Get to know the thought leaders sharing their insights at the Future Work Scenarios event (12 May, London) in our dedicated speaker interview series.
Independent Forums: What are you currently reading?
Helen Webb: House of Glass by Hadley Freeman, the book is about the history of Hadley’s French, Jewish grandmother.
Independent Forums: What is your favourite way to recharge?
Helen Webb: Walking with my dog on Ilkley moor.
Independent Forums: Who or what has inspired you this year and why?
Helen Webb: I have been incredibly inspired by President Zelensky (who hasn’t!) and also a little closer to home, the charities like Red Cross who are working hard each and every day to support the humanitarian disasters across the world.
Independent Forums: What is your biggest source of motivation?
Helen Webb: My motivation comes from a desire to change organisations and culture to create positive and inclusive work environments.
Independent Forums: How would you describe a typical day?
Helen Webb: I’m an early bird and always up before 6.30am. I start the day by either driving to Manchester for a day in the office with the team, or if I’m working from home, I will take my dog for a walk before I start work. I’m usually finished, or back home by 7pm and always end the day with a dog walk before making dinner. Very mundane!
Independent Forums: What’s one thing about you that most people don’t know?
Helen Webb: I love dance music.
Independent Forums: What’s one thing about your organisation that you wish more people knew?
Helen Webb: The amazing work the Co-op does in both education and our communities.
Independent Forums: What habit have you picked up during the pandemic that you will maintain in future?
Helen Webb: Keeping as fit as possible by walking and doing Pilates.
Independent Forums: How has your perception about the world of work evolved over the past two years?
Helen Webb: I think we each have a different perception of working from home and productivity, but it is quite clear that technology has definitely enabled a different norm.
Independent Forums: Where do you see the biggest opportunity to transform the way we work?
Helen Webb: I think the pandemic showed us that decision making needs to pushed out to those closest to the customer, we needed to make fast decisions during the pandemic and had to remove levels of hierarchy and governance to enable this, we mustn’t change back.
Independent Forums: What are you most looking forward to at Future Work Scenarios 2022?
Helen Webb: I’m really looking forward to hearing and learning from the experiences that other organisations have had during the pandemic and how this could translate into the Co-op.
Helen Webb will join a panel discussion exploring the intersection between sustainability, purpose, culture, and transformation at the Future Work Scenarios event on 12 May in London.
Register here to join the discussion.
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