From starting as a part-time Sales Consultant to leading a team in the Auto Trader Leasing Tribe, Kerrie has tackled challenges head-on. Despite juggling the demands of motherhood and career challenges, she's never lost her passion for learning and evolving.

What aspects of your current role do you enjoy the most?

I love the satisfaction my team and I get from resolving a customer's query or issue. I enjoy being a supportive leader and love the variety of what we do- no two customers are the same. It does mean there is never a dull moment, and it keeps my team and me on our toes!! There’s a lot of experience in the team, and we have achieved so much in the last three years together.

How did you become a squad lead?

I started at Vanarama (now Auto Trader) nearly seven years ago as a part-time Sales Consultant, which was great as my children were small. It gave me the flexibility (after three years of working nights in retail) to still spend time with my family whilst getting back into a sales/purchasing role, which I had to leave when I had my second child. I have worked in some capacity in most departments over the years and learnt a lot about how the business/industry works and various processes. During Covid, my team was closed, so I was asked to help our deliveries team deliver vehicles to key workers.

Three years ago, I applied for the role as an Operational Procurement Team leader, and was successful (yay), which managed the Operational Procurement side of processing and the Cancellation Team. The Cancellation Team morphed into the Order Progression team, and the rest is history!!

Have life or work events influenced your career progression, and if so, how did you manage them?

Shortly after having my first child I moved into a purchasing assistant role due to needing reduced hours but I had to leave this role as the company unfortunately closed down and I was made redundant. Being made redundant from a company I had worked at for 8 years was scary enough, let alone whilst having a small child to consider. Would I find a role that suited me and my family? Yes, there was a role out there for me! I became an Assistant Buyer for packaging for Amazon UK on flexible hours which I could work around my husband and childcare. I then had my second child and stepped back from my career. The children were small, and I worked late/nights at Aldi so I could be home when they needed me. Once they both had started school, it was time for me to return to being ‘Kerrie’ and get back into something I loved. I then found Vanarama, where I’ve always felt supported, but challenged enough to keep me busy whilst being a mum. Now my kids are old enough not to need me (or show it, at least), I was able to go full time (hybrid working helped that transition be possible – the only thing positive I can think of about COVID times – that and realising after Homeschooling a 6 & 9-year-old – I am a better mum than I am a primary school teacher – NEVER AGAIN)

How do you actively work on developing your skills?

I am curious because I like to understand why people do what they do, and if I need to know/understand, I want to go and find out. I wouldn't know half what I do if I hadn't put myself out there to understand. I am constantly working on improving myself and how I can help those around me be the best they can be. Don't get me wrong, I don't always get it right – but does anyone? (well, apart from my 13-year-old daughter, who knows everything) I think it is a bit of understanding that how we respond to mistakes defines us, not the mistakes we have made. I am also self-aware: I know my strengths, but more importantly, I know my weaker areas where I focus my attention. We live, and we learn – that's what is important.

What are your future career aspirations?

The role that I do, gives me access to lots of data and reporting around existing processes and how customers feel and/or impacted by these processes which allows me and the team to raise any finding with the relevant teams so we can all be the best we can be. What I have figured out is that I love data, and the knowledge it gives, I love a spreadsheet (for those who know me will know how much I love Excel) and love helping colleagues and the business improve based on the analysis and findings from the data to ensure customers (& colleagues) have the smoothest journey possible it looks like I am potentially looking at data analytics a bit more in depth than I thought..... I just want to be the best I can be at something I love doing

What three tips would you give for navigating change while advancing your career?

1. Change is a fundamental part of life, and while it can seem scary at times, it should be embraced so we don't stand still or, worse, get left behind. Change can and will usually bring opportunities. 

2. Grab every opportunity you can to gain knowledge/experience. It's there for the taking if you want it—it is always yours to keep 😊. Knowledge and experience will only add to your potential and drive you forward. 

3. Sideways Moves/ Squiggly career paths are good. It doesn't always feel like you are moving forward, but you are, and eventually, when the time is right, and the right role/opportunity comes up, you will be in the best position to move up/around if you want it. You have to want it, though. Not everyone does, and that's OK, too. You don't know what you don't know, do you?