When your job title doesn’t make sense, but your mission really does
Responsible Transformation? More than a buzzword
Meeting people and teams for the first time, I find myself heavily caveating that yes I *do* know that my job title isn’t immediately clear and, yes it is a pretentious title. How best to distil a function that looks after the tech/digital/change divisions’ sustainability, customer vulnerability and responsible business agenda? Responsible Transformation for now, but suggestions on a postcard (or in the comments) please!
It’s a big remit, with the potential for big impact. Is it daunting? Yes. There is a weight of responsibility, and a constant need to prioritise based on the outcomes we can create. Is it frustrating? Of course. I work in a huge corporate bank with legacy systems and mindsets. But is it also exciting? Yes that too. Zooming out from the governance forums and process mapping to the bigger picture, there are countless opportunities to shape opportunities for peoples lives. And countless smart people in and outside of the organisation to make important things happen.
Day-to-day decisions and conversations have the potential to help millions of people better interact with their finances, their families and their futures.
The ethos of our team is that tech and digital makes things better. I am not an evangelist; it is important to set barriers with the Internet and recognise where it - and life — begin and end. Technology’s growing use, and growing carbon footprint also is a challenge for our environment.
The Forward Institute predict that by 2025, 25% of the worlds’ carbon creation will come from data server emissions.
But digital democratises so much. It provides access to information, the ability to connect with people anywhere in the world on anything possible, the ability to learn new skills, and understand more about the world around us.
The foundation of our work in Responsible Transformation is a vision of a UK where everyone has digital access and the confidence and capability they need. And internally, how to we support colleagues to better shape better customer outcomes and lives through delivery, all while building an inclusive, greener, company that is doing its best to use tech for good….Essentially — helping the UK and our own org to digitally transform in a way that is good for people and planet!
The reason why I’m here is that our aspirations are big and so is the appetite to learn and to share. Organistions like BT, Good Things Foundation, @Nominet, Global Poverty Alliance, Small Business Britain, UpSkill Digital, and @Microsoft are part of our journey, but by no means the only part. I’d love to connect with like-minded folks — whether in think-tanks, corporates, agencies, charities or beyond!
More to come.
