Katy McDermond’s Post

This innocuous scribble kickstarted it all ✏️ It feels like yesterday The year was 2014 and I’d just been announced as CP’s new CEO Turning over circa £15m from our East Mids heartland, we were doing nicely But we weren’t setting the world on fire 🔥 I then sketched this On a bog-standard flip chart, the marker was laid down Ambitiously, we set 3 monumental goals 🚀 To grow 10 X in 10 years 🥇  To be the #1 employer in the UK 📍 To have major presence in Birmingham, London and Manchester It was big ask. I mean a seriously big ask But we all loved that (and shrugged off the eye rolls and sniggers from some quarters) FF 9 years of a real roller coaster ride 🎢 Along the way, there’ve been many highs and many lows too Even times when I doubted we’d hit our ambitious Northstar at all But now, ahead of the decade timeline, and thanks to so many brilliant people: 📈 We’ve smashed through the 10 X growth target – one year early 🏆  We were named the #1 best place to work in Europe 🌇 And with five superhubs (Sky View, Birmingham, London, Thames Valley and Manchester), we’re caning it across the UK I reckon that by the end of 2025 we’ll have doubled our target to smash £300m - 2 X the original target But you know what, I’m most excited about the next 5 years As our 2030 vision takes shape, I get goosebumps just thinking about it We have an awesome team of talent on board Our clients drive us to keep raising the bar And we’re creating a truly sustainable next gen professional services group You never know, when I scribble my next flipchart, it might have a cheeky £1bn on it. 😉 #RebelsOfAccountancy #TimesTen #Vision #NextGen #WhatATeam

webAffinity's All-Hands event served as a unifying experience, fostering reflection on our achievements, recognizing outstanding performers, and strategizing for the upcoming quarters. Beyond celebrating successes, the event encapsulated a comprehensive review of the fourth quarter of 2023 and outlined detailed plans for 2024. The overarching theme centered on supporting each other's growth and commitment to shared objectives. This collective acknowledgment of exceptional contributors aimed not only to elevate team morale but also underscored the potency of teamwork and collaboration. The event injected renewed vigor into our collective purpose, laying the groundwork for remarkable accomplishments in the times ahead. At webAffinity, our forward-looking approach and confidence in our team's abilities remain unwavering. With mutual support, unwavering dedication, and a shared vision, we are poised to thrive together. To infuse an element of camaraderie, the evening concluded with enjoyable games and delectable food. #webAffinitySuccess #ExceptionalPerformers #TeamworkAndCollaboration #SharedVision #ThriveTogether #QuarterlyRecap #2024Plans #CelebratingAchievements #FunAndGames #webAffinity

The digital world's version of the red carpet event, the NZ Hi-Tech Awards. While they're a bit like the Oscars, these awards aren't just about applauding the who's who in our arena; they're a beacon for up-and-coming talent and innovation. This year, we want to shine a special spotlight on Marlborough's very own tech titans: Smart Machine, SWE (Southern Water Engineering) and Starboard Maritime Intelligence. Let's make this interactive! 🙌 We're keen to hear from you—drop your thoughts, tech aspirations, or nods to local innovators in the comments below. Let's turn our collective insight into a powerhouse of innovation and conversation. And for those who thrive on staying ahead of the curve, subscribing to our newsletter is like having a front-row ticket to the future. 💌✨ Are you ready to be part of this thrilling journey? Let's ride the wave of tech revolution together, transforming curiosity into knowledge, and innovation into everyday reality. The future's not just something we head towards; it's something we create. #TechRevolution #MarlboroughInnovates #NZHiTechAwards Your thoughts, stories, and insights are what make this journey exciting. Click on our latest blog post, dive into the discussion, and let's shape the future of tech, together. After all, in the grand tapestry of innovation, every thread counts. Let's weave something spectacular. 🌈🚀

Dorothea Gosling is an amazing leader and #ABM #thoughtleader. Having been a student of hers twice now, having the opportunity to hear from her is always a pleasure. As someone who has hired junior people for a team in the past, Ido agree with that should always be your last hire and not your first. Check out her other insights on pitfalls to avoid when building your team. I know this is ABM specific but anyone building a team could learn from this article.  https://lnkd.in/ebjQYVYS

At Mobsta, we genuinely believe that our success and value system intertwines with the success of our customers and partners. This drives everything we do. That's why it was so rewarding to see this sentiment reflected at B Lab UK's #LouderThanWords festival last week. The event's panel discussions and speakers left us inspired. One key takeaway we've been reflecting on since the festival is this... 🔗 Embrace collaboration We are part of a broader ecosystem so we recognise the importance of fostering strong partnerships across industries. The question we’re asking ourselves is: how can we collaborate more effectively to drive positive change while ensuring inclusivity and access for all? And how do we ensure that our customers and partners continue to benefit so that they also thrive? We’re excited to put these insights into action, so stay tuned for some exciting cross-industry collaborations coming soon. If you'd like to be part of the conversation or learn more, feel free to reach out. #advertising #adland #bcorp #ethicalbusiness #collaboration #media #partnerships #BCorpFestival2024

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩   We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone on our journey: AVANTGARDE Group and majority shareholder EMH Partners have successfully sold 100% of shares in AVANTGARDE Experts to the international recruiting powerhouse YER   The success story of AVANTGARDE Experts started 17 years ago. Thanks to a compelling and clear vision for the future, Philipp Riedel and his outstanding team have dedicated themselves to making AVANTGARDE Experts what it is today: One of the German market leaders in filling academic roles in the mobility & tech sector. The acquisition by YER opens new doors, new opportunities and yet another chapter of this success story: Joint forces for an international job market!   This transaction is not just an evolutionary step forward for AVANTGARDE Experts. It is also an affirmation of AVANTGARDE Group’s commitment to customer centricity, innovation, and growth. As a leader in brand experience solutions, AVANTGARDE Group is honing in on its core business and setting a powerful course for the future. #CraftingStories #ShapingSpaces #CreatingFans

🚀 Big News! Our CEO Just Visited Las Vegas! 🚀 Hey everyone, I’m thrilled to share that our CEO, Kevin Bird, recently visited Las Vegas! As part of the AV team, it was an incredible experience to see firsthand how our strategic plans and tech innovations are shaping up. Here are some highlights from the visit: • Tech Talks: We had some fantastic discussions about our latest tech advancements. Seeing our cutting-edge AV solutions being recognized was amazing! 💡 • Networking: Connected with industry leaders and local partners. It was inspiring to see our work in AV being appreciated by so many. 🤝 • Future Plans: Discussed where we’re headed next and our strategic growth. The future looks bright, and I’m excited to be part of it! 🌟 I’m so proud to be part of a team that’s constantly pushing boundaries and shaping the future of our industry. Stay tuned for more updates—exciting things are on the horizon! 🌟

🚀 Unlock the Power of No-Code! 📌 Save the date: December 5th at The Cube, Birmingham for an exclusive Lunch & Learn event! What to expect: ✨ Insights from Creatio industry leaders on no-code’s role in digital transformation. ✨ Success stories from Qmulus Solutions experts. ✨ Hands-on no-code experience. ✨ Networking, lunch, and post-event drinks! #NoCode #LunchAndLearn #DigitalTransformation

🚨 Tomorrow is the Beginning of a New Era in Media 🚨 As the Founder of Vettify by EBO, Corp. I couldn’t be more excited to announce that tomorrow, we embark on a journey that will forever change the future of media! 🌍 We are positioned to DOMINATE and make history—pioneering innovation at the intersection of technology and media, as we set out to elevate voices and drive impact like never before. 🔥 For those who have been with us since the beginning, THANK YOU! Your unwavering support has fueled this vision. To show my gratitude, we’ve crafted exclusive offers for YOU. #GetReady to experience the next level of media readiness with our 30-day Founder Special Offer that’s designed to propel YOU to the top. 🙌 Check out the full offer here:https://lnkd.in/epRsB86j 🎥 We’re stepping into Q4 with nothing less than excellence and a mission rooted in elevation and equity. Our journey has always been bigger than us—it’s about uplifting the voiceless and bringing real, tangible change to the media landscape. TEDCO believed in this idea when it was just that—an idea! And now, alongside our trusted advisors like Ollen, Bianca, Lanre, and Regan, we’re ready to break barriers and make history! 📊 Making History in B2B2C SaaS: As one of the few Black women founders leading an AI-powered B2B2C SaaS company, I’m proud of the strides we’ve made. Vettify is more than just a platform—it’s a movement. We are automating the vetting of talent for media appearances, and we’re here to reinvigorate traditional outlets while driving exponential growth for bigger platforms. 🔥 The future is now, it is ours and WE ARE READY! Aren't you excited to be on the journey with us??? I know I am because "spaceships don't have rear view mirrors! #VettifyByEBO #MakingHistory #InnovationInMedia #EquityMission #SlayingQ4 #TEDCO #B2B2CSaaS #FutureOfMedia #JoinTheMovement #30DayOffer #VettedByVettify

The Unlock Innovation Limited team are very excited about the quality of the responses to our second survey! To those who have taken time to do this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For those who are thinking about it and haven’t got around to it, any steps you take to assist us, are for the benefit of your businesses, the NZ tech industry, and those that are currently on the sidelines. We have extended the survey time until mid-August, by popular request. We know from personal experience the groan we utter when we are asked to fill out yet another survey. Have your quick groan by all means, and then just do it! A few weeks ago, I said we were working on content for our website. We will be posting this over the coming weeks. We are starting with an interview with the wonderful Jack D. who Dorenda Britten Ltd. caught up with at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards a month or so back. Jack has benefited from early diagnosis, and we wish this were true for more New Zealander’s who often emerge from schooling with their confidence in tatters. https://lnkd.in/dSrP5JxX As we have gone about the business of raising capital and making sales, we are saddened by how many people simply regard dyslexia as a disability when we need to make a case for it being an ‘otherability’. We are on a mission, not to advocate for the correction of dyslexic learning traits, but to uncover the advantages that this thinking brings and why we need diversity of mind in our decision-making. During tough economic times, it is important that we think carefully about our tendency to rush toward recruitment to find new skills when we may already have those skills hiding in plain sight. Special thanks this week to Victoria MacLennan from IT Professionals New Zealand, Louisa Taylor from Canterbury Tech, to Laura Chamberlain and Graeme Muller from NZTech and Bob Pinchin from SwayTech for helping to distribute this survey. If you are interested, please find the survey here: https://lnkd.in/dtQxtTeQ Jade Software Corporation Tait Communications OrbViz Seequent Selwyn District Council ChristchurchNZ Michael Healy Dorje McKinnon Paul Theyers Jane Smallfield #techindustry #dyslexicthinking #survey #diversityofmind #hiddenskills