time to get that recognition meant a lot to me.

After coming back from the Top Achievers trip, I started to feel like I could offer more to help the business. I knew my Business Development (BD) role like the back of my hand, and I also really enjoyed mentoring people. That led to me being successful in becoming a Team Leader within the department which was a role I stayed in for the best part of three years.

What I loved the most about becoming a Team Leader within BD was the fact that I was given the opportunity to go and train people and guide them through the process. It was such a rewarding feeling to then see the colleagues that I mentored go on to do such great things by becoming Advanced Top Achievers themselves, and then seeing them excel within managerial roles in other parts of the business. It was such an incredible experience for me to be put in a position where I could have a real impact on people’s careers by enabling and supporting them to go on and do great things.

Business Development had become all I knew since graduating from university, but after spending over four years within the department and knowing that I could move into another part of the business because of the Internal Mobility that Advanced provide - I couldn’t think of a reason why not to go and take on a new challenge as a Customer Success Manager.

Customer Success is a brand-new function within the business, and it’s an area that’s always intrigued me. It was also an opportunity to take the next step in my career. That’s the main reason why I decided to take the jump, and it’s a decision that’s really paid off so far. I relish having the opportunity to come into work and throw myself into a new role where I can see myself actively making a difference to our customers, and that in itself, is immensely rewarding.

What attracted you to apply for a role with the business?

I think one of the things that stood out to me from the start about Advanced was that it’s an organisation that really does care about its employees. I knew from the moment I put down the phone with the Advanced Talent Team that both the role and the business were going to be a perfect fit for me. I conducted my research into the business and its values, and instantly realised that this was somewhere I could kickstart my career.

Looking back on my onboarding process, one of the things that stood out to me was the fact that there was the possibility of moving into other roles within different departments further down the line. Having that reassurance of knowing I could make the most of the internal mobility and opportunity was one of main contributors that led me to join.

I’ve always been a confident person; when I put my mind to something, I normally become quite good at it. So, it’s been a great building block for me and my career.

How would you describe the culture at Advanced?

The three words I would use to describe the culture during my time here would be supportive, welcoming, and fun. The business has that family feel to it and I would say that says a lot about the culture here. You also want to have fun at work, it’s somewhere that you spend most of your time, so it’s very important to find the right balance between having fun and getting the job done.

What makes Advanced so special is that it’s filled with so many like-minded people who come from so many different locations and backgrounds. You don’t need a degree to apply for a role here, which means that it brings so many different people together. It really is a multicultural organisation which is very supportive and welcoming to anyone who wants to try, and who wants to do well in their career.

How would you describe the 5 years you’ve spent at the business?

Advanced has given me the platform and the opportunity to grow at such a fast pace, which just happened to be the pace that I enjoyed and was something that I could control and make the most of. It’s been challenging at times; however, it’s also been incredibly rewarding to be able to push yourself to become the best person that you can be, whilst also being rewarded and recognised for that.

The amount of support that you get from different people, in different departments at Advanced is what makes the company tick. We all truly do act as ‘One Advanced’ - one of our core values - and that helps everyone to help and support each other.

Having the ability to say right, I want to try something different – I want to jump to a completely different role in a completely different part of the business – and have people there to support you through that process is amazing. Advanced are an incredibly supportive organisation, and I can say that with my hand on my heart.

What do you love about working for Advanced?

So, I tend to say this to everyone that I know: Advanced has given me the opportunity to grow. I would never have had the platform to get into management at such a young age without the support and guidance that I’ve received from the business throughout my time here. I’m extremely passionate about the prospect of mentoring people, and thanks to Advanced, I was able to find and carry out that passion each day, from the age of twenty-three.

I did face various obstacles and challenges along the way, such as having to manage people who were older than me, but I’ve overcome those difficult scenarios and have really developed within my journey at the business. You don’t tend to hear about organisations giving people the opportunity to manage at such a young age; but at Advanced the attitude is very much centred towards recruiting on potential, not experience. So, if you’re good enough to excel in a role, they won’t hesitate to let you go on and thrive.

What do you hope to achieve during the rest of your time with the business?

First and foremost, I would like to make a difference. I’m very passionate about doing the right thing and trying to make a difference where I can. I want to make that difference both internally and with my customers; I want to make them happier, and I want to retain them. In the next five years or so, I’d like to use the knowledge and the skills that I’ve acquired during my MBA in Senior Leadership to be able to put them into practice in another leadership role within Customer Success, and if I achieve that then I’ll be very happy.