Understandably, times are hard right now and many businesses are working from home, team Xalient included. We thought we would open the door into some of the teams’ homes, today we have Sr. Business Development Manager, Brian Ramsey.
What is your working from home routine?
Early Bird…Get up and get going. With the UK Head Office six hours ahead, the earlier the better. Walk the dogs, coffee, shower, check email and prep for the day ahead.
And what would your advice be for those who aren’t used to working from home?
Xalient has introduced a ‘Quaranteam challenge’ to encourage employees to take on a new challenge whilst working from home. What is your challenge?
I have started a Vegetable and Flower garden from seed. Great progress and have since moved the plants into a raised bed in the back yard!
And finally, we want to offer you the opportunity to use our platform to send a message to all the amazing people out there fighting to keep us safe:
A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the healthcare workers keeping us safe and healthy.
Understandably, times are hard right now and many businesses are working from home, team Xalient included. We thought we would open to door into some of the teams’ homes, today we have Project Operations Manager, James Collins
What is your working from home routine?
Week 6 of quarantine. I would like to be voted off the island now! And even if I didn’t want to be voted off, I’m pretty sure my wife would vote me off!
Working remotely has removed my commute time and reduced my weekly ironing pile (I’m not kidding, my wife would burn her hands if she picked up the iron). So, you would think free time was in abundance. However, with our daughter also out of school, the balance between work and home schooling is challenging, especially when my wife’s job is just as demanding as mine. The wider world and the Xalient Team are providing great support in this regard – whether it be Joe Wicks’ 0900 daily PE lesson (I’m sure I’m aching more than my daughter!), Sue McLure’s daily water cooler challenge or Donna Moor’s Friday Virtual Pub (no shop talk allowed). All these events help to keep us feeling connected with the team in a situation that could easily see people struggle with social isolation.
The day begins with a hearty breakfast of Eggs Quarantine. Yes, total dad joke and I’m not apologising! To get the day started I find it easier to prepare as if I were leaving the house to drop my daughter off at school and travel into work. The demands of the job haven’t changed although I now have the added challenge of trying to allocate segments of the day to reading blending letters into words, Doodle Math’s and handwriting practice. Thankfully, I split this workload with my wife.
After lunch, my daughter, wife and I try to go for a walk. We all need this, even if only a short trek around the garden. Luckily, the UK is having an uncharacteristically warm spell so there really isn’t any excuse not to get out.
I originally thought that with most of the country in lockdown and having to work from home, the pace of work would slow down. From my experience so far, this has not been the case as most of our customers have initiated or are moving to invoke their Business Continuity Plans. The planning for this and subsequent network and security changes are reliant on Xalient so now we are as busy as ever. I am also assuming that other customers will look to engage us for this type of support going forward.
And what would your advice be for those who aren’t used to working from home?
Get dressed. Don’t make the mistake of not making the transition from night clothes to day clothes. We all need that clear break. This should be reversed too when you have finished work. Ensure you switch off!
Get outside. Even if only once a day for 20 minutes in the garden. This really is a must as getting outside works wonders for your sanity!
Staying connected with the team. An email checking in, a phone call or a video conference (with a smile) will all help to keep us sane for the next couple of months.
If you have any downtime, then start to action those jobs around the house you have been putting off. Decking the loft, painting that windowsill or clearing the garden of weeds (just some of my list currently). With the additional daylight we have at the minute, and no commute from work back to our homes, we should use that hour or so of time.
Volunteer. The NHS is asking for help, so we all have the chance to volunteer and do our bit for the community and country in this unprecedented time.
As a Project Operations Manager what tools do you find useful when working from home?
Skype/Teams and SharePoint have proven invaluable for collaboration to keep our customer projects moving forward and us connected as a team.
Xalient have introduced a Quaranteam scheme to encourage employees to take on a new challenge while working from home.
What is your challenge?
My challenge is to stop being awesome, for a week. It is very unlikely I will achieve this.
And finally, we want to offer you the opportunity to use our platform to send a message to all the amazing people out there fighting to keep us safe:
‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in’ – Greek Proverb
Understandably, times are hard right now and many businesses are working from home, team Xalient included. We thought we would open to door into some of the teams’ homes, today we have Sales Director, Steve Tucker.
What is your working from home routine?
I tend to be a lark as opposed to an owl, I find I’m more productive first thing. So I can start early dependent on customer deadlines and the overall to-do list.
Throughout the day I’ll grab plenty of drinks (quick break from the desk) and look to take lunch, which gives me the chance to step away from desk again.
And what would your advice be for those who aren’t used to working from home?
Enjoy the commute!
Don’t stress if home life causes unforeseen interruptions to calls (we all remember the news broadcaster whose wife bursts into the room trying to retrieve the wayward youngsters).
Take plenty of mini-breaks if you can & give yourself time to assess or review the calls and conferences you’ve been on.
Turn video on and have a few chats that aren’t always 100% work focused.
If you’re using video on conferencing (we are at Xalient) remember when you’re not speaking you’re are still being potentially watched …so no awkward faces if you don’t agree with what’s being said. That is, unless you want to jump into a heated discussion.
As a Sales Director what tools do you find useful when working from home?
Teams & Skype are the main two platforms we tend to use, so knowing your way around them makes life simpler.
Oh and I sit on bouncy-ball as opposed to a chair to help with my posture/core.
What is your challenge?
I’m really struggling to come up with something I’ll do with the extra-time (in part because at present I’m feeling busier than ever….) – suspect it will involve yoga poses (which I’ve never done before) + solving a Rubik’s Cube.
And finally, we want to offer you the opportunity to use our platform to send a message to all the amazing people out there doing their bit to keep us safe:
I have to say I’ve always been in awe of those people in public service across the board. Right now, to all those fantastic healthcare workers working tirelessly to keep us safe we are forever grateful. My family and I were on the door-step the other night applauding as that’s the very least they deserve.
Understandably, times are hard right now and many businesses are now working from home, team Xalient included. We thought we would open to door into some of the teams homes, starting with Head of Managed Services, Kieran Darlow.
What is your working from home routine?
Run, shower, brew, set my goals for the day, pick today’s playlist, collaborate and socialise with my amazing team and colleagues to ensure we continue to deliver to our customers whilst supporting each other!
And what would your advice be for those who aren’t use to working from home?
Get some fresh air! It is easy to just sit down and before you know it several hours have passed and you have not even moved! Get your window open, enjoy that fresh air but more importantly take regular breaks and change your scenery – go for a walk, even if it is around your garden.
As a Head of Managed Services what tools do you find useful when working from home?
Whilst Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business have been essential to keep in close communication with both my teams and customers, I would have to say Spotify is critical to ensure some high energy beats inspire me throughout the day.
Xalient have introduced a quaranteam scheme to encourage employees to take on a new challenge while working from home.
I have set myself a goal to run at least 10 miles per week to remain fit and healthy. So far so good. If I keep up my current progress it will not be long before I increase my goal… who knows, the York Marathon 2021 might be on the cards!
And finally, we want to offer you the opportunity to use our platform to send a message to all the amazing people out there fighting to keep us safe:
To our emergency services and all those who are working hard to ensure we remain watered, fed and safe. In the face of danger, your passion continues to help and provide critical services to our nation, you are both mine and my families Hero’s and we will forever be in your debt!
Here at Xalient, we have a lot of unsung heroes. That is why we thought it was about time you got to know them all. This month, we have Imran Hussain in the hotseat.
Job title
Tier 2 Network Engineer.
How would you describe your job to a child?
I help to put the building blocks together that allows companies to communicate with each other and the outside world. Like Lego, but not quite.
What values drive you?
Fun, collaboration and development.
What are your biggest professional challenges?
Ensuring I keep up to date with multiple changes, tech and customers environment link to learning, managing both the problem and the customer.
And what do you believe are the biggest challenges within the technology industry?
Keeping up the pace of technology change.
What do you love the most about working with Xalient?
Simply the people.
Could you be next in the hotseat?
We’re always on the lookout for awesome people to join our team. Whether you are in sales, consulting, project management or service delivery – get in touch with us at careers@xalient.com as we’d love to hear from you.
As a certified Women-Owned Business, we thought it would only be right to celebrate International Women’s day, but why do we celebrate it? And how can we go about doing so?
Here are four things that you could do to celebrate International Women’s Day:
Promote gender diversity at the workplace
We recognise that empowering women and creating a balanced working environment is paramount. The percentage of women in tech is currently at 16%, unlike, the 80% of women in the healthcare sector, meaning that it is critical that we increase this statistic
“The WEF found that the economic gender gap will take approximately 257 years to close, even more than the 202 years it predicted in 2018.”
Here at Xalient, we are making a conscious effort to hire more women into the technology industry. In the last year, we have more than doubled the number of women employees, both here in the UK and in the US.
At Xalient, 30% of our roles are held by women, with 60% of our Board being female – a stat we’re proud of given the average for women in leadership roles in technology currently standing at 5%
With roles across the team – from Network Engineering through to Consultancy, HR & Sales, there’s something opportunities for everyone to follow their passion.
Attend a networking event
Attending networking event is a great way to meet likeminded business professionals. Whether it is a simple breakfast club, or round table with a specific subject matter, it allows you to meet up with men and women that are experiencing the same or similar challenges or concerns as you.
Here at Xalient, as a certified, women owned business, we regularly attend networking events, particularly those around encouraging supplier diversity. Take a look at both WEConnect and MSDUK to see what networking events they have in the calendar – we look forward to seeing you there!
Watch an empowering Ted Talks
It is imperative to reflect on where we have come from. Yes, we are not yet where we want to be. But we are miles away from where we use to be.
Taking time to reflect on what we have achieved so far as women, as men and as an organisation to ensure that equality is a primary focus now, and for the future.
“No child left behind” – watching inspiring Ted Talks, like, Leymah Gbowee | Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls. Gives you the opportunity to sit back have some time to reflect, sympathise and motivate change.
Here at Xalient, we are encouraging our team to take the time on International Women’s Day to watch an empowering Ted Talk to give them the opportunity to reflect.
Celebrate women
Empower women. It is important to celebrate the work force you have. Nobody expects great gestures but simply recognising the people within your organisation with a simply thank you, goes a long way.
As the organisation grows, we are seeing more and more women enter the world of tech, which we love! And we thought it would only to right to celebrate our Xalient women.
Here at Xalient, we have a lot of unsung heroes. That is why we thought it was about time you got to know them all. This month, we have Craig Ingham in the hot seat.
Job title
Head of Compliance
How would you describe your job to a child?
I tried this with my son, it went along the lines of “I look at the whole company to see where we can make improvements and in doing so give our customers an even better and more secure service.”
What values drive you?
Deftness, precision, quality, completeness, consistency (tempered with efficiency and innovation), all with a passion for what I’m doing.
What are your biggest professional challenges as Head of Compliance?
For me, and this comes with the territory of working in compliance, it’s ensuring that my colleagues each know, understand and uphold the values and standards we set ourselves as a business, along with the associated risk in not doing so.
And what do you believe are the biggest challenges within the technology industry?
Rapid pace of change and the ever-increasing risk landscape.
What do you love the most about working with Xalient?
Our customers feedback when we get it right, and my colleagues faces when I get to tell them.
And finally, if you had to use a song to describe your working week, what would it be?
Can you believe The Beatles actually wrote a song about Compliance?
Could you be next in the hotseat?
We’re always on the lookout for awesome people to join our team. Whether you are in sales, consulting, project management or service delivery – get in touch with us at careers@xalient.com as we’d love to hear from you.
Pictured: Donna Moor
Here at Xalient, we have a lot of unsung heroes. That is why we thought it was about time you got to know them all. This month, we have Donna Moor in the hotseat.
Job title
Head of Professional Services
How would you describe your job to a child?
We do very clever things that help customers improve their business. It’s like magic, but we make it a reality!
It’s my job to help everyone understand what they need to do to achieve that and to make sure it happens.
What values drive you?
Happy customers and happy colleagues.
What are your biggest professional challenges?
Balancing driving rapid growth and cultural development with protecting our valuable people and customers – all whilst keeping a good work/life balance.
And what do you believe are the biggest challenges within the technology industry?
The pace of change in IT is accelerating and customers need to change more quickly. This means the pace Xalient need to help customers is accelerating, keeping up with leading edge technological changes is demanding and requires increasing levels of investment from everyone.
What do you love the most about working with Xalient?
It’s all about our people. We have truly amazing, talented people with complete focus on delivering great service to customers.
Happy customers = happy staff = makes me happy = happy work life.
And finally, if you had to use a song to describe your working week, what would it be?
Could you be next in the hotseat?
We’re always on the lookout for awesome people to join our team. Whether you are in sales, consulting, project management or service delivery – get in touch with us at careers@xalient.com as we’d love to hear from you.
