International Woman’s Day 2023

International Women’s Day (IWD) is day to celebrate the achievements of women globally and hasseveral missions to help forge a gender equal world.Celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key. To mark this national day, we are featuring 3 female voices on our Senior Management Team. We did a short Q&A to get their thoughts and delve into their career journeys so far.

Vicky Grier, Head of Human Resources

Q1: Tell us a bit about your career history?

With over 25 years’ experience in HR spanning across various sectors including retail, entertainment, service provision and IT, HR wasn’t a chosen career path for me. I wanted to be a computer programmer when I was at school, but some life events and being in the right place at the right time I started my HR Career; going back to university 2 evenings a week, whilst working full time and running a home meant I gained my HR qualifications and allowed me to progress in a completely different career field.  My HR journey started in admin, progressed into recruitment, graduate recruitment, recruitment and reward and then into a broad generalist HR Manager role; this was a baptism of fire and I loved it! Since then I have held Head of HR, HR Director and HR Business Partner roles, I’ve been Head of HR at MERKUR Casino UK for almost 7 years; not bad when I joined on a 6 month contract.

Q2: What does IWD mean to you?

International Women’s Day for me is a real opportunity to celebrate how far the working world has changed and adapted; an opportunity to remember that gender equality has been something we have had to have legislated for many years. I don’t want special treatment; I want equal treatment. I am happy to say there have been people, men and women, who have shaped my career and I thank them for that! It’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves that our business is diverse and that through the evolution of equality we have 58% of female managers in MERKUR Slots.

Q3: How have you overcome the challenges encountered in your own career path and what lessons have you learned en route?

I was often the person people came to at work for advice/representation, way back when I was in a part time role at school.  My dad was a Trade Union Steward, and I would hear things about cases at home so perhaps I was already tuned in, without realising! Remember this was before GDPR! 

I am a rebel at heart – that has got me in to trouble, I’ll say no more!

Dealing with a dying loved one and working full time was a challenge.  I had a national role and was travelling lots; I need to be away with work and needed to be there for her.  I missed her at the end, I wasn’t there; she wasn’t alone but it’s something I will never forgive myself for. 

Having a hearing issue, I really have to listen! But there have been some funny moments where I have had to double check what’s been said.  I just have to fess up when I can’t hear – so be honest is the learning there.

Q4: If you could have dinner with three inspirational women who would they be and why?

Anita Roddick, who started the Body Shop, she proved you don’t need to test on animals, you can be a fierce and kind woman in business and deliver a profitable business that challenges the industry norms.  I even joined Greenpeace because of her, she didn’t preach but she had beliefs.  Sadly, her death in 2007 prevents us having dinner but if we could I think it’d be a relaxed dinner and a chat to see where the conversation would go; I think it’d be a blast. 

My nan, she was born in 1909, she saw 2 wars, spent time in an iron lung as she had TB, she was in domestic service for a while so to understand how the whole upstairs/downstairs piece worked, understand how she managed working full time in bringing up 3 children, how she coped with the menopause; finding out the menopause had paused owing to her being pregnant at 50! I think she’d tell me off within seconds of arriving either for rolling my eyes or use of language.  My nan was fierce, but she gave the best hugs… some days I miss those!

Joan Olivier, Headteacher, she inspired me but also terrified me. In her office one day, when I was there having rebelled about something at school, she told me I would never conform to being a lady who went to university, had children, and stayed home but saw me as a tenacious individual who overcame challenges and if I smiled and sparkled could go far… I’d love to really understand those words, as at the time I rolled my eyes and got detention for a week! 

Amanda Kiernan, Head of Compliance

Q1: Tell us a bit about your career history?

After a rather different start of training to be a Horse-Riding Instructor and Equine Nutritionist, soon after qualifying I realised I’d rather be a horse owner than a worker!  I then ventured into the retail environment;however‘front of house’ wasn’t for me! I soon realised I enjoyed the support side of the business and shortly found myself in a junior Internal Auditor role and as they say the rest is history.  Well not quite history, I then studied to obtain my Institute of Internal Auditors Certification in Corporate Governance &Compliance, over the last 30 years I have held various roles in fashion retail, sports retail and Optical, Audit/Compliance skills are transferable across any product. However, I didn’t go looking to work in the gambling industry and to be honest I spent my first two years trying to work out what this industry was all about, now a decade on I absolutely love the environment I work in and wouldn’t wish to do anything else, it is a fascinating, fulfilling and fun arena to work in. 

Q2: What changes would you like to see before International Women’s Day next year? The more women taking part in articles like this will just show how Leadership Teams have become more balanced. Things are improving, but there is always room for further improvement to remove barriers.

Q3: What is the most important piece of advice you have been given? Work encompasses quite a lot of your life so make sure you enjoy what you do, if you don’t wake up every morning looking forward to the day ahead it’s probably time for a change.

Q4: What advice will you give to your younger self?

That’s a difficult one, I have no regrets, I have had some great jobs, worked with some fabulous people, some of which I’m fortunate enough to call good friends.  So I guess my advice would be to believe in yourself, don’t be afraid to try new things, take risks and grab opportunities when they arise …. and enjoy the journey.

Kellie Poundall, Operations Director

Q1:Tell us a bit about your career history?

I started with MERKUR in 2016, as the tanning Area Manager, I then moved into the role of Area Manager for the AGC sector of the business. I then progressed into Trainee Operations Manager for Region 1, and one year later was offered the role of Operations Director for the newly formed Region 3.

Before joining MERKUR I have always worked within the leisure and hospitality sector throughout my working career, as it is a sector I have always found fast paced, fun and exciting and no two days are ever the same.

Q2: What has been one of the key lessons you’ve learned during your career?

To build a successful business, is all down to having a great team around us. It’s important to motivate, educate and communicate, these are all key factors to leading a successful team. Always remember that everybody’s contribution is important, no matter what their role.  Always treat people with respect and in turn you will gain theirs.

Q3: How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or senior leadership roles in their career?

Articles around women in business, I believe are a great motivator for all those women out there that are wanting to progress in their careers. With hard work, dedication and having a love for what you do, can get you to where you want to be.

Learn as much as you can from each role you take on, as it will prepare you for greater opportunities in the future. Enjoy the challenges and adventure along the way!

Q4: What advice will you give to your younger self?

Be motivated and pro-active within your role. Don’t be afraid to ask advice and take feedback from those around you …You can learn a lot this way!

Always believe in yourself, “If you want this you can do it”

Thank you to Kellie, Amanda & Vicky for allowing us to delve into their career journeys and sharing their thoughts with us.

#IWD2023 #MERKURCASINOUK #EmbraceEquity