At the International Water Association (IWA) Young Water Professionals (YWP) UK conference 2022, we were fortunate to get advice from the leaders of the water sector today. Here’s a breakdown of their top career tips.
What advice did the leaders give?
- Jim Panton, Managing Director, Panton McLeod & Panton McLeod Americas
- Develop your bounce back ability
- Tim Lowe, Head of Client Relationships Water Utilities (South), Xylem Water Solutions UK & Ireland
- Remain curious
- Sometimes things take time, particularly in large complex organisations
- Charlie Thackeray, Water Networks Director, Independent Water Networks Limited
- Put yourself forward for new opportunities. Do not be intimidated
- Empower people to do things
- Tony Harrington, Director of Environment, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
- Be your authentic self
- Karen Lloyd, Infrastructure West Water Leader, Arup
- Do not be afraid of failure
- Simon Cyhanko, Head of Wastewater Networks, Northumbrian Water Group
- Life + response = outcome. Give a considered response
- Capture your wins
- Tony Koodie, Regional Process Director - Europe & Asia, Binnies
- Own your career. Grab those opportunities
- Communicate your interests e.g. working internationally
- Steve Kaye, CEO, UKWIR
- Listen and learn from others
If you feel stuck in a position, you need to:
- Work out what is success for you?
- Go where you’re wanted- which skill do you have which is not currently being appreciated?
- Your boss might be the problem, not the company
- Stay in a job long enough to achieve some things
- 1 year to understand it. A couple of years to change things
