Key qualifications: Electronic Communications HND, Pilots Licence, Commercial drone Licence

What does your job involve? My role is researching drone based technologies, creating new ideas and solutions and integrating drones into our communications systems. Best thing about my job - it's also my hobby!  I work with a team of like minded people, my job is just fun, plus I get to play with all the cool toys 😉

How did you get into your current role? Started BT as an Apprentice in 1982 after studying at Sheffield Hallam University. Working in computing for BT in many roles, however BT's is very flexible in promoting new ideas and through perseverance, presentations and demonstrations  I have been able to deliver drone projects into BT.  Drones are now part of BT's strategy . I'm one of those fortunate people that has a passion for something and has converted it into a job.

What did you want to be when you were younger? A pilot.  The dream never went away and I got my pilots licence 10 years ago.

What do you do outside work? I build model aircraft, helicopters, jets, robots and drones. I have a small aeroplane which I love to fly all over Europe. Fun fact: I've built a full size R2D2!

Key qualifications: BSc in Management, MSc in Management Sciences

What does your job involve? My role is to manage a team who build and sell solutions/services to take to customers. I get to speak to brilliant people in my company and work with other companies to create together.

How did you get into your current role? I worked in retail, then did a Technology graduate scheme for the same company, then worked up through different jobs in its Technology organisation, did a secondment in HR for a year, came back into Technology, then went into the commercial side of the company running a Product Management function before running a team as a commercial manager (Head of Drone Solutions).

What did you want to be when you were younger? A Police Dog Handler, then a lawyer, then a commercial lawyer, then 'something in business'.

What do you do outside work? I've just built a house! That and play with my three kids.

Key qualifications: BA Hons in Business Management

What does your job involve? When launching a new product, there are many ‘touchpoints’ which it needs to go through to get to the end customer; my role is to define the entire product journey from start to finish, and work with various internal or external stakeholders to achieve it and make the product ‘sellable’. As I tend to work with many internal or external stakeholders, I get great exposure across the business, but my day-to-day tends to vary. I often focus on the commercial aspects of product management as I work with a few colleagues that have a great technical understanding, however some of my remits include; defining the overall product strategy, managing pricing and budgets, respond to opportunity submissions, standardising agreements with procurement and legal, designing creative assets with marketing and creating new product processes with the rest of the business.

How did you get into your current role? I worked in a previous technology company after I graduated from university, I knew I wanted to be in product management & marketing so I joined a mentorship scheme to prepare me for an entry – level product management role. From there onwards I have focused on my career progression by getting ‘stuck in’ and finding my own opportunities which even also involved me working in New Zealand before I joined BT in 2019!

What did you want to be when you were younger? I love horses, so I wanted to be a professional equestrian. By the time I was a teenager, I decided that I wanted a career in business (in economics, accounting or marketing). It wasn’t until a-levels and university that I fully understood the remit of business, and decided to follow a career in product management.

What do you do outside work? Pre-COVID-19 I travelled often and I love exploring new places and cultures, I like to go horse – riding and took up Thai boxing at one point. I recently moved so a lot of my time involves redecorating which is great whilst we are in lockdown!