that was a that was an amazing intro thank you and it’s a delight to be here
thank you and it’s a delight to be here
thank you and it’s a delight to be here so thank you very much
so thank you very much
so thank you very much as Sara said I work at virgin Management
as Sara said I work at virgin Management
as Sara said I work at virgin Management which is the central part of the Virgin
which is the central part of the Virgin
which is the central part of the Virgin Group and I joined virgin about 10 years
Group and I joined virgin about 10 years
Group and I joined virgin about 10 years ago actually originally joined Virgin
ago actually originally joined Virgin
ago actually originally joined Virgin Mobile which was part of Virgin Media
Mobile which was part of Virgin Media
Mobile which was part of Virgin Media and I was one of their HR business
and I was one of their HR business
and I was one of their HR business partners and then six years ago I moved
partners and then six years ago I moved
partners and then six years ago I moved into virgin Management in a kind of a
into virgin Management in a kind of a
into virgin Management in a kind of a version of the job that I do now I have
version of the job that I do now I have
version of the job that I do now I have a very long job title and actually I
a very long job title and actually I
a very long job title and actually I almost was going to start by making some
almost was going to start by making some
almost was going to start by making some trying to make some funny gag about my
trying to make some funny gag about my
trying to make some funny gag about my name and obviously the thing with
name and obviously the thing with
name and obviously the thing with bridges but I failed miserably but at
bridges but I failed miserably but at
bridges but I failed miserably but at least I’ve kind of liked it so when I
least I’ve kind of liked it so when I
least I’ve kind of liked it so when I moved so as Sarah said my role is to
moved so as Sarah said my role is to
moved so as Sarah said my role is to work with all of the Virgin Group
work with all of the Virgin Group
work with all of the Virgin Group companies globally and just very quickly
companies globally and just very quickly
companies globally and just very quickly sorry if it’s a bit dull but um the
sorry if it’s a bit dull but um the
sorry if it’s a bit dull but um the Virgin Group is a is a is a very complex
Virgin Group is a is a is a very complex
Virgin Group is a is a is a very complex structure we are not one trading
structure we are not one trading
structure we are not one trading organization we are made up of as Sarah
organization we are made up of as Sarah
organization we are made up of as Sarah said many different organisations that
said many different organisations that
said many different organisations that are individually operating they’re
are individually operating they’re
are individually operating they’re independently operating and that makes
independently operating and that makes
independently operating and that makes my remit a very interesting one to say
my remit a very interesting one to say
my remit a very interesting one to say the least and so when I moved into the
the least and so when I moved into the
the least and so when I moved into the grief about six years into the group
grief about six years into the group
grief about six years into the group role about six years ago I came in with
role about six years ago I came in with
role about six years ago I came in with a specific mandate which was to change
a specific mandate which was to change
a specific mandate which was to change the nature of the relationship between
the nature of the relationship between
the nature of the relationship between the group and between the operating
the group and between the operating
the group and between the operating companies before I arrived historically
companies before I arrived historically
companies before I arrived historically there had been a bit of a disconnection
there had been a bit of a disconnection
there had been a bit of a disconnection between the virgin companies and the way
between the virgin companies and the way
between the virgin companies and the way that we did things at virgin group that
that we did things at virgin group that
that we did things at virgin group that there was a sense that group was sitting
there was a sense that group was sitting
there was a sense that group was sitting in a little bit of an ivory tower and of
in a little bit of an ivory tower and of
in a little bit of an ivory tower and of course we were we are still that little
course we were we are still that little
course we were we are still that little bit further removed from some of the
bit further removed from some of the
bit further removed from some of the customer challenge in some operating
customer challenge in some operating
customer challenge in some operating challenges that the businesses
challenges that the businesses
challenges that the businesses experienced but my mandate was to build
experienced but my mandate was to build
experienced but my mandate was to build in some cases and rebuild some bridges
in some cases and rebuild some bridges
in some cases and rebuild some bridges and some connections across the group
and some connections across the group
and some connections across the group but also to encourage the businesses to
but also to encourage the businesses to
but also to encourage the businesses to build those bridges and connections to
build those bridges and connections to
build those bridges and connections to each other you know there’s a huge
each other you know there’s a huge
each other you know there’s a huge amount of power and value in being part
amount of power and value in being part
amount of power and value in being part of this global family and we probably
of this global family and we probably
of this global family and we probably weren’t leveraging that enough and the
weren’t leveraging that enough and the
weren’t leveraging that enough and the way that I went about that was certainly
way that I went about that was certainly
way that I went about that was certainly rocket science but one of the things
rocket science but one of the things
rocket science but one of the things that it really reinforced for me is the
that it really reinforced for me is the
that it really reinforced for me is the importance of face-to-face time which is
importance of face-to-face time which is
importance of face-to-face time which is kind of challenging if you’ve got
kind of challenging if you’ve got
kind of challenging if you’ve got obviously businesses all over the world
obviously businesses all over the world
obviously businesses all over the world but I don’t think many things can
but I don’t think many things can
but I don’t think many things can replace the opportunity to sit you know
replace the opportunity to sit you know
replace the opportunity to sit you know side by side with someone or across the
side by side with someone or across the
side by side with someone or across the table from someone and see the whites of
table from someone and see the whites of
table from someone and see the whites of their eyes and really truly listen to
their eyes and really truly listen to
their eyes and really truly listen to get a deeper understanding about what’s
get a deeper understanding about what’s
get a deeper understanding about what’s going on for that person what’s going on
going on for that person what’s going on
going on for that person what’s going on for that business what are their
for that business what are their
for that business what are their challenges what are their requirements
challenges what are their requirements
challenges what are their requirements and where are the opportunities for us
and where are the opportunities for us
and where are the opportunities for us to work more effectively together and
to work more effectively together and
to work more effectively together and once you’ve got that relationship
once you’ve got that relationship
once you’ve got that relationship established you obviously need to keep
established you obviously need to keep
established you obviously need to keep you know pay attention to it you need to
you know pay attention to it you need to
you know pay attention to it you need to maintain it and but it makes it a lot
maintain it and but it makes it a lot
maintain it and but it makes it a lot easier if that if that connection that
easier if that if that connection that
easier if that if that connection that that bridge if you like is there to
that bridge if you like is there to
that bridge if you like is there to enable that two-way flow of
enable that two-way flow of
enable that two-way flow of communication and it took a lot of time
communication and it took a lot of time
communication and it took a lot of time and effort but I you know I’m very
and effort but I you know I’m very
and effort but I you know I’m very pleased to say now that we have a
pleased to say now that we have a
pleased to say now that we have a fantastic kind of global community of
fantastic kind of global community of
fantastic kind of global community of certainly of my key stakeholders which
certainly of my key stakeholders which
certainly of my key stakeholders which the teams that lead kind of the people
the teams that lead kind of the people
the teams that lead kind of the people experience in all of the businesses and
experience in all of the businesses and
experience in all of the businesses and that’s because we have that sense that
that’s because we have that sense that
that’s because we have that sense that we have a shared goal and that we’re
we have a shared goal and that we’re
we have a shared goal and that we’re supporting each other and that shared
supporting each other and that shared
supporting each other and that shared goal and specifically around creating a
goal and specifically around creating a
goal and specifically around creating a great employee experience for our 72,000
great employee experience for our 72,000
great employee experience for our 72,000 employees globally and central to that
employees globally and central to that
employees globally and central to that is how do we create a sense of meaning
is how do we create a sense of meaning
is how do we create a sense of meaning and belonging for our people so we know
and belonging for our people so we know
and belonging for our people so we know that it’s hugely important to Virgin
that it’s hugely important to Virgin
that it’s hugely important to Virgin employees they join the Virgin family we
employees they join the Virgin family we
employees they join the Virgin family we often use that word there’s some
often use that word there’s some
often use that word there’s some interesting connotations sometimes
interesting connotations sometimes
interesting connotations sometimes associated with that but when our
associated with that but when our
associated with that but when our employees consider joining us and you
employees consider joining us and you
employees consider joining us and you know and after their time with this they
know and after their time with this they
know and after their time with this they have the expectation that they’re
have the expectation that they’re
have the expectation that they’re joining a group of companies they have
joining a group of companies they have
joining a group of companies they have an expectation that are joining you know
an expectation that are joining you know
an expectation that are joining you know a much bigger entity than the specific
a much bigger entity than the specific
a much bigger entity than the specific version company that they arrive at and
version company that they arrive at and
version company that they arrive at and so you know part of what my team and the
so you know part of what my team and the
so you know part of what my team and the the people teams try to do is to make
the people teams try to do is to make
the people teams try to do is to make sure that we are creating a global
sure that we are creating a global
sure that we are creating a global community of brand advocates there’s
community of brand advocates there’s
community of brand advocates there’s nothing wrong in admitting that but
nothing wrong in admitting that but
nothing wrong in admitting that but helping them to make the connections
helping them to make the connections
helping them to make the connections with each other and helping them to
with each other and helping them to
with each other and helping them to really feel part
really feel part
really feel part something bigger and we do that through
something bigger and we do that through
something bigger and we do that through many different many different things I
many different many different things I
many different many different things I think I’ve talked before about the fact
think I’ve talked before about the fact
think I’ve talked before about the fact that we do have a really uniting set of
that we do have a really uniting set of
that we do have a really uniting set of values there’s a lot of debate about the
values there’s a lot of debate about the
values there’s a lot of debate about the value of values but they do truly unite
value of values but they do truly unite
value of values but they do truly unite us we talk about our red thread that
us we talk about our red thread that
us we talk about our red thread that runs through the Virgin can a global
runs through the Virgin can a global
runs through the Virgin can a global community and again we have a number of
community and again we have a number of
community and again we have a number of mechanisms in place that we try to
mechanisms in place that we try to
mechanisms in place that we try to ensure create that sense of belonging
ensure create that sense of belonging
ensure create that sense of belonging for our people one of the things that we
for our people one of the things that we
for our people one of the things that we did gosh about two years ago which given
did gosh about two years ago which given
did gosh about two years ago which given that we’ve been going for forty eight
that we’ve been going for forty eight
that we’ve been going for forty eight years you would have thought that virgin
years you would have thought that virgin
years you would have thought that virgin would have had it before we had never
would have had it before we had never
would have had it before we had never articulated what our employer brand was
articulated what our employer brand was
articulated what our employer brand was we’d never articulated what employees
we’d never articulated what employees
we’d never articulated what employees can expect when they come to work for us
can expect when they come to work for us
can expect when they come to work for us and what we expect of them in return
and what we expect of them in return
and what we expect of them in return we all had a gut instinct for what it
we all had a gut instinct for what it
we all had a gut instinct for what it was but we also have an allergy to
was but we also have an allergy to
was but we also have an allergy to codifying anything too clearly but we
codifying anything too clearly but we
codifying anything too clearly but we finally got around to doing this and it
finally got around to doing this and it
finally got around to doing this and it centers around our purpose our business
centers around our purpose our business
centers around our purpose our business purpose which is changing business for
purpose which is changing business for
purpose which is changing business for good and which essentially means that we
good and which essentially means that we
good and which essentially means that we make sure we put people and planet
make sure we put people and planet
make sure we put people and planet alongside profit but this purposes are
alongside profit but this purposes are
alongside profit but this purposes are then underpinned by four pillars and two
then underpinned by four pillars and two
then underpinned by four pillars and two of the pillars I think are particularly
of the pillars I think are particularly
of the pillars I think are particularly relevant to the theme of bridges and
relevant to the theme of bridges and
relevant to the theme of bridges and that is be yourself and go to go
that is be yourself and go to go
that is be yourself and go to go together and they’re these these pillars
together and they’re these these pillars
together and they’re these these pillars have to work as pairs they have to be in
have to work as pairs they have to be in
have to work as pairs they have to be in balance they have to be in harmony with
balance they have to be in harmony with
balance they have to be in harmony with one another and the go together for me
one another and the go together for me
one another and the go together for me really encapsulates that sense that we
really encapsulates that sense that we
really encapsulates that sense that we are stronger together and as I said
are stronger together and as I said
are stronger together and as I said there is a real power and value when we
there is a real power and value when we
there is a real power and value when we are aligned and that we’re pulling
are aligned and that we’re pulling
are aligned and that we’re pulling behind a shared goal when we have those
behind a shared goal when we have those
behind a shared goal when we have those connections across the group so that we
connections across the group so that we
connections across the group so that we can share learnings we can support each
can share learnings we can support each
can share learnings we can support each other and some of you may recognize that
other and some of you may recognize that
other and some of you may recognize that sort of phrasing around go together but
sort of phrasing around go together but
sort of phrasing around go together but it’s it’s actually from an African
it’s it’s actually from an African
it’s it’s actually from an African proverb which we which we loved I mean
proverb which we which we loved I mean
proverb which we which we loved I mean we kind of wanted to emulate that as
we kind of wanted to emulate that as
we kind of wanted to emulate that as much as we can and this African proverb
much as we can and this African proverb
much as we can and this African proverb is if you want to go fast go alone if
is if you want to go fast go alone if
is if you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far go together and so
you want to go far go together and so
you want to go far go together and so this is this is kind of at the core of
this is this is kind of at the core of
this is this is kind of at the core of our people promise and how we also think
our people promise and how we also think
our people promise and how we also think about diversity and inclusion it frames
about diversity and inclusion it frames
about diversity and inclusion it frames the need for people
the need for people
the need for people to be able to be the individuals that
to be able to be the individuals that
to be able to be the individuals that they are and not to put on a corporate
they are and not to put on a corporate
they are and not to put on a corporate veneer when they walk in the door but to
veneer when they walk in the door but to
veneer when they walk in the door but to recognize and respect the fact that we
recognize and respect the fact that we
recognize and respect the fact that we need to do that an inclusive environment
need to do that an inclusive environment
need to do that an inclusive environment where everybody is welcome I’m really
where everybody is welcome I’m really
where everybody is welcome I’m really conscious and this is going on to a
conscious and this is going on to a
conscious and this is going on to a point that Sarah just made I’m really
point that Sarah just made I’m really
point that Sarah just made I’m really conscious that our employees aren’t
conscious that our employees aren’t
conscious that our employees aren’t unique in wanting that sense of meaning
unique in wanting that sense of meaning
unique in wanting that sense of meaning and wanting that sense of belonging
and wanting that sense of belonging
and wanting that sense of belonging I studied anthropology at university
I studied anthropology at university
I studied anthropology at university many years ago and and that sense of
many years ago and and that sense of
many years ago and and that sense of belonging and kinship is kind of a
belonging and kinship is kind of a
belonging and kinship is kind of a fundamental part of the human condition
fundamental part of the human condition
fundamental part of the human condition and it’s been there for millennia you
and it’s been there for millennia you
and it’s been there for millennia you know and I guess it kind of originally
know and I guess it kind of originally
know and I guess it kind of originally derived from the fact that we we needed
derived from the fact that we we needed
derived from the fact that we we needed to be parts we needed to be part of a
to be parts we needed to be part of a
to be parts we needed to be part of a tribe or part of a community in order to
tribe or part of a community in order to
tribe or part of a community in order to survive quite frankly in terms of being
survive quite frankly in terms of being
survive quite frankly in terms of being able to defend ourselves against wild
able to defend ourselves against wild
able to defend ourselves against wild animals and or other tribes and also to
animals and or other tribes and also to
animals and or other tribes and also to survive in terms of feeding ourselves
survive in terms of feeding ourselves
survive in terms of feeding ourselves and obviously society has moved on some
and obviously society has moved on some
and obviously society has moved on some significant ways since I sort of
significant ways since I sort of
significant ways since I sort of hunter-gatherer ancestors but you still
hunter-gatherer ancestors but you still
hunter-gatherer ancestors but you still see there’s two kind of tribal
see there’s two kind of tribal
see there’s two kind of tribal affiliations now in society in many
affiliations now in society in many
affiliations now in society in many different components of society so that
different components of society so that
different components of society so that that sense of belonging and kinship if
that sense of belonging and kinship if
that sense of belonging and kinship if you like is a fundamental part of the
you like is a fundamental part of the
you like is a fundamental part of the human DNA and that makes me think given
human DNA and that makes me think given
human DNA and that makes me think given I spend a lot of time trying to think
I spend a lot of time trying to think
I spend a lot of time trying to think about what’s the future of work what you
about what’s the future of work what you
about what’s the future of work what you know what do we need to be thinking
know what do we need to be thinking
know what do we need to be thinking about as an employer to make sure that
about as an employer to make sure that
about as an employer to make sure that we’re creating the best kind of
we’re creating the best kind of
we’re creating the best kind of environment this weekend for our people
environment this weekend for our people
environment this weekend for our people and there’s a lot of talk about the fact
and there’s a lot of talk about the fact
and there’s a lot of talk about the fact that you know the gig economy people are
that you know the gig economy people are
that you know the gig economy people are going to be working in portfolio careers
going to be working in portfolio careers
going to be working in portfolio careers and no longer going to work for one
and no longer going to work for one
and no longer going to work for one employer and indeed there may not be
employer and indeed there may not be
employer and indeed there may not be workplaces in the future and I think the
workplaces in the future and I think the
workplaces in the future and I think the example if you look at like the space we
example if you look at like the space we
example if you look at like the space we work space that would suggest that it’s
work space that would suggest that it’s
work space that would suggest that it’s not going to go down that that extreme
not going to go down that that extreme
not going to go down that that extreme length because people do want that sense
length because people do want that sense
length because people do want that sense of connection and sense of community
of connection and sense of community
of connection and sense of community even if they’re not actually working on
even if they’re not actually working on
even if they’re not actually working on the same things people want to feel that
the same things people want to feel that
the same things people want to feel that they’re in that kind of hubbub and they
they’re in that kind of hubbub and they
they’re in that kind of hubbub and they have those those day-to-day connections
have those those day-to-day connections
have those those day-to-day connections and so um you know for me whilst I think
and so um you know for me whilst I think
and so um you know for me whilst I think having greater flexibility and greater
having greater flexibility and greater
having greater flexibility and greater choice is hugely hugely important I kind
choice is hugely hugely important I kind
choice is hugely hugely important I kind of take some reassurance in the fact
of take some reassurance in the fact
of take some reassurance in the fact that we will
that we will
that we will never move I don’t believe we’ll ever
never move I don’t believe we’ll ever
never move I don’t believe we’ll ever move away from the fact that you know
move away from the fact that you know
move away from the fact that you know people do want those connections in many
people do want those connections in many
people do want those connections in many different components of their life and
different components of their life and
different components of their life and with society’s changing as it as it is
with society’s changing as it as it is
with society’s changing as it as it is work more often than not is the place
work more often than not is the place
work more often than not is the place through which people get that sense of
through which people get that sense of
through which people get that sense of meaning and connection and that’s
meaning and connection and that’s
meaning and connection and that’s certainly something that we hold very
certainly something that we hold very
certainly something that we hold very dear at virgin and one of it as I said
dear at virgin and one of it as I said
dear at virgin and one of it as I said one of the kind of cool parts of my job
one of the kind of cool parts of my job
one of the kind of cool parts of my job to work with all the other virgin
to work with all the other virgin
to work with all the other virgin companies is to make sure that we are
companies is to make sure that we are
companies is to make sure that we are creating a place where people can find
creating a place where people can find
creating a place where people can find those connections and that sense of
those connections and that sense of
those connections and that sense of belonging a sense of meaning that
belonging a sense of meaning that
belonging a sense of meaning that they’re looking for
”
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