Meet the consultant… Julie Smith

1. Why did you enter the world of business change?

Before joining Entec Si, I had a 29-year career in local government at Birmingham City Council, working my way up from an administrator to a principal planning manager. It was there that I met Eman, one of Entec Si’s founders, and I was quickly bitten by the project management bug!

Seeing projects develop through their lifecycle, from day one right through to project completion spurred me on to investigate a career in this area and I joined the Entec Si team in 2017.

2. Why do you love working at Entec Si?

Without a doubt, it’s the people that make Entec Si such a great place to work. I think it’s very rare to find a business that lives and breathes its values in the same way that Entec Si does. I love being part of the change process; every day brings new opportunities and there is no better feeling than achieving fantastic results.

3. What does your day-to-day role involve?

I have a dual position, which covers both business consultancy and project management. At its core, my role is all about people, and that’s where my real passion lies. In fact, nurturing talent has led me to develop Entec Si’s Academy Practice, which is now in its second year!

My role is extremely varied, so no two days are ever the same. I’m either delivering projects, networking, catching up with the team at our Alpha Works HQ, developing the Academy Practice or working from home (Entec Si offer brilliant flexible working benefits).

Delivering a successful project can often be quite high pressured, but I always try to make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. During a system launch with East Northamptonshire Council, we prepared ‘survival kits’ filled with lots of treats to ensure that spirits remained high throughout the day. These little touches can make all the difference and allow me to get creative!

4. What’s the best thing about working at Entec Si?

Entec Si is really passionate about developing the business change professionals of the future, whether that be through the Academy Practice, mentoring opportunities, apprenticeships or leadership workshops.

There aren’t many companies that invest in their people in the way that Entec Si does. For instance, the entire leadership team recently stepped out of their comfort zone to complete a leadership with horses workshop! Surprisingly, whether your aim is to successfully lead a team or a horse, the required values of encouragement, teamwork, trust, honesty, and respect remain the same.

5. What’s your top advice for the change managers of the future?

Working in the world of business change consultancy requires organisation, expert communication skills and bags of energy. In my opinion, skills can always be learnt but it’s the passion that people bring to the role that really sets them apart from the competition and will set them up for a successful career.

6. Tell us something that we might not know about you?

I love to travel whenever possible, and approach holiday planning with the same vigor that I approach a project at work! A very generous break between Christmas and the new year gave us the opportunity to jet off to the Algarve last December and there are plenty of other places I’d love to visit when possible.

7. Best moment at Entec Si to date?

While there have been many fantastic moments, it would have to be the successful delivery of my first project with East Northamptonshire Council – it was a brilliant result for a lovely group of people. We already have a strong pipeline of projects in place for 2021, so I’m looking forward to many more great times to come!