Kennedy has been with the company since 2011, starting as carrier services manager, and working her way to head of department and then on to voice and interconnect, before her current role.
Kennedy is co-chair governor for her children’s school, and a trustee of a charity specialising in children with special needs and autism, a cause which is close to her heart. “I enjoy giving something back through charity and educational work, not only by helping with the experience I bring but by also learning how the different worlds work. I’d recommend everyone get involved with a charity they care about,” she says.
“My day begins bright and early at 5.30am. I’m not one for reading or listening to music on my train journey into London. Instead, I like to use it as my thinking time, deciding on what I want and need to focus on during the day.”
Early starts mean she has more time to plan for days that can be varied. “Once I get into the office at 7.15am, I like to spend the time checking in with emails and putting in place key priorities for the day. This also means thinking about which key team members I need to talk with and what projects need to be given my particular attention.”
Kennedy rarely has two days that are the same. “There’s no such thing as an average day, but I really do enjoy the variety. Some days I’ll be visiting teams in Manchester, while on others I’ll be checking in with our commercial analyst teams. Managing capacity is a key part of my role, so when it is looking full, I will see how we can maximise what we have available.”
What about office life itself? “I’d definitely describe myself as a people person. I’m glad that we hot-desk, as it gives me an opportunity to catch up with different people each day. If I’m not sitting next to them at my desk, I use my lunchtime to catch up.”
Her days end with her family. “I might check my emails, but making sure that my kids are happy comes first. Getting the balance between a productive work life and a happy home life is key for me.”
