I joined Impact as it seemed like the kind of organisation where I could use my talents, be developed personally and professionally and also know that I was contributing something meaningful to the clients and communities with whom I work.

Coming from a background in sales, followed by two years developing a business volunteers programme for a London charity, my focus was in pulling together those experiences and putting them to good use here.  My role with Impact revolves around selling and designing Learning Journeys that integrate community engagements wherever possible, taking me on journeys to Romania, Switzerland and, next month, New York! 

What I didn’t realise when I joined Impact is just how much I would learn about myself along the way, and for me it’s this that stands out as significant during my time with Impact so far.  From MBTI and Emotional Intelligence to Learning Journeys and feedback from colleagues, Impact has definitely been a life-changing experience as I’ve been supported through such a personal development process that I didn’t know I needed until I started!

At the same time I operate in an environment where I am still free to pursue my ambitions, of which there are many!  In my personal life I am not known for spending much time sitting around – which is probably the same as everyone else here.  I feel like the City counterpart to all the true country folk who work in the Lake District – they climb outside on crags, I go to a wall; they kayak down proper rivers, I paddle down a canal in East London!  You get the picture.  I’m also a qualified Taekwondo Instructor and first dan black belt, something I’m regretting as I am sitting here with a broken toe courtesy of Saturday’s class. 

If you asked me what made me an amazing person, though, it wouldn’t be any of these things.  On a Friday night I work with some guys who live on the estates around Waterloo running a football coaching session with a friend from church.  From months ago where fights and arguments were an everyday occurrence we are starting to build the semblance of a football team... which is good as they start playing in an 11-a-side league in September.  It won’t be easy and there’ll be more ups and downs but just seeing the progress they are making makes me exceptionally proud and makes those winter Friday nights in the rain all worthwhile.