Women in leadership: My 20 year journey of career transformation.

It’s been 20 whirlwind years since I started my journey with E.ON back in 2003 as a temporary worker. Expecting my first child, and so understandably seeking a seated office job, I found myself in the Confirmation Team helping customers navigate Home Moves. I quickly fell in love with the great people and positive workplace culture. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of a lasting relationship with E.ON that would span two decades and counting!

My temporary status evolved into a permanent role. I transitioned to Metering and steadily climbed the career ladder, reaching the Senior Representative position in 2006, and Team Manager in 2007. These exciting career developments fortuitously led me into the Energy Services pillar just as the Data Management section was taking shape. And believe me, it was a truly thrilling time to be around! There is always a lot of exciting change occurring here which is one of the reasons I find it such a great place to work.

In 2009, I took a break to have my second child and decided to leave the business to pursue higher education, something I hadn't had the chance to do earlier due to motherhood. During this hiatus, I embarked on a journey of academic growth, earning a History degree, a Master's, and ultimately, a PhD. I had some amazing adventures, including presenting a paper at Princeton University, all while welcoming three more children into my family.

As my PhD journey neared its end, my family members (who were also now part of the E.ON family) introduced me to the world of E.ON Next. I decided to rejoin as an Energy Specialist as I planned what I wanted my future career to look like.

The moment I put on that headset and returned to the energy realm, my knowledge came flooding back. This time accompanied by the newfound freedom and empowerment that came with the Nextie way of working. It was a joy to return but also thrilling to be a part of this brand new adventure as part of E.ON Next. I immediately knew that I wanted to stay and build a career right here as part of the E.ON Next family. 

I contemplated where my E.ON Next career could take me. Initially I looked toward a shift into a Team Leader role, but opportunities were scarce at that time. So, instead I took the initiative and scoured the business for other roles that aligned with my expertise and aspirations.

In 2022, I applied for a position as a Hedging and Risk Analyst back at E.ON UK within E.ON Energy Markets (EEM) and was fortunate to secure the role. My time in Energy Markets was a revelation, providing me with valuable insights into a facet of the business that had previously been a mystery. I was truly inspired by the remarkable work happening across our pillars to ensure our customers' lights stayed on.

This March 2023 I joined the Women in Leadership program, which supported my swift rise to the position of Hedging and Risk Business Partner in April 2023. Shortly after this achievement, I returned to E.ON Next as a Pricing Analyst in the Commercial Team, ready to infuse my newfound energy markets wisdom into the Next experience.

During my time back at E.ON Next, we received a visit from the Apprenticeship Team, who introduced us to the range of programmes on offer. Initially, I had reservations, but a fellow colleague from the Women in Leadership program shared her experiences pursuing the Senior Leadership apprenticeship and it really piqued my interest. Encouraged by my line manager and my team, I made the exciting decision to go for it. I am thrilled to be embarking on the journey to earn an MBA whilst being able to continue working full-time in a role that I love. 

E.ON has consistently supported my personal and professional growth, and it continues to provide me with countless incredible opportunities. I am honoured to now mentor individuals who aspire to progress in their careers, helping them chart their path forward. I have the privilege of being mentored myself, and it is an absolute privilege to pay back the support I have received in my career by helping along the next generation of Nexties. It has already been such an extraordinary journey building my career within the E.ON family, I can't wait to see where the future takes me.