WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star Awards are now in their fourth year.
The Rising Star awards were introduced to showcase the UK pipeline of female talent below management and to create female 100 role models across 20 different industries and professions.
Over the year’s, the awards have recognised 400 women across the UK and India.
In this ongoing series, we speak to our winners about life after winning a Rising Star award.
We spoke with Laura Pettitt, who won a 2017 Rising Star Award in HR & Recruitment.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I started my professional career eleven years ago and was quickly catapulted into the world of recruitment. For the next 7 1/2 years I learnt how to win business, source contract and permanent candidates, employment law, management (people and business) and how to develop and nurture lasting relationships . Working with extraordinary clients I carved a career for myself running a business with a turnover of 11 million for a large recruitment business, heading up client engagement and latterly taking on the challenge of turning around a failing recruitment business.
I became interested in employee engagement and the psychology of people and what makes them tick. As luck would have it I had the opportunity to work for a brand experience business designing engagement programmes and employer brand propositions. I now work as the Talent and Engagement Director for NUK – things couldn’t be better!
How did you feel when it was announced that you’d won a Rising Star award?
Shocked – I was nominated by a colleague and having seen the competition didn’t think I stood a chance. It goes without saying I felt humbled and incredibly proud.
Please tell us what has happened in your career since winning the Rising Star awards?
Since winning the award my career has gone from strength to strength. I was in the running for three exciting roles, meaning I have transitioned back to being an employee. I chose to work for NUK as had spent time here consulting and truly believe NUK want to be seen as an employer of choice and are making all the ‘right’ moves to get there.
I have spoken at more conferences; most notably for Culture First in San Francisco when I shared the agenda with greats like Patty Mccord, Adam Grant and Lindsay Mcgregor – I hope to be in their league one day. The next big one is set for Jan 19 when I’ll be speaking at the ‘Future of HR’ (The evolving workforce).
What advice would you give to someone else going through our award’s process?
Be brave, don’t be afraid to be proud of your achievements and more importantly see yourself as someone who has achieved a lot. We are all self critical and see our achievements as ‘standard’ or something we’re meant to do. If you’ve been nominated it’s because someone (maybe even you) thinks you are awesome so take the compliment!
What tips would you give to our other members to enhance their careers?
The main thing is to take a leap, if you think you aren’t ready, leap anyway. Ask for help, don’t be afraid to make mistakes – learn from the ones you do make. Grab every opportunity without hesitation.
