Why careers don’t always have to be linear. A story of my own pivot

Six months ago, I began a new chapter in my career as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Human Resource Management (HRM) at Edinburgh Napier University, following over 15 years of work as an HR Practitioner and Entrepreneur. 

When I started my career in HR in 2007, I didn’t envision moving into entrepreneurship or academia. But over time, opportunities to pivot came in various ways. What mattered to me was flexibility- having the freedom to choose how and where I worked. Working together to build BHM with my husband and launching F316 in 2013 made this possible, so I embraced it.

I soon realised that running an HR Consulting firm was not where I wanted my journey to end. I wanted to teach and learn more about creating enabling environments to help people and firms thrive. So, I returned to university and enrolled in a gruelling PhD program. Earning that Phd paved the way for what I now do - educating individuals about managing people at work and organisations about how to build inclusive workplaces.

I’ve worked at Napier for six months now, and it’s been one of my most significant career decisions. 

But this is not a ‘new job’ post. 

It’s an acknowledgement of the fantastic people who supported my move, including dear friends and colleagues, past and present, at the University of Edinburgh Business School, such as Emily Yarrow and Kristina Potočnik. As well as my super-supportive Phd advisors, Maryam Aldossari and Sara Chaudhry who shared valuable tips as I prepared. 

And to the excellent recruitment panel at the Business School at ENU, some of whom I now work with, including Kirsteen Grant , David McGuire Paul Barron and Dr Lesley McLean I’ve met a diverse set of panels from universities across the UK, and the team at Napier were remarkably different. They were authentic, down-to-earth, and really wanted to hear what I had to say. They created a space for me to share 'why Napier' without mincing words.

It is also a post about the fantastic HRM Subject group colleagues I’ve met at ENU since joining, who have made working at Napier meaningful, rewarding, and less of a hassle - a special mention and thanks to Janice Mcmillan for the induction with a special touch, the cups of coffee she piled me with, and the vivid stories she tells about her Napier journey- Janice tells the best of stories, hands down! 

It is a post about careers and leveraging opportunities to pivot, because careers do not always have to be linear. Careers can be boundaryless, spiral and self-directed too!

It is about the role of culture, people, and systems in shaping one’s experience of a new role and how they settle into it. Research shows that organisations that get this bit right are more likely to keep their people. I can attest to this.

It is also about working as an academic in the UK in the current economic, social, and political climate. I will address these realities another time. 

For now, I’m simply grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience working with people and leading businesses into the classroom.

Exciting times ahead, and looking forward to what the next six months will bring.