Since joining Auto Trader, John has become a key leader, guiding the Business Insights and Finance System team. Mentoring and setting well-defined goals through a Personal Development Plan have been crucial to his growth. He now also co-leads the Ethnicity Network, striving to create a more inclusive workplace.

Can you give us a snapshot of your role?

I have the privilege of leading and developing the Business Insights and Finance System team. We are a team of 10 great diverse individuals forming part of the Pricing and BI Squad in Finance. We aspire to become "a centre of excellence for providing accurate, timely and trusted business performance metrics and financial accounts".

Tell us about your career journey at Auto Trader

I began my AT journey in July 2016, just 12 days after getting married, which meant postponing what would have been an epic honeymoon visiting Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. My wife still hasn't forgiven me, and we haven't been on that trip yet., one day! However, the need to start well and face a new challenge was very strong. That's joining AT and not living life as a husband, by the way! 😉

Joining any new business after ten years of being in the same place would always be daunting but exciting in the same measure. It was a huge learning curve adapting to new people, a new culture and a different way of doing things.

Typically, in any new role, the first few months are about integrating, finding your feet, and absorbing the new environment. But what hits you as soon as you walk through the doors is the relentless pace of change. This was very refreshing and, to this day, is a great motivator.

In my eight years at Auto Trader, I've led various large projects, from improving and implementing new systems to migrating to the data platform and integrating various acquisitions into Finance systems. All had their own challenges, but with clear goals, timelines, and sheer perseverance, we succeeded. None of this would have been possible without the brilliant team members and close collaboration with stakeholders.

Today, still with the massive privilege of leading this group of diverse and talented human beings I also have an equally humbling responsibility as a member of the Finance Leadership Team. The key attributes that I associate with my leadership journey are:

• Hard work.

• Dedication.

• Building a great team.

• Constantly seeking the next challenge and developing my style as a servant leader.

• Putting the needs of the team and Tribe before self.

I am very passionate about supporting and developing individuals who strive to become their best selves. It's a huge career highlight, and seeing the team and Tribe succeed is very humbling and brings a great sense of pride, too.

I'm still on a journey to becoming a better leader and, with that, bringing more of my authentic self to work. I am now co-lead of the Ethnicity Network, and with it comes the responsibility to carry on the great work of our predecessors in seeking to build a safer community, create meaningful change, and help elevate our racially underrepresented colleagues.

What tools or programs did you use to help you develop in your career?

Being a recent cohort member of the Diverse Talent Accelerator (DTA) has helped me understand personal challenges that may have inhibited my progress. Through the DTA and coaching, I have built a set of toolkits to help me manage them in the future, develop further the style of leader I aspire to become, and increase my self-confidence.

Setting clearly defined and well-formed PDPs/commitments has helped shape the direction, but the frank and honest conversations with my managers have been the largest contributors to my desire to pursue a great career here at AutoTrader.

Mentoring has been vital throughout my career. Having someone challenge me to be the very best version of myself and champion me while I am doing so is a fundamental aspect of achieving what I have.

I want to shout out to Farzana Kosar, my mentor and friend, for doing more for me than anyone else. Without your leadership, calmness, directness, and belief in me, I would not have had the career at AutoTrader that I'm proud to have had so far. Massive thank you, Fuzzy!

What barriers or challenges have you encountered in your career – and how have they held you back?

The most prominent has been imposter syndrome for definite. Feeling overly anxious that I don't belong or that my opinion doesn't matter has held me back in parts throughout my career. When new opportunities presented themselves, I'd often not apply or show interest because I needed to be better for the role.

Most can be related to my cultural upbringing, which taught me that elders or people in higher positions are always right and must show face by never challenging that position. So, I have never been comfortable being challenged, especially with people of 'higher standing'.

Mentoring, coaching, and DTA have helped me identify and develop toolkits to manage these challenges, but I know they may never go away entirely. It has taken time to find my true, authentic self at work, and it is still a work in progress.

Thankfully, when the opportunity to join Auto Trader came about, I took that leap of faith to start a fresh new challenge. And here we are! Best decision ever......after getting married and having children, of course 😉

What advice would you have given to yourself five years ago?

• Trust in your own skills and abilities, as others trust in you to deliver and that they have your career interests in mind, too.

• Continue to do things to the best of your abilities always. People will champion you, and the rewards will come.

• Be honest with yourself and tackle barriers that may be holding you back. Look for ways to learn and understand them better.

• You can't do everything yourself. Build a great team to help deliver them too.

• Continue to make a great brew, as the art of brew-making is getting lost.

• Never be too proud to reach out and ask for help. It doesn't have to be all on you.

• You are there for a reason. Your knowledge. Your skills. Your opinion. Your experience. It's valid. You belong!