You are here:  Home  Graduates  June Swain - Professional Interim

Thursday 17th May 2012


  Back to Role Models
 Company: PRGM Limited
" I love an element of competitiveness or risk in most things I do as it brings with it a few challenges that help shape up character and take me beyond my comfort zone"

What made you choose a career IT?

Probably an aptitude for logical thinking, an analytical mind and being naturally organised led me into IT.  Initially I was not sure that I had picked the right vocation.  I finished my technology degree and started on a graduate scheme with a great company but soon figured out that my first placement left me devoid of job satisfaction.  Fortunately the company was a major corporate and offered the flexibility of moving into a variety of IT roles within the graduate scheme.  So I discovered an important lesson early on: that it would be worthwhile to put effort into planning out a career roadmap and focus on aspects of IT that I found interesting.

At what point did you decide upon a professional interim career?

The decision to pursue an interim career was made at an opportunistic moment 10 years ago that gave way to the most interesting career venture I could have imagined.  I took a lead managing role within a consortium that brought to market a retail sales and merchandising planning solution.  This consortium brought together the UK Met. Office, several technology partners and led to the launch of my own business: PRGM Limited.  It resulted in showcasing an innovative, high-tech solution at the annual retail show held in the NEC.  The interim appointment brought a diversity of activities and was incomparable to any previous permanent role. 

What main challenges did you face in setting up as a professional interim?

Asking and honestly answering the poignant question about whether I could face leaving the stability of a corporate career was a major decision point.  It is easier to favour the pursuit of a high flying corporate career in lieu taking the risks of going out there alone, then in addition facing going alone in a male dominated sector.  The honest answer for me came from a balanced decision between a lifestyle choice and adding a new dimension to my IT career.

The greatest challenge that I have faced has undoubtedly been identifying and learning the entrepreneurial skills required to manage an interim business.  The quest to improve upon my knowledge resulted in a planned sabbatical to pursue both a personal and commercial development curriculum.  It was a hectic season that encompassed an Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing accreditations at Cambridge and Warwick Universities and the completion of a gratifying executive coaching programme. 

Why do you enjoy an interim career over a corporate career?

As a professional interim in the technology marketplace you have to adapt to and embrace change.  An interim career is not to be chosen lightly.  It is a lifestyle choice as well as a career choice.  It works well for those like me who enjoy a variety of assignments, working in different business environments and are accepting of varying business cultures.  The lifestyle benefits centre on flexibility.

Interim is not for the faint-hearted.  There is a lot more to consider when you are running your own business than just concentrating on a technical career.  Within a corporate environment you are shielded from efforts involved in the commercial activities.  For me the extra efforts are rewarding.  The interim profession has offered appointments that enable me to specialise in roles I enjoy most, work with a variety of clients on challenging and exciting programmes and timetabling a work-life balance.

What have you found rewarding about your IT career?

Some of the most rewarding seasons of my career stem from the opportunities I had to work for blue chip companies such as Rolls Royce, Jaguar and TNT Worldwide in my formative IT years.  I look back at this providence which enabled tier 1 grooming that was to become so beneficial later.  Tier 1 corporate experience never leaves you.  I have also had some of the best technical training possible from forward thinking companies that invest in their people, including sponsorship to complete an MSc. 

Good mentorship and some timely decisions over moving into new roles throughout my permanent employment years have worked out well and have enabled me to define an interim career.  
Now as a professional interim I have the opportunity to be engaged in a variety of interesting engagements However there is a price to pay; investing time to work hard at building up a network so that these opportunities can be found.  The current climate is competitive and old networks run dry easily.  The trade off for such a rewarding career is the overhead of building new business relationships and retaining those that have been mutually valuable.  Even this trade off comes with benefits though.  A broad network of IT professionals will have a greater bandwidth of sector knowledge, and it is prudent not to become entrenched in singular views of technology when it is such a fast paced market.

What are your tips for success?

Integrity: Build a reputation of integrity as it builds trust and is a great influencing factor as you face opportunities for promotion or for building professional networks
Resilience: Get up from the failures and disappointments along the way because everyone faces them somehow and at some point(s); it is those that show resilience and apply ‘lessons learned’ who achieve admirable success
Self Discipline: Plan and prioritise goals that lead towards the desired vision for your career  

Can you share a few words of wisdom for those people who are thinking about pursuing a career in IT or becoming an interim professional?

Balance personal development with technical development.  Many IT professionals concentrate on advancing their technical skills at the expense of personal development.  Both are important factors for progressing in a successful IT career. 
Keep an eye on relevant industry views, and invest time in understanding new ideas for the IT path you have chosen.  You may not need to be aware of what is going on for the role you are currently in but staying in touch with technology shifts, new techniques and methodologies etc can help you make the next move or win the next great interim assignment.
Look for mentors throughout your career path, approach those you admire to seek advice and counsel to support your own personal and technical development. 

How important do think your attitude has been in affecting your career path?

I found out quite early that a predominantly male centric vocation was going to be competitive.  So I think that has made me more determined to get on.  I love an element of competitiveness or risk in most things I do as it brings with it a few challenges that help shape up character and take me beyond my comfort zone. Generally speaking, this results in greater rewards and a sense of achievement.  So my positive attitude has definitely steered me through some challenges along the way.  Then there is also a piece of advice that my father once gave which resonates with me in all aspects of life: “All things come to those who go after what the majority wait for.”

Tell us a little about your life outside of work.

I switch from being totally logical to total creativeness for relaxation; these seem diametrically opposed but it works great for me.  I enjoy interior design and have engaged in a number of projects that have taken me from sympathetically restoring a 300 year old cottage to stylishly furnishing a modern apartment in a converted church.

Do you think that there are obvious differences between what men and women have to offer an IT department?

Women have the ability to be as successful in an IT career as any man.  The question really is do women have the same opportunities to be as successful?  

What do you think could be done to actively encourage more women to succeed the technology market place?

The best investment for women’s futures in technology is appropriate influencing now.  Role models are so important to encourage and testify that perseverance pays off.  Emerging and established female leaders in the technology market who succeed in reaching places of prominence should voice their successes and inspire other women to greater achievements.  The Women In Technology forum has taken initiative here in providing a platform but there is room for more similar initiatives. 
Help is out there for the women who look for it.  Recently I discovered a tailored executive coaching programme that offers quite an illuminative curriculum.  It specialises in developing female leaders in technology. 

Do you think enough is currently being done to counterbalance what has become an obvious lack of women in technology?

There are a vast range of roles in the technology market; from highly technical to highly commercial.  As an industry we fail to communicate this vast spectrum of IT career options to women at the most fundamental times of making vocational choices. 
The sector mythically attracts ‘geeks’ who labour intensely with technology, less so with people.  IT is an enabler and IT services are far from being an introspective part of any business.  I view IT as a dynamic part of any organisation and it invites a wide variety of skills from some very savvy individuals to understand how technology can deliver benefits.  My thinking is quite liberated from the myths.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but even with the knowledge that technology is not yet attracting a balance of male / female hires I would stand by my choice of a career in technology. 

For more information about PRGM Limited, please visit:  www.prgm.co.uk


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