From emptying paper files to giving everyone the space to be anything they want to be - this role, this company and the people that work here have changed me.

I still remember the look on the team’s faces when I talked about emptying the office of paper files in a get-to-know-you meeting before I had even started! This forever changed the way we would work together.

Taking this role felt like a big risk when I first spoke to (now retired director) Chas Cox, someone who I had worked with previously for many years and then CEO Pete Matthew (whom I was nervous to meet) about what Jacksons needed for the new role they had created. Was I confident that I could lead a team? Yes! Was I confident I could lead and help the company evolve? Not so much.

When people move jobs, change their circumstances or change directions, the common motivator is ‘it was all about the timing’ and I believe that to be true for me. It’s clear that my whole career and every role I have experienced brought me to this moment.

What made me say yes? Firstly, the initial spark I had with Pete. It was clear within ten seconds that we are on the same page. This is rare and something that I both treasure and nurture now. Secondly, my constant desire to grow; it’s the determination to learn and develop with wonder that has got me to this point and that will continue to project me forward.

Being in my forties, it felt like I had gained a level of maturity and experience that is only learnt through living. One of the most prominent things I have learned over the years is that surrounding yourself with the right kind of people is essential to evolving, learning and reflecting. Having your peers challenge you and lift you up, giving you the confidence, the freedom and the trust to be everything you always aspired to be, and in return, reciprocating that behaviour.

Leading the team at Jacksons over the last four years has been an absolute privilege, one I often don’t feel qualified to do! What I have learnt about this role is you don’t necessarily need an exam, but you do need to understand the business, and the behaviours and motivators of its people (team members and clients). Having practical experience of each role in the company and understanding how these roles intertwine are important to create the best client experience.

I’m an emotional person; I think and feel a lot, and I process all the time. I often leave for the day and play back situations and scenarios in my head to see how I might have done it differently and how I might react in a different way next time. I really care.

I want to get involved, this is how I lead. I am a little nosy, the FOMO is real when I am not involved in something! There are so many discussions around planning for our clients, nothing makes me happier than listening to the team play out every scenario to make sure we have covered all aspects of someone’s financial future. If you are a client and you’re reading this, you might be lucky enough to have contact with a few of the team but often you have five or six experts in the background debating your situation to make sure we are giving you the best guidance.

The amount of freedom I have in how we work and how the business runs is nurtured and encouraged by Pete; he gives me space to free-think and supports me in talking things through. We are completely on the same page, with the same passion and goals which is so important.

Understanding people and their behaviours feeds my curiosity, so having a team of unique individuals is everything I could ask for! How we think and how we behave is my thing – when I’m choosing a book, at the top of my list will be something on human behaviour.

It’s energising and rewarding to be a part of someone’s journey. I am here to help others self-reflect. I want to create a safe space to be able to sit with others, to help them challenge themselves, to learn more about who they are and how they grow, which ultimately leads to helping them define what they can bring to the team.

Watching someone learn new skills and grow in confidence is a fantastic feeling. Alongside this, getting people to think differently or at least consider a different view is fundamental to accepting change. Autonomy in everyone’s day is the key to engagement; empowerment is powerful.

When we recruit, bringing in people that have the same standards, ethics and focus is essential, then finding the right role for them and allowing them to take control and use their skill set is key to longevity in our business. Having the right people around you that can also challenge you, leads to growth.

The exciting thing about leading this team is there is no end to the journey, we have so many new adventures to explore. Sharing the journey with the team and asking for their thoughts and ideas makes them an important part of the company and our journey. We have a principle called Beyond Self here which supports the team’s passions beyond their given role, and it really works! (More on this in my next article).  

We take our time when helping clients, by educating and empowering them, this makes talking about finances normal and simple. We want to be open with them and challenge their thinking to understand their own situation better. We also encourage this within the team; this type of culture then seeps out to anyone we meet. 

We build strong relationships where trust is at the core of what we do. We can be vulnerable and share our thoughts and emotions to help forge a close relationship; this brings forth trust and allows us to have a safer and more intentional conversation. This behaviour is then replicated with our clients, so we really get to the heart of what they are trying to achieve.

This four-year period of my life has been full of different life experiences. When I’m not at work I would say I am maxing out life - with my partner we are pushing ourselves to do more and to be more. I hope this helps create a layer of life experience that I can pass on to others to help them challenge and understand themselves better.

For me the journey of learning will never end, I will always remain teachable and tuned in.  I will always lead with critical thinking and with the constant ability to evolve and change. Motivating others is at the core of my day, watching them learn something new about themselves will always warm my heart. 

So, to my JMFP team, thank you. Thank you for trusting me, for hearing me and for bringing your energy to the team. The last four years with Jacksons have been epic, the vibe is strong. Buckle up, because the next four years are going to be the same and more!