holding the space

Fiona Reddington, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, Our Future Health.

The Women in Science group was established in 2023 as a space for women in leadership positions within a science/technical related role in the UK. This group provides an opportunity for like-minded participants to share common challenges, offer support and guidance for one another through the use of open communication channels. Externally, the group represents credible and successful role models who are keen to be the figureheads in challenging the status quo, promote professionalism, share their experience and learnings and advocate the need to have women in positions of leadership and seniority across the board.

My name is Fiona Reddington and I am the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at Our Future Health.

I have a PhD, am a karate black belt and a member of MENSA – yesterday I spent 15 minutes stuck in my coat because I couldn’t get the zip to move which pretty much sums up being ‘successful’ on paper whilst navigating real life. I was delighted to be asked to write a blog for this series and then instantly wondered what on earth I could contribute that people would find interesting. I decided to provide a list of my key insights and learnings that I have picked up during my career so far and hope you find them useful! So, let’s begin:

Most of us spend our days managing the expectations of others and ourselves whilst keeping multiple plates spinning. I learnt a long time ago that perfection is the enemy of good enough, even as I write that the temptation to begin justifying has to be held back – good enough really is that, not a way to cut corners but to have the awareness to know what needs to be done, do it and move on rather than endlessly obsessing over small details that no one else even cares about.

When I was 12 I moved from the UK to Ireland and transferred from a modern grammar school to a traditional convent school. It had more than a passing resemblance to the series “Derry Girls” with me as the “wee English one” who was very much the outsider. It showed me that I am not afraid to be different and will never do something just to fit in. It taught me the importance of having belief in yourself and your values and the importance of being able to adapt to new situations.

There is no manual that someone hands you when you start your career in science, you are very much starting off into the unknown and everyone’s experience will be different. I have worked with some amazing male and female leaders in my career from whom I learnt a lot, I have also worked with some shockingly poor male and female leaders who provided a masterclass in how not to behave. I have experienced amazing things, met incredible people and had a ring-side seat as cutting-edge science has developed, none of which I would change. I have also been belittled, passed over for promotion and told to “wear a nice dress to the meeting”… Not every day will be enjoyable, life will be hard at times and ideally you should try and surround yourself with people you can rely on and things you enjoy to remind you there is more to life than work.

People will surprise you in both positive and negative ways. One thing I learnt along the way is that hard work is not enough and you will need to put as much time into networking and the politics as you do into your day job. It is the thing I have always hated most about my job and continues to be the thing I have to actively work on but make no mistake you will not progress if you don’t take it seriously.

Perhaps my most useful learning has been that stubbornness is willpower under another name and you can learn to channel what others may see as a negative trait into one of your greatest strengths, if I commit to something then nothing will deter me. I have also learnt to not let others take advantage of this, I have never been afraid to stand up for things I believe in and to go into battle with others when needed but I have also learnt not to be used by others to fight their arguments for them. It is not always the loudest person in the room who determines the outcome of the conversation, aiming to be persuasive and impactful and to save your energy for the conversations that really matter has been helpful advice for me.

People have often described me as someone who likes being in control but I never had a grand plan regarding my career and openly roll my eyes at the interview question “where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?”. I work hard but I have seen and witnessed enough of life to know that we have very little control over what happens next. I absolutely subscribe to the idea that you should try and do something that you enjoy and that you should do it well and make a positive impact, but I also know that life will deliver unexpected challenges along the way that will change both who you are and what you want in ways you could never have anticipated.

A work life balance can be hard to achieve but I absolutely work to live, not the other way round. The harsh reality is that no one is irreplaceable at work and the world will continue to turn without you in it both metaphorically and literally. Travel, food, exercise, expanding my Air Jordan collection, and spending time in nature all keep me sane and a make me a much nicer and more productive colleague. Work hard and strive to make a positive difference but maintain boundaries, being the last to log off or always working weekends is not a badge of honour.

Whilst it can be frustrating when you just need to get things done, remaining open to learning new things and new approaches is vital. Try to surround yourself with people you admire and can learn from and don’t be afraid to put yourself in new situations.

Finally, give yourself a break. You are not a machine and that is a good thing, plans will go wrong and unexpected things will happen. Focus on the bigger picture and making sure the important things get delivered, everything else can wait. You need to look after yourself, it is fine to push hard when you really need to but it shouldn’t become the norm. One small but very tangible step you can take to change culture is to always treat others the way you wish to be treated, it will say a lot about who you are and give you the opportunity to lead by example in terms of the behaviours you value. Good luck!