Being your whole self

I joined National Grid as a Support Administrator in the summer of 2016 and have progressed quite quickly to a Customer Immersion Specialist. It’s been a really interesting couple of years since then, as I didn’t have any prior experience of working for a company of this size. Learning about the business and understanding the amount of opportunities there are here has been really rewarding.

I started as a level three and then moved away from admin-based tasks progressing into a customer listening role (level six), which really challenged me. I’m quite an introverted person, and it made me step out of my comfort zone and try something new, as it involved interacting with customers and colleagues from around the business.

My team has been really supportive throughout my growth here which has been awesome. It’s great to have a support network that’s allowed me to forge ahead in my role and step out of my comfort zone.  

Developing these skills has had a positive impact on my personal life too. I’m really passionate about golf, and play for the county and for my club. Golf is such an interesting sport, as it’s something that you play both as an individual and as part of a team.

Playing for a club or a county often involves playing with the same people for hours, and I sometimes found it hard making conversation with people for a long time. But building my social skills and interactions at work and in my personal life has helped me overcome the worries and fears that come with being quite introverted. It’s definitely paid off, as I played in the Club Championship at the end of September at my club and won!

If I can overcome the challenges in my personal life, I can overcome anything. I just have to remember to go for it and not be afraid.

I feel accomplished on a personal, as well as a professional, level which is amazing. I genuinely love working here – it’s great to come to work and put my whole self into what I do.

I’ve faced challenges in my personal life, and I really feel accepted here. Marrying my wife in July 2018 was a huge part of that, as it was something I never expected to do when I was younger.

I came out after university, so until that point I didn’t feel like I was my complete self with my friends and family.

It’s been difficult at times, as part of my family has taken a while to accept who I am. But it’s been easier to be who I am at work, as nobody really batted an eyelid when I mentioned my relationship.

It’s made me realise that if I can overcome the challenges in my personal life, I can overcome anything. I just have to remember to go for it and not be afraid.