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The focus of International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’, so we asked a small selection of women in Guernsey's public and private sectors to tell us about their career paths.
They were all given the same questions and what follows is their answers, unedited, in their own words.
1. How did you start on your career path?
It’s been a long journey!
I did a degree in international relations and then a law conversion course. I qualified as a solicitor in England before returning to Guernsey and qualifying as an advocate.
After 20 plus years of working in private practice I applied for the role as Deputy Bailiff in 2019 becoming Deputy Bailiff in May 2020.
Pictured: Guernsey's Deputy Bailiff is Jessica Roland.
2. What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
The ability to bring resolution to people’s disputes whilst ensuring justice is served fairly and impartially.
3. What has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Placing my own limits on my potential. You need to back yourself.
4. How have you empowered yourself, and the women around you?
Encouraging them (and me) to feel the fear and do it anyway.
1. How did you start on your career path?
I was one of those people who didn’t have a clue what they wanted to do in life – I was good at numbers, loved English and had an interest in the clinical environment. My parents gave me the good advice to just continue with the things I enjoyed and that something would emerge. Lots of people advised that I would make a good accountant, but it didn’t resonate with me until I learned of the chartered public finance accountant qualification which seemed to fit my numerical bent, degree in economics and passion for the health service. I was fortunate to land a job on the NHS national finance manager training scheme, did my training in and around London teaching hospitals and went on to spend 18 years working in health service finance.
Pictured: Bethan Haines is Guernsey's States Treasurer.
2. What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
Probably two things: The first is the sheer breadth and diversity of the work – the role of Treasurer gives a view across the full range of services and businesses the States of Guernsey is involved in, from health services to airlines. So, no two days are similar, and I am always learning.
The second is feeling that the work we’re doing actually makes a difference to the lives of people in the community – that’s truly rewarding
3. What has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Probably self-doubt and that common ‘imposter syndrome’. I started my career as a really shy young woman who didn’t have the confidence to talk up and share my ideas, assuming they would be dismissed or laughed at. I’ve really had to battle my demons and force myself to speak up – people who know me now might be surprised about that! So, over time, my confidence has grown. I still suffer from imposter syndrome now – especially as I’m having to get to grips with new subjects and specialisms on a routine basis.
4. How have you empowered yourself, and the women around you?
I have always taken a gender-neutral approach to my relationships, team and confidants. However, I have been fortunate to end up with many impressive professional women in my team. My approach to developing and empowering others is to give them the space to lead projects/find solutions. I see my role as being to nurture and support and help navigate some of the trickier issues.
I have also taken on several mentoring relationships over time to share some of my experiences and help women at the start of their career thrive in what remains a male dominated environment. I’ve learned a lot from some of the amazing young women I’ve been fortunate to come across through such relationships.
I left school with A Levels and took a gap year that lasted around 10 years. My primary motivator was to travel and I began by working for Aurigny purely for the travel concessions, however it turned out to be one of happiest working times of my life. This was back in the day of the old airport when flights were every 15 minutes and I can directly attribute my happiness to my wonderful colleagues there who taught me a lot about the power of teamwork and laughter. I went on to travel a lot in Asia and when I decided it was time to return to Guernsey, it was this travel trade experience that secured my first established role with the States working in the Marketing team for the then Tourist Board.
Pictured: Mary Putra is Director of Marketing and Communications for the States of Guernsey.
When I started my current role, some 12 years ago, there was no Communications team in the States, but focus changed and the value of communications was recognised and I now lead a really expert group of people. The value of communications was never more apparent than when we faced the Covid pandemic as a community. At the time I was acutely aware of how different things might have been had I still been a team of one. So, the most fulfilling part of my role is bringing together a group of people with very different characters and skillsets and helping to foster an environment where they have proven that they work together as a really great, high performing team and can tackle any challenge presented. It’s the differences in people that makes an effective team when they have a singular goal and that’s to be celebrated.
I don’t think I’ve had any barriers as such. Like anyone, I’ve had and have frustrations, and some of those frustrations are undoubtedly particular to being a woman but I wouldn’t say I’ve had a significant barrier, or maybe I haven’t allowed any. I think women are inherently more self-critical and often need to fight to be heard both figuratively and literally, that’s still the case for me even in a senior role and with demonstrative experience, but we can’t allow this to hold us back or become a barrier.
My late father instilled in me a strong sense of individuality, an equally strong work ethic and more than a little competitiveness. I’ve tried always to be true to myself and I think that’s really empowering. Practically, early on I also took every training and learning opportunity that was given to me and knowledge is powerful. But my most empowering lesson was the understanding of the value of those you surround yourself within work and out of it. I hope I encourage those women in my team, likewise my friends and my daughters, to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them.
There was no other career that I wanted to do when I left school other than nursing and as I was 18 years old, I started voluntary work at a local nursing home so I would have some experience to bring to my interview. This helped me get onto nurse training and my career pathway has been so varied from working on a variety of wards as a staff nurse then a ward manager working specialities such as Cardiac Intensive Care to Neurosurgical/Neurology and burns an plastics to becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infection Prevention working in both Acute Hospitals and Community and Health Protection settings to working for the Department of Health as part of one of my roles before coming to Guernsey as the Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control taking on various other roles within HSC such as Deputy Chief Nurse to Associate Director for Care Delivery. I am now the Director of Care Delivery for HSC which covers a wide range of HSC service areas such as Maternity/Paediatrics, Acute Care, Allied Health Professionals, Adult Learning Disabilities and Mental Health and Community and Social Care. This is a challenging but extremely rewarding leadership role, and I am so lucky to work with a passionate and forward-thinking HSC team and the wider SOG and external Care providers.
Pictured: Elaine Burgess is Director of Care Delivery in Guernsey.
It is very special to work in the Bailiwick of Guernsey I have been here with my family now for 21 years this year and feel we can really make a difference to the care patients/service users receive. I work with an amazing team from various backgrounds and specialities and no day is the same within HSC. I think for me and speaking to colleagues who work in the NHS we can still make a difference for the benefit of the patients/service users and as an island where staff work and live the passion for best practice is ever more prominent. The variety the role offers with being an integrated Health and Social Care provider breaks down a lot of barriers that are present in the UK as we can work closely with colleagues across the various specialities. I've been really fortunate to have great mentorship throughout my career and was advised on my journey to being the Director of Care Delivery that I won't know everything. My experience is just that and the sooner you come to terms with that fact the better. There's a reason teams are made up of multiple people, bringing their own expertise, and together they are a force for good. I like to think I have used the knowledge and expertise across our teams to think outside the box and be creative when problem solving collaboratively.
If I am truly honest the most difficult period was remaining on the career ladder when I had young children and like everyone with a young family, it was juggling a professional role and being a good mum. Where I worked previously in the UK if you reduced your hours unfortunately you were not eligible to apply for senior roles. Also, the cost of childcare has always been a barrier to remaining in full time employment as at the time there was no additional financial support from the UK Government. However, I have always been career focused and only reduced my hours for a short period with the support of family and friends and good childcare.
I have always had a passion for learning and throughout my career even with young children understood the importance of continuing education; subsequently I have a law degree (which included medical pathway) and a master’s in health sciences’ and continue to seek out courses which enhance my role as I strongly believe you can never stop learning. I think
it is vital to stay curious as the best leaders are always learning. I am passionate about coaching and looking for the future leaders within HSC we are extremely supportive of flexible working while ensuring service delivery is safe. This I hope will encourage the future leaders within HSC to continue their career and just have the time to be with their families. I guess because a large proportion of staff within Health and Social Care are women, I continue to look to support those who are underrepresented, for example ethnic minorities, and how we can facilitate development for these staff locally. And finally, to look after others we have to look after ourselves - I haven't always got this right since especially during the pandemic like so many colleagues the long hours were gruelling. However, on reflection, I now focus on my own health a little more and importantly the wellbeing for all staff. I think the most important question at any 1:1 is how are you? And truly have the time to listen.
I began my career as an auditor with PwC London’s Banking and Capital Markets team where I qualified to be a chartered accountant. Once qualified, I moved over to PwC’s Advisory business, supporting banks through strategic change programmes. As part of this team, I was granted a two-year secondment to the PwC New York office. Having returned to London and got married, my husband and I were ready for change, so we leapt at the opportunity to go and work in Bermuda. I spent five fabulous years there working for KPMG Bermuda’s Advisory business before we moved to Guernsey where we were both born and grew up, so that our young children could grow up around family.
Pictured: Alexandra McInnes is Managing Director of Bank Julius Baer, Guernsey.
I absolutely love my current role leading the Guernsey Branch of Bank Julius Baer because it challenges both my technical and leadership skills. Every day is demanding as I juggle the needs of our various stakeholders, including our private banking clients, our wonderful Branch staff, our local regulator, and nurturing the relationship with the wider Julius Baer group. A good day is one where we’ve made things better for our various stakeholders – where we’re all pulling together to deliver a great service from Guernsey to our internal and external clients; when we’re supporting each other as we do so and hopefully having some fun along the way!
I’ve been really fortunate in how I have been supported along the way. I think we often create barriers for ourselves because of what we believe we can or can’t do. In the past, when I’ve put up such a barrier against progressing my career, I’ve been given a nudge by those that I’ve been working with, to take the next step. I’m also very grateful for the support I’ve had to work flexibly since I had my girls, so that I can continue my career, whilst maintaining a balance between work and family. This continues to be a juggle and I’ve learnt the importance of prioritising urgent tasks.
I think it’s really important that we are given the opportunity to create, learn, and develop, and then take responsibility to deliver what we have committed to. That involves a lot of work and a lot of discomfort - trying, failing, receiving feedback, and then understanding how we can do better next time.
Empowerment is about having a level of agency in how and when you meet you those commitments. I strive to create an inclusive environment where all team members feel they can thrive. I want to give our teams the opportunities to develop and the space to experiment. At Julius Baer, I believe our staff have a strong framework to lean on, the tools to be creative and the flexibility to exercise agency over how and when they work. I think this empowers for all of our staff.
This interview was first published in CONNECT, Express' sister publication.
The latest edition of CONNECT can be read HERE.
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