Jessica Colledge - Lessons Learned

At RTP, we work with some amazing clients and we are always fascinated by what they have to say. To this end, we asked our client, Jessica Colledge for a contribution to our Autumn issue of The Thread. 

 

Jessica is a commercially focussed, strategic marketing leader, currently working with Vinfast Autos. She has previously worked for Genesis Motors UK, Volvo Cars and Harley Davidson Motor Company. 

 

We asked Jess, as a woman working in the traditionally male-dominated automotive industry, if she could share any important lessons she's learned so far in her career. 

 

In 20 years of working in automotive, I can thankfully say, 95% of the time I am able to get on and deliver the job, rarely noticing I am female in a male dominated industry. 

 

So what lessons have learnt from the other 5%? (N.B these lessons are not all unique to being female!) 

 

From one less than ideal interaction early in my career, I learnt to sit down while addressing conflict with people who are physically bigger than me (which is most people!). 

 

There is nothing like someone with an ego towering over you to make them believe and behave like they are in a position of power, or for you to feel you are on the back foot. Sitting down, my words carried the weight needed, without the offset of physical size. 

 

Most employees go above and beyond. In return it is reasonable to allow real life to happen during the working day at times. Agree up front with your line manager, and HR as required. Then be open and clear about your working patterns with your team and colleagues, ensuring that your calendar is up to date with your availability. 

 

Beyond that, you choose how much you want to share. If you need to decline a meeting, simply decline and suggest an alternative. Unless you want to, you do not need to explain you are at your kid’s football match. 

 

One of the best leaders I worked for would even ask the following day how the match had gone! 

 

Diversity is important for a reason - it brings variety of thinking and drives innovation. We all have different backgrounds and life experiences that shape our values and behaviours. The key to capitalising on this for business benefit, is working to understand each other: understanding each other’s motivations, reasons for handling situations in a certain way, strengths and how you can draw on one another's strengths. 

 

This is where a leadership programme delivered through The Red Thread Partnership (RTP) is invaluable. It gives teams the opportunity to pause and learn, providing the tools and common language to understand one another and ultimately to build high performing teams.