Finding the Freedom to Make an Impact

I’ve worked in marketing and consultancy for a long time, so at this stage in my career I wanted to be somewhere I could genuinely contribute rather than simply come in and follow an established way of doing things.

I like asking questions, challenging why we do things and looking at what is actually delivering value. It was important to me to join a business where I’d have the freedom to bring that experience and where people would listen to new ideas.

What attracted me to HSO was the combination of where the business is heading and the opportunity to make a genuine impact. HSO is right at the centre of some of the biggest changes happening across Microsoft, Dynamics, Data and AI, which made it feel like an exciting place to join.

I was also drawn to the breadth of the business. There are so many different industries, technologies and teams to work across, and I liked the idea of joining somewhere I could bring my experience, contribute beyond a narrow remit and help shape how things are done rather than simply inherit an established way of working.

Very organised and incredibly friendly.

I remember saying after about six or seven weeks that it felt as though I’d been at HSO for six years. I just seemed to fall into the role very naturally.

Everybody was open, approachable and willing to help. You could ask somebody a very basic question or something genuinely complicated and people would come back to you and try to help. That made it very easy to feel part of the business quickly.

One of the most useful things was having around two and a half weeks of introductory conversations with people from across HSO.

Because so many of us work remotely, you don’t necessarily get those informal conversations you would have had in an office. Having dedicated time to meet people from different parts of the organisation gave me a much better understanding of the business and helped me start building relationships immediately.

The buddy system was also invaluable. Having someone experienced who I could simply message with those everyday questions made a real difference.

I’m quite happy to put my opinion forward and question why we’re doing something, and I’ve found HSO very receptive to that.

If I think we should measure something differently, change a campaign or stop doing something simply because “we’ve always done it”, I can say that. People might not always agree with me, but I’ve never felt that I shouldn’t challenge something.

That’s important to me. I’ve spent many years working in consultancy, so I’m used to having to demonstrate value and outcomes. At HSO, I’ve been able to bring that mindset into the role. 

The biggest thing for me has been how approachable people are.

HSO is a big and complex organisation and there are always things we can improve, particularly how different teams connect with one another, but I’ve been genuinely surprised by how willing people are to help.

I’ve contacted people I’ve never met, sometimes in completely different countries, and asked them for help with something. They’ll often have it sorted within a day.

For a predominantly remote business, that openness makes an enormous difference.

I’d say expect to become part of the business very quickly.

When I joined, I was learning new systems, meeting lots of people and taking on a role that has continued to evolve, so there was plenty to get my head around. But I never felt like I was doing it alone.

People are friendly, they’re responsive and you can ask questions without feeling uncomfortable about it. Within a matter of weeks, I felt like I’d been here for years, and I think that says a lot about the experience of joining HSO.