Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background
I graduated from University of Surrey in 2020 in HR Business Management & started the HR/Business Excellence Graduate Leadership Programme in 2021, starting in Business Excellence for 1 year. Instead of transitioning to HR for another 1 year rotation, I was supported to apply for a permanent position as a Continuous Improvement Lead in the Europe Business Excellence team, so I was lucky enough to come off the graduate scheme a year early.
I was in this role for one and a half years where I then moved to a completely different role as a Project Manager in Radiology Informatics as I wanted a role more customer facing & a first-hand experience at delivering our innovative solutions.
What inspired you to apply for this role with Philips?
As I graduated in HR business management I knew I wanted a HR related graduate opportunity but after doing a module on Project Management in my final university year I really wanted something that incorporated both skill sets. So when I saw the HR & Business Excellence Programme I jumped in with both feet! Additionally, when researching Philips in more detail I was pleased to see the great focus there is on employee wellbeing & development which was incredibly important to me when looking at where I wanted to start my professional career.
What is your role and how long have you been at Philips?
My current role is a Project Manager in Radiology Informatics where I collaboratively work with hospital trusts to implement our Enterprise Informatics solutions within Radiology. I've been with Philips nearly 3 years now!
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your role?
Coming in with new eyes & a fresh perspective on processes/ways of working within the business and/or team helped me challenge the status quo. I've learnt not to be afraid to speak up if you see an opportunity for improvement & take ownership to deliver because more often than not the change is needed. If you don't know how to do something, just simply reach out to colleagues and ask - no one ever judges you!
What would a ‘normal’ day look like for someone in your role?
Throughout all my roles at Philips no day is the same! When I started as the Business Excellence Graduate I was supporting the UKI market with local requests to help teams solve problems, improve performance management, reduce waste in processes & educate employees in the key continuous improvement tools we use in Philips.
When I moved into the Continuous Improvement Lead role in the Europe team, I was supporting & coaching different teams across the business with applying lean thinking. I would lead workshops & trainings (e.g. Daily Management, Problem Solving, Process Improvement) for teams to achieve efficiencies & improve performance. I also supported heavily on projects related to the internal transformations that Philips has gone through recently.
My current 'normal' day as a Project Manager in Radiology Informatics often includes a few customer meetings where we go through the project plan identifying actions, risks & issues. As well as internal meetings to ensure that we are readily resourced to deliver & are on track to win from a Philips perspective. I also spend time looking at ways of working & how we can improve efficiencies (utilising all my experience spent in Business Excellence!).
What do you find most interesting about the industry you’re in?
Before Philips I didn't require realise the capabilities of innovative technology within the healthcare industry & it's only getting more exciting as we look into the future. Now I've moved into a customer facing role I'm seeing not only the need of it but also the positive impact our solutions & value offerings have within the industry first hand. In this industry, there's always new developments so it's a continuous learning cycle which I love.
What is the company culture like at Philips?
Throughout my time at Philips I've found that nothing is ever too much trouble for anyone if you need support with someone, not only within my team but others I've worked with as well. A focus on personal development shines through in the culture at Philips & they really want you to succeed. One thing I've really valued is that my thoughts & ideas feel heard amongst the people I work with, even when I was a new graduate coming in, I've always felt like an equal.
How important is diversity to you and what is Philips doing in this space at the moment?
I've always been passionate about the importance of having an inclusive environment that values different perspectives & backgrounds. I've been to many diversity events including pro-noun & bias at work trainings, PRIDE events, tea & talks about a number of mental health topics that are arranged by the brilliant UKI Inclusion & Diversity team.
Finally, any tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at Philips?
When applying, show your willingness to learn including a motivation to continuously improve by taking on constructive feedback (examples would help). Make sure to do your research on Philips & what we are doing within the healthcare industry (a lot of people just think of lightbulbs when they think of Philips!). Also try to let your personality shine through in the process. Best of luck!