Written by Joanne Baird 

“During my time at H&B, I have experienced a lot of personal challenges.  Being a carer, becoming a parent, losing my dad, going through a divorce, and being diagnosed with A.D.H.D, it’s been rough, to say the least. But the consistent part of my life through all that has been my work and the support I’ve received from my whole team – not just my line manager.  

Working in the L&D team is like having a second family.  The ups and downs I’ve experienced about my mental health and later discovering and embracing my neurodivergent self have been intense. My team would agree it’s been a rollercoaster rather than a smooth ride.  

The part that’s made it easier for me is knowing that I can have open and honest conversations with my boss that won’t result in judgement and more importantly; that won’t result in a dent in my career. If a stressful situation has arisen, I haven’t felt like I needed to hide it; I’d go so far as to say I’ve been empowered to have the autonomy over the working days I needed.  

When something has come up that was too much, I’ve been able to take a step back, lean on my colleagues, and work through it with my team rather than alone.  

I’ve had several changes to job roles, including promotions and I’ve never felt like any of the elements of my personal life have influenced that.  It’s been about me as a working professional and what I can bring to the business.  In fact – my neurodivergence has been celebrated, and after presenting to my team what my A.D.H.D. meant and how it impacted me, I was overwhelmed with messages thanking me for sharing my story and asking for tips on the best ways of working going forward.  Now I can use my mind how I need to and to benefit others – rather than desperately trying to fit into a box I’m not in the right shape for. 

For me, that’s what working at H&B means.  It’s not just inclusion for inclusion’s sake – it’s embracing my differences and my experiences.  

It’s allowing me to step out into a new idea, knowing that I am supported and can fall back at any time to regroup and try again.  It’s knowing that what is going on outside of work will impact my professional life, but it doesn’t have to define it, and I can still move in the direction I want to despite it.  

I am eternally grateful to the colleagues here who have supported me, and now I spend my days doing something that interests and excites me.  I love my job and believe this business is changing lives daily, mine included. I can’t wait to see what we do next!”