Like many people, Women in Transport board member, Iain Smith, got into transport by chance just to fill a gap and he absolutely loved it!
He worked for London Underground/Transport for London for 24 years in numerous roles from front line operation to senior management. These days Iain works as an independent consultant and, although he is not exclusively in transport he still considers it his 'home'.
In this Board Insight, Iain talks about his career, his role at Women in Transport and gives some sound advice to those seeking a career in transport.
What does your current job involve?
I left my last in-house job in early 2012 and have since been working as a consultant. This was a real challenge for me as this side of the valley is quite different. Luckily I had a few friends who held my hand over the rickety bridge. (In my experience, it is always the network that provides.)
I now work, alone or with the network, to deliver projects in the people development arena. This can involve coaching, training, facilitating and project managing as well as creating products, such as development programmes or, more recently, gaming. I work in a number of sectors, including transport, forestry, pharma and finance ... but, currently, I have been able to work in my first home of transport.
Before that I worked for London Underground/Transport for London for 24 years in numerous roles from front line operation to (reasonably) senior management.
My career has largely been in skills/people development and I have held a number of board/ “non-executive” positions including in government, industry and the educational sector. Among others, I am currently very much enjoying being on the board of Women in Transport and a Trustee of a small charity, based in Hemel Hempstead, called Hope for Children.
I didn’t go to university and so achieved my degree equivalent qualification in a different way, via the NVQ route when I was in my early thirties.
Have you been involved in any major transport projects that you would like to tell us about?
My career has mostly been in support of operations, rather than projects. As such my name would only ever be in the long list of credits that we might watch after a film, in the hope that there’s an extra scene at the end.
This has suited me and has enabled me to claim tiny parts of some of the great things that are delivered across transport.
How did you become involved in the transport industry?
Like many I joined for a short while, to fill a gap. It was my Mum’s idea. She didn’t want me to become a postal worker, like my dad had been; she thought that the Underground offered more opportunity. I joined in a customer service role, checking tickets and announcing trains. I absolutely loved it; working with people and talking for a living.
A few years on, I became a trainer and discovered that I suddenly had a career. I don’t work exclusively in transport these days - but it is my “home”.
What do you like about working in transport?
Mainly three things.
Firstly, that it matters. Rail, roads, any transport really, are the lifeblood of the country enabling business and social lives. While we are increasingly able to do things digitally, in many situations you cannot do something unless you can get there to do it. I like that this gives a clear “why” to what we all do.
Secondly, the opportunities. From day-to-day operations and maintenance to major projects, there are so many aspects to transport. There are not many career paths that are not associated with the sector. It's possible to start in one and progress into others, as the sector has a very much “grow its own” feel. The number of senior people who have come through the ranks is testament to that.
Thirdly, the people. In the end it’s all about the people.
How did you get to join Women in Transport?
About 15 years ago I took on the role of Head of Skills for London Underground which, eventually, encompassed the whole of Transport for London. This gave me the opportunity to influence recruitment, skills development and diversity. I could see how much work there was to do, from a company perspective, in accessing and benefitting from all pools of talent. As a (slightly?) fat, middle-class, white male, I found that I could say things that would challenge the status quo from the inside.
I lost some of this influence as a freelance consultant so, when I came across Women in Transport, I was keen to find a way to become involved.
What is your role at Women in Transport?
I started by offering to be helpful in any way I could. This included offering bite-sized training sessions and some individual coaching. Both of these areas, sometimes, require a subtly different approach for women and I have been interested to learn and share findings from research and newer approaches.
I have recently been invited to join the board. I think this is a perfect example of how the circles of control/no control work: if you are clear on your “why” and put yourself in the position to be involved in the conversation, good things happen.
I now feel a large responsibility to offer a real contribution to the organisation’s work.
What are you most proud of?
Recently, I am most proud of my work on the “Our Time” initiative for the Mayor of London. This programme will pair high potential women with senior management level champions, either male or female, who will help to open up the professional networks, opportunities and contacts often needed to progress within workplaces.
I am part of a small consortium, including significant support from members of Women in Transport and operating under the Deloitte banner, that has developed and launched this programme.
Generally, I am happiest that I get to work in areas where I have something to offer, doing things that matter with people I like.
What would your advice be to women interested in roles like yours?
I think I would start by echoing Simon Sinek’s words: “find your why”.
If we can find something that offers an opportunity to fulfill a purpose that matters to us, it seems to me that we will thrive.
If you haven’t worked out what it is yet, my advice would be to start the research project to find out. It took me around ten years after leaving school - so be prepared for the effort involved.
If you have worked it out, then follow that path and make opportunities happen. Don’t look for reasons why you might not be the right person - delegate that to someone else, like a recruiter, and hope that they won’t notice.
How should we encourage young people to pursue a career in transport?
Transport is almost like a best kept secret. Many people stumble in accidentally only to discover the amazing opportunities to work in areas that are challenging, exciting and rewarding.
One thing we could do more of is to empower recently recruited new recruits, both apprentices and graduates, to spread the word in the schools, colleges and universities that they have come from. This is probably the most diverse group of people in the industry and their stories and experiences will be the most accessible to those that we want to recruit.
Another would be to change the ways we recruit; reviewing why we require the qualifications that we do and how else people could prove their worth, without relying on the flawed methodologies that we use.
According to some sources, the job interview was invented by Thomas Edison in 1921. We aren’t doing many things the same way almost a hundred years later. We need to look again.
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