Helen Baker has spent more than 20 years leading complex programmes, mainly across health and public services as a senior technology delivery lead executive and managing director. Her current projects include advocating for regional growth to support local economic development and also supporting the next generation of technology professionals.
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My parents owned a corner shop when I was very young, so my first ‘job’ was helping to stock up the milk and wrap the bread. There was no monetary pay but they did - of course - provide lodgings and keep me pretty well fed!
My first proper job was in a hairdressers’ when I was 14 – it paid very little. At age 16, I started working in a sports shop at weekends, where I was paid approximately £15 for a full day’s work. Thankfully the pay got progressively better and with sales commission I ended up being quite well paid, which motivated me to stay there until I started my university placement year. That placement year with a niche IT company in the North West was where I learnt all about intranets and content management systems. I was blown away by the £10K a year salary after my comparatively low-paid first jobs!
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What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? "Come with ideas and not problems." It was actually a colleague of mine who was given that advice, before passing it on to me. I’ve never forgotten it and I always approach challenges by trying to solve a problem rather than expecting someone else to solve it for me.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? The tech sector continues to face a skills shortage, which makes the market very competitive. On top of this, the pandemic fundamentally changed ways of working, resulting in a more transient workforce as people are now more willing to move around. This has made talent retention much more difficult.
We must provide our people with the best employee experience by focusing on their career development, giving them exciting opportunities to experiment with new technologies, and supporting their well-being with innovative employee benefits. Adding an element of fun to work, and a direct connection with leadership, are things that can really make a difference to people and make them feel valued.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work? Personally, I found the novelty of working from home during the pandemic changed our lives quite a lot. It felt like we had a bit more time due to the time we saved on our usual daily commutes. However, I started to feel too distant from people, so I decided to return to the office full-time as soon as I had the opportunity. I now very much enjoy seeing more people daily and it suits how I like to work.
Who is your role model in business? There are many people I admire in business, but I’ve always found it hard to pinpoint a specific role model. I tend to look for qualities in people that I feel make a good leader and I often consider how I can cultivate those qualities too. Moreso, I admire anyone who has worked hard to get to where they are, while acting with integrity, kindness, humility and empathy. I find those who have balanced work and life, maybe in the face of adversity, and who have picked themselves up after a fall and got back on the horse, or who have reached out a hand to help someone else get back up, to be particularly admirable.
What would your dream job be? I’d love to be florist. Flowers make people smile, so to be able to share that joy would be a wonderful thing (whatever the occasion). Unfortunately my lack of artistic creativity may mean I never realise this dream. Any job that helps people see their full potential would be something I’d like to do – I really enjoy talking to my wider team, providing advice on their career progression and generally trying to help them focus on the things they’re achieving.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in your sector? Delivery approaches have been consistent for many years now – and they’re based on best practices. Learn those delivery principles and you won’t go far wrong. That being said, tech never stands still. There is always something new just around the corner which means you can constantly learn and explore new technologies as they emerge. Working in Tech is never boring and you can never stand still.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? The growing tech scene in the North East is supported by excellent universities and is attracting new businesses but also supporting growth across different sizes of organisations – be that cyber security, data or gaming.
Accenture believes in the potential of the North East, so much so that we based our UK Advanced Technology Centre in Newcastle. But we’re not the only ones – the region’s thriving tech scene is home to NICD and a range of other players operating at all scales. The North East is a vibrant and diverse location that I believe is not only convenient but also extremely beautiful. Where else can you go from the countryside to the beach in just a few miles? This offers a standard of living you may not find elsewhere.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? Very important. Businesses generate employment, which improves society by allowing people to develop skills and contribute to the economy. To do that, businesses have to play an active role in society, not just by hiring new talent, but by growing it and finding pockets in areas where there may not be equal opportunity. This helps businesses and society benefit from a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? My husband and I are currently training for an ultra marathon. It’s a 47-mile lap of Lake Windermere and we’re taking it as more of a hike than a full-on run. I’m getting better at long-distance running through this, but I wouldn’t be as bold as to say I’m really good at it!
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