Emily joined Blue Square nearly nine years ago in 2015. She started her career as an Area Development Manager and has since had five other roles within our Samsung team. Emily’s made amazing progress and has just started a new role as an Omnichannel Manager after being a Senior Retail Projects Manager for three years so we chatted with her to find out more about her journey, learnings and advice for anyone also looking to progress.
So, tell us a bit about your career journey at Blue Square?
Well, I joined quite a while ago back in 2015 and have had an amazing journey at Blue Square within the Samsung team so far. I stayed in some roles longer than others but all were amazing opportunities to grow and learn more about the business:
- Area Development Manager, Dec 2015 – Dec 2016 (1 Year)
- Regional Development Manager, Jan 2017 – Oct 2019 (2 Years)
- Retail Operations Manager, Oct 2019 – May 2020 (7 Months)
- Retail Merchandising Manager, June 2020 – Jan 2021 (6 Months)
- Senior Retail Projects Manager, Jan 2021 – April 2024 (3 Years)
- Omnichannel Manager, April 2024 – Present (1 Month)
How did you gain the experience you needed to progress?
Throughout my career I’ve always tried to be as hands-on as possible to learn about what each role involves. My growth has been down to having had mentors who’ve supported my learning and the self motivation to continue wanting to learn more and push my development. I believe that enhancing my skills and knowledge, be it through courses or on the job, have helped meet the evolving demands of the tech industry and excelled my career. Cultivating a professional network within the business has also been instrumental to providing avenues for collaboration, knowledge exchange and career progression.
My last role as a Senior Retail Projects Manager taught me so much as my leadership was pivotal to the the team’s success and required me to collaborate with departments across the business and executing innovative initiatives.
What's the most valuable thing you’ve learnt on your career journey at Blue Square so far?
It’s hard to pick just one as I’ve been lucky enough to experience lots of opportunities at Blue Square, all of which have pushed me out of my comfort zone and given me chances for growth. I get to work with inspiring people who view mistakes as stepping stones to learning and achievement. The support from my team is unwavering and this quote summarises my experience of the Blue Square culture perfectly:
“It is probably worth stating here that nobody wants to fail. We all want to succeed, whether we are entrepreneurs, sportsmen, politicians, scientists, or parents. But at a collective level, at the level of systemic complexity, success can only happen when we admit our mistakes, learn from them, and create a climate where it is, in a certain sense, “safe” to fail.”
― Matthew Syed
What’s made you want to stay at Blue Square?
I’ve always been given the opportunities to take on new challenges and advance my career. Blue Square has a culture of internal progression and supporting its people to develop and grow. You’re recognised for the work you deliver which always leads to feeling appreciated and valued for the hard work.
Lastly, what's your top tip for others wanting to progress in their role?
My top tip would be to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and growth. Don’t be scared to make mistakes and learn from them. Always looks for opportunities to expand your skills, knowledge and experience through education, on the job training, mentors and networking. Be proactive and take on new challenges that stretch your capabilities. Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of building strong relationships and networks within the business. Collaborate with others and ask for feedback, demonstrate your value through contribution and leadership. Be open to change and adapt to new circumstances.
If you’d like to join our dream team, take a look at our current roles here