Carly Koch, Partner Manager, Selenity

What interested you about the tech industry?

I grew up surrounded by technology, brought up by parents who worked in technology and ensured we always had the latest technology for the home available (does a wireless tv remote count?!). We were based in Santa Clara, an area of the Silicon Valley in the late 80’s where I saw from a young age how multinational technology companies were supporting and speeding up the growth and development of global technology. ‘Technology’ encompasses so many touch points within both our day to day lives as well as supporting the improvement of so many business processes both seen and unseen. I love how technology can improve and support both business processes and business intelligence.

Why did you want to work for Selenity?

Selenity have a proven track record, successful continued growth and a clear path towards continued innovation and advancement. I liked that it was very clear what the business was doing in terms of offerings to the market. Two core cloud technologies that reduce costs, increase efficiency and ensure compliance to HR and finance.

It wasn’t just the products though, the company has an outstanding reputation for being an excellent place to work. I liked that they do everything in-house here at our Lincoln HQ. The first time I came to Selenity, I picked up on a welcoming, engaging and efficient environment. There seemed a good balance between a driven and professional approach combined with a sense of fun (as it turns out I picked up on this correctly!). Also important to me was the role itself, I am a big believer in effective collaboration and the role of Partner Manager, particularly within the technology sector massively appealed.  

Selenity took the time to not only ensure I was right for the role but that I had all the information I needed to fully understand the requirements and responsibilities of the role prior to making a decision. It’s important to me that a business understands finding the right person for a job is a two way street, any company that illustrates this at the recruitment/interview stage says a lot about how a business treats its staff in general.  

There really was a combination of reasons why I wanted to work here at Selenity, I did my research, understood the role and just followed my instincts which turned out to be a great choice.

What work experience did you have coming into your role?

Moving many times with a partner who was in the military means that I have a varied employment experience. These varied roles have included: Events Co-ordinator at a bespoke wedding venue, Information Officer at the MOD, Recruitment Consultant, Marketing Executive at a global instrumentation company and more recently, working with a provider of cloud technology in the enterprise retail planning space. I have found I am always drawn to roles which require working with people. Each job I have had added a little more in terms of experience, knowledge, confidence and an understanding of different business models and processes. 

The role of Partner Manager is fantastic as I get to work closely with our in-house teams along with our partners and their clients.  

Can you describe a typical day for you?

There are not really many days in this role which are the same. On a daily basis I am lucky enough to be engaging with members of different organisations fulfilling a variety of different roles. My role requires support from nearly every department at Selenity and there is a real cohesive and agile approach to teamwork here that forms the basis of a positive experience, resulting in happy teams and most importantly, happy customers.  One day I may be demonstrating our products, researching and contacting potential new partners, then the next attending partner sales meetings or customer events, or perhaps planning campaigns with our Marketing team alongside plenty of other activities!

From an external perspective I really enjoy spending time with our partners.  Our partner channel consists of small consultant firms to large global brands.  These channels allow us to market our products to a much wider audience by utilizing our partner client networks. This helps us to maximise revenue and increase the market presence of our cloud technologies.

What qualities do you bring to the role?

For a role such as Partner Manager, there is a requirement to remain adaptable and confident to take a different approach where needed.  Generally, there is a need to work with different stakeholders, able to approach situations with care and understanding of different cultures and working practices.  

I hope I bring a sense of professional engagement with a sense of fun, remain down to earth and able to communicate effectively with all stakeholders I come across in my role. I like to see things through and get the job done.

What is difficult about your role?

The role of Partner Manager does often mean trying to bring people together and get the right people communicating effectively. With busy schedules and other demands this can sometimes be frustrating. It helps to be organised and open and clear when managing different channels.

Although I enjoy the diversity of the job, it can also be a challenge sometimes, aligning objectives and priorities across many parties, but then who doesn’t love a challenge?

What is the best thing about working at the company?

Great people and great technology! Being able to work with like-minded, professional and driven colleagues is a real pleasure. There is a common goal of delivering the best technology we can, propped up by a value driven culture encompassing innovation, respect and passion. Achieving results with a fantastic group of people, having a laugh and ensuring happy customers make every day enjoyable!

Selenity take real pride in supporting a happy workplace, hiring and retaining the best staff is a priority. There is also a lot of fun to be had with events, team days and birthdays being made special. On the first day back of the New Year, we were welcomed with a four-course brunch from an award-winning local chef which was delicious! It’s both the small and big things which go a long way to how not just myself, but also my colleagues feel about working here.  

Why would you recommend working in the industry?

Machine learning, zettabytes, AI, algorithms, data visualisation…  the industry is so interesting, fast-paced and influential on all our day to day lives, why would you not want to work in technology?

My role may not include coding, delivering product updates, managing sprints, writing user stories or formulating plans to incorporate bitcoin allowances into product. However, it does allow for constant learning and an ability to support innovation. It is an industry which delivers constant change and improvements and working closely with other professions and sectors to understand requirements to deliver the best technology.

It’s important to remember that there are plenty of roles within the tech sector which do not require a technical background. If you are interested in working in a thriving community, constantly evolving and adapting, working with forward-thinking and driven individuals then there are many opportunities in the tech sector which may be of interest.

What I do
I am the Lead Project Manager responsible for the electrical package on Race Bank.  That includes delivery of all the grid connections, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), HV electrical equipment, HV cable onshore and offshore supply and installation and array cable supply and installation - so a lot!

What drives me
I love working on big complex projects, and it doesn't get much more complex than what we do.  We get a lot of opportunities to work on innovative solutions, and we have some of the most clever and experienced people in our industry – It doesn't get a lot better than that in my view.

My career path
I completed by Bachelors of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, and I also have Masters of Science in Project Management. I have worked in large construction, and then started working on onshore wind farms, then gained experienced in offshore wind farms before moving to Ørsted. 

My advice
Don't shy away from a challenge and be ready to be a valuable contributor to the team. If you share those ambitions, you’ll get rewarded by working for a great company and great people.

What do you do in your job?  
I am the Construction Manager for the Hornsea Project One onshore substation, I am responsible for managing the delivery of the onshore substation throughout the construction phase from a green field to a full commissioned and operational substation.

What do you love about your job?
The best thing about my job is that it is dynamic, even though we have a detailed plans for the project each day brings new challenges. It is very rewarding in that the end result is something real that you can see, touch and be proud of.

What inspired you to work in the renewables industry/your role?
I first came into renewables whilst working for the Principal Contractor on the Westermost Rough onshore substation, which introduced me to the offshore wind industry and Ørsted. I enjoyed the project and working with Ørsted so much that following successful delivery I upped sticks and joined Ørsted on the Burbo Bank project.

Do you have any insights for someone wanting to get into a similar career?
Unfortunately there is no quick way to become a Construction Manager as it relies on experience and knowledge built up over time. A degree in a construction related topic is a good starting point and from there look to join a company that is recognised for investing in their employees, that will give you the right training and experience to advance your career. It's hard work but worth it!

What do you do in your job?
I'm an offshore wind turbine project manager, so overall I'm responsible for everything which has to do with getting the wind turbines installed out at sea and producing power. This includes managing the contract, ensuring health and safety throughout the project, making sure we progress on time and budget, and managing any risks. 

What do you love about your job?
I love the excitement of building up these huge turbines in a challenging environment, especially dealing with such a large scope with only a small team and having a lot of responsibility in that process. Getting the job done is really motivating and satisfying.

Initially I thought working in renewables and in a "green" industry was a nice to have – because I thought the biggest part I would like is the huge structures we're dealing with. But after getting into the job I found contributing to the well-being of people and our planet actually meant much more to me than I thought, so now I wouldn't want to miss that.

What qualifications have you got?
I've got a masters degree in geophysics which although isn't directly related to this role has helped me have the right mindset, and technical and physics understanding I need in this role. I also did quite a bit of field work during my masters so although the actual content is different, having experience in the practical side of things is very helpful.

What kind of personal qualities do you think are important for your role?
It’s essential to have a questioning attitude and never give up. I think it’s also important to like having lots of responsibility. At times you also need a lot of energy, and to really love what you do because it is high pressure, but very rewarding. For this sort of project manager role you have to be able to combine enough technical insight with the ability to drive people. It’s just good leadership skills really, so you can pull people together including contractors and stakeholders around you and motivate people to do their work well.