Our Fast Trackers have come from all over the country and all walks of life: retail management, finance, engineering, telecommunications. So what attracted them to the BT Fast Track Leadership Programme in the first place? What’s so good about it? Here you can read about their experiences of the programme to help you decide if a career at BT is right for you.
Name: Chris Waudby
Joined Programme: August 2007
What attracted you to the Fast Track Programme?
I was drawn straightaway to the Fast Track programme because it offered expedited leadership development alongside a framework to ensure my performance could be recognised and rewarded accordingly. Add the fact that BT is an innovator leading the communications revolution into the mix and for me it was a potent combination.
It was also exciting to realise I would be given significant responsibility from my first role and be expected to start punching above my weight as soon as I could.
What role(s) have you undertaken since joining the programme?
My background pre-BT was automotive engineering so very different from my current function in IT business transformation. It’s my job to design and deploy an operating model for part of the company that is undergoing a massive overhaul. It’s a significant change, affecting over 2,000 of my colleagues, and is a typical Fast Track role, building upon previous skills (in my case project management) whilst developing new ones (for me the capability to design a large scale operational change).
What are the benefits of being on the programme?
It’s all about comfort zones on this programme, i.e. there aren’t any! You need to demonstrate you can shine in numerous challenges. It’s now been 8 months since I started and almost every day offers something new to learn or get involved with. It’s basically been a non-stop training course.
The other great benefit of the Fast track programme is the networking opportunities that are provided to give you ownership of your development and career path. The structure of the programme is such that you engage with senior executives across the business, and their leadership teams, and that becomes invaluable when you’re looking to change roles. This is something that you are unlikely to receive outside the programme or in other organisations.
What other opportunities has being on the programme opened up for you?
To get the most from this programme you have to be prepared to contribute to the programme’s development and the development of others. That in itself is unique and serves to inject a lot of fun and enjoyment into the programme whilst creating a strong network amongst the Fast Track community. This extra curricular opportunity has allowed me to organise a leadership master class, with the BT CFO as keynote speaker, and plan a scheme to facilitate mentoring relationships between Fast Trackers and senior executives.
What is the best thing about being on the programme?
Overall, the level of responsibility that comes with the job. Combine this with other benefits of the programme and this makes for a very exciting journey. For me though the real benefit is the knowledge that BT takes my development needs just as seriously as I do.
Name: Ruby Munir
Joined Programme: October 2007
What attracted you to the Fast Track Programme?
The Fast Track programme is a truly unique opportunity in today’s job market. Having got a few years good experience under my belt, I still wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to go with my career. Fast Track caught my eye because of the opportunity to develop my skills, knowledge and expertise in functions I wouldn’t have had the chance to work in otherwise. I was also attracted to the sheer breadth of BT’s activities and the vast choice of areas there are to work in.
What did you do prior to joining the programme?
Before joining BT, I worked for a management consultancy firm, holding a number of roles within sales and marketing, research and new product development. This provided me with transferable commercial, analytical and project management skills. Prior to that, I worked in customer services for a well known airline.
What role(s) have you undertaken since joining the programme?
I joined the Fast Track programme in October 2007 as a Project Manager for the 21CN Programme in Openreach. Within this role I have worked closely with operational units within Openreach and across BT Group, to implement and manage people related change initiatives. This will measurably improve organisational efficiency, improve the customer experience, reduce costs and ultimately ensuring the successful roll out of 21CN.
What other opportunities has being on the programme opened up for you?
Fast Track gives you the opportunity to get involved in fun and rewarding activities outside your core role. I’ve been involved in business challenges set by the Fast Track scheme as well as help design some of the networking events and development opportunities for fellow Fast Trackers. Since joining Fast Track, I have had the opportunity to work with senior management and across many different teams, ranging from Business Transformation, Resourcing, Industrial Relations, Operations, Products, Training and Communications.
What is the best thing about being on the programme?
For me, the ongoing learning opportunities Fast Track offers whilst being able to hone existing skills is constantly motivating and invaluable.
If you would like to apply, please email your up to date CV, stating your key achievements and degree classification to btfasttrack@penna.com. Alternatively, for a discussion or further information please contact Gail D’Arcy on 020 7334 8039.