Clare Savage

The Barclays - Black Professionals Resource Group (BPRG) are hosting a series of events across October - in line with Black History Month (BHM). 🤝🏾 This year's theme is 'Reclaiming Narratives' - to me, that means telling the true authentic story, beyond the obvious hardships. Looking into the prominence of Black culture and influence across the world. I reflect back as far as the Moors of Ancient Europe, Bible figures and 19th century Black inventors. 💭 You can read on 11 prominent examples of Black innovation, that still benefit the world here: https://lnkd.in/eC9VVube 💡 However, in between 2009 - 2019 only 30 Black people received VC funding, equating to less than 0.4% of all funds allocated to founders. (source: TechCrunch). 🙃 Today only circa 0.1% of venture capital goes to Black founders. Studies also reveal that only circa 2.5% of venture capital goes to female entrepreneurs, across the board.(source: Beauhurst). 📉 So you can only imagine what those figures then mean, for Black Female founders...🙍🏾‍♀️ On Wednesday 16th October - 13:00 - 15:00, the BPRG will be hosting a panel event, discussing the topic of Black Women in Entrepreneurship - within our 1 Churchill Place office. 🏢 There will be options to join the event virtually. 💻 To RSVP, please email Alberta Klokpah on: [email protected] 📧 There will also be insights shared by Juliet Gouldman and team on the work that Barclays is helping to drive, linked to the Government backed Invest in Women Taskforce (IiW): https://lnkd.in/erxDhSSx The IiW Taskforce has been created to challenge the status quote and to make the UK the best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur. The event will be hosted by: ▪️Natalie Ojevah MBE - founder of the Barclays Eagle Labs - Black Founder Accelerator Programme ✨️ ▪️Izzy Obeng - CEO and founder of Foundervine - an organisation fueling growth for ambitious founders. 🌟 The amazing panel on the day, will include: ▪️Diane Ifode - founder of The Kickback ▪️Dr. Maame Nikabs - founder of Ling Labs Consultancy ▪️Antoinette O. - co-founder of BrickzWithTipz ▪️Elizabeth Lambie - founder of Fashion Meets Music and Rant.Academy ▪️Faith Locken - founder of We Rise In This event is definitely not one you want to miss. Especially if you are a female founder yourself, looking to expand your networks! To RSVP, please connect with Alberta, via the email above. 🙂 #BlackHistoryMonth #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #FemaleFounders #Women #Entrepreneurship #Barclays

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TBT last weeks Transformation Tuesday meet-up, where my favourite takeaway was “The 3 Ss” for senior leaders supporting transformation teams. What your team really needs from you…. 💪🏼 Shovel the 💩 Leaders need to get close to the work - and roll their sleeves up to remove blockers and resolve problems. In big organisations this likely needs to include the ExCo ✋Shield them from the noise 🛡️ Making big changes is hard. Most human beings don’t like it. Even if we have positive intent, organisations will nearly always try to resist change. Leaders need to filter out the inevitable unhelpful reactions to protect progress. 📣 Shout and share the story 🙌🏼 This is more than “comms”. And it’s not about making hero’s of the teams at the heart of the transformation and villains of everyone else. But leaders need to own the story, constantly remind people why the change matters and how they can be part of it. 🙏Huge thank you to everyone who joined us despite the heat and the football. Particular shout out to Sam Burrows Luke Sambridge and @matthopgood for sharing their stories and the awesome Sapient team for the fab sofas, drinks and snacks. 📆 Dates now up for Sept and Oct in London and Leeds - and big thanks to Alicia Teagle and Rich James who are looking into doing something in Bristol. 😊 We’re a friendly bunch and it’s basically a chance to catch-up with other folks working in transformation for a bit of mutual therapy 😉 Join our LinkedIn group or checkout transformationtuesday.org for more info. #TTUES #transformationleadership #transformationcommunity #transformationmeetup

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Great article about the importance for coaches to be aware of systems thinking. As an experienced systems thinker, but a fairly new Executive Coach, I’m keen to combine the two into my practice going forward. https://lnkd.in/eD6vp2JB

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The consultancy sector is a vital engine of economic growth and innovation. By providing expert insights and strategic solutions, consultants help businesses navigate complexity and achieve their goals. HSBC is proud to support this dynamic sector. Thanks Tamazen Isacsson, MCA CEO, for sharing your comments on the sector's growth aspirations. #consultancy #business #economy #innovation #growth #hsbc #MCA

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This resonates a lot for me. Most organisations see innovation as a priority but at the same time reward overload and see the time it takes to innovate as a unaffordable luxury. Splitting out innovation and optimisation, addressing process debt (or sludge and I call it) and creating a culture where taking time to question current practice and use considered courage (I don't like the word risk!) to try new things are valued... all key to true innovation. All the research says taking time to think and ask the big questions early on in projects saves time later on, so how do we create that permission and rhythms in our workplace cultures ?

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Nice start to the day recieving my cert in Leading with Agility from ICAgile ✅. Brilliantly delivered by AgileSherpas | Transformation, Training, Coaching, Consulting and Cheryl Sutton. Great course to develop knowledge of Agile in the context of marketing and how to lead transformation.

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It is humbling and exciting in equal measure that Charlotte Crosswell OBE has agreed to join Raidiam. An incredible endorsement of all that Barry O'Donohoe, Ralph Bragg and our whole team have already achieved; and a testament to the huge potential yet to come. As every country and every business explores and embraces the opportunities of permissioned data sharing. Raidiam is set to continue its market leading role as the provider of core infrastructure to enable appropriate and highly secure data sharing, with scale and interoperability baked in 🚀 #openbanking #openfinance #smartdata #apiecosystems #datasecurity

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Following our recent ExCo development session, where we explored how differently we all prefer to think and communicate (spoiler: very differently!), I’ve been reflecting on the importance of diversity in the workplace. When it comes to diversity, the ways we can differ are endless—and that’s a wonderful thing! Imagine how dull life would be if we all looked, thought, and acted the same way. At Afin, we truly value diversity. Embracing and respecting each other’s differences isn’t just enriching—it’s what sparks the range of thinking and creativity that drives our bank forward. Our colleagues reflect our customers— each one an individual, deserving of recognition and value. As an ExCo team, our diverse mix of perspectives can sometimes make things challenging. But as we take the time to better understand each other and really listen, we’re seeing the benefits. Our conversations are becoming richer, our decisions more well-rounded, and it’s clear that our diversity isn’t just a strength—it could just be our superpower! What’s your superpower? #DiversityAndInclusion #InclusionMatters #WorkplaceDiversity #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveTeam #GrowthMindset #AfinValues #LifeAtAfin

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🚀 The UK Consumer Duty: Redefining Project Management Deliverables for Long-Lasting Impact 🚀 In the world of financial services, the introduction of the UK Consumer Duty has brought about a significant shift in how businesses approach their operations. It’s no longer just about meeting the bare minimum—it’s about ensuring that every action leads to real, measurable outcomes that benefit the consumer. For those of us in project management, this outcomes-based approach isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s an opportunity to reshape how we deliver value. Effective project management is now more crucial than ever. With the emphasis on longevity and sustainability, we’re tasked with creating deliverables that don’t just tick the boxes today, but also stand the test of time. It’s about planning for the future, anticipating needs, and ensuring that every project aligns with the broader goals of consumer protection and business integrity. Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of leading Consumer Duty-related initiatives, and it’s been a game-changer. The focus on longevity and sustainability means we’re tasked with creating deliverables that don’t just meet today’s needs but are built to last. The impact of this is profound. We’re not just managing projects—we’re contributing to shaping the culture of entire organisations. By integrating Consumer Duty principles into our project management frameworks, we create a holistic approach that brings teams together, fosters collaboration, and builds a shared commitment to doing right by the consumer. The future potential here is truly exciting. As we embrace this outcomes-based approach, we’re setting a new standard for what project management can achieve. We’re moving beyond deliverables that meet short-term goals, toward creating projects that drive lasting, positive change. It’s a challenge, but one that promises to elevate our industry and deliver real, tangible benefits for consumers and businesses alike. 💼💡 Let’s continue to lead with insight, foresight, and a passion for excellence—together, we’re shaping the future of project management! #ProjectManagement #ConsumerDuty #OutcomesBasedApproach #Leadership #Fintech #Innovation

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Consulting in multiple organisations I spot some emerging themes; simple changes that would result in improved outcomes. One example being Assumptions Management. Making an assumption means that progress will continue in the face of unknowns that could otherwise become a blocker. An assumption is a risk in a different guise and is a short-term strategy. In fast-paced environments it’s key not to lose momentum, it’s not practical to wait until all of the ‘knowns’ are flushed out before proceeding. They have to be carefully managed and logged just as a risk or issue would because, unvalidated an assumption is simply a risk that they have found a short-term way around but could still derail you future if left unresolved for too long - a deadline should be set for this, not simply left to chance. The expression we are all familiar with does not apply when the assumption is controlled but if not, then you turn into this ⬇ 😄

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Have we negativley impacted our children's future? I have been reflecting post a workshop with my leadership peers, an emotional session where each of us were opened up about our journey through to where we are now. What was evident was the hardship, difficulties and challenge each of us had to overcome. Each one of us had a stretch goal that we had inadvertently set ourselves and pushed ourself to get here. These targets subconciously were to get us out of our struggles, to make life easier, to do better than our parents and for some of us to give our parents what they never had. The drive to achieve this has been the hardship and difficulties we suffered. I then think about GenZ, have we as parents made their life too easy, has our desire for our children not to go through the same stuggles we went through actually going to be detrimental for their future? Having read reports on companies struggling with GenZ lack of resilience, drive and determination coupled with the lack of relationship building and communication skills, have we prepared the future with the tools to be successful? What do you do to with your children to drive ambition and resilliance?

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How do we decarbonise moving people, goods, and services in the future? Richard Hill, our Head of Mobility & Logistics, and Mark Dodwell, our Climate Propositions Director, share their insights on collaboration and thinking differently. For a deep dive into how UK businesses are getting fit for the future in this fast-paced sector, click here: https://lnkd.in/dXfKWMxe WMG, University of Warwick

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Our Chief Economist @Sebastianburnside delves into the insights from our latest Regional PMI Report to discuss economic growth trends, cost pressures and business output across all nations and regions of the UK. https://lnkd.in/e2HMr8bu

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In my latest article, I share some of my top book recommendations for anyone interested in exploring or implementing #businessexcellence principles. Each recommendation includes a reference link for easy access to the suggested books. These #books have shaped my approach to organisational improvement, offering invaluable #BEframeworks, #strategies, and #inspiration. Whether you're a BE practitioner, consultant, or researcher, I believe these resources can help you drive sustained success and continuous improvement. I encourage you to check out the article and explore the insightful works of experts such as Paul Grizzell, Mark Blazey, Dr Flevy Lasrado, Steve Tanner, and Kay Kendall. Their insights have been instrumental in shaping my understanding, and I hope they'll also add value to your business excellence journey. Happy Reading :-) You can access the article here: https://lnkd.in/gYixxUFJ #businessexcellence #Baldrige #EFQM #QualityAwards #ContinuousImprovement #OrganisationalExcellence #LeadershipDevelopment #BookRecommendations

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Fantastic article Pete. Applying these fundamentals to reduce failure demand, improve flow and focus on the right problem/opportunity areas is critical in making things easier for our employees and customers - and 90% of the time it’s the process and not the tech! Thanks for sharing

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Join Amira Kohler, Tom Blake and me next Weds at 1100 as we de-bunk some Performance Management Manager Myths with the folks at Appraisd (link to register in the post below)! #performancedevelopment #learninganddevelopment #teamdevelopment

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A conversation today reminded me of the importance of leaders being able to differentiate between a technical and an adaptive challenge (technical challenges can be complex but we already have skills, knowledge or understanding in our organisation to solve, whereas an adaptive challenge is a question we don't have already have an answer to). It's easy as a leader to get drawn into trying to solve an adaptive challenge in same way as a technical one, especially as it fuels our sense of success and "being a leader with the answers". Solving an adaptive challenge requires us to open up and manage ambiguity. Much harder, but so essential in todays world https://lnkd.in/exfkPpyh

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I'm still learning the ropes of Linked In but I do enjoying engaging with, and expanding my network. As I've previously said, working as a consultant, you need to create your own group of people because you don't work with the same folks year in and out. Furthermore, I've gained more assignments via my network than anything else plus I've met some great, like minded individuals here that I now engage with directly so it's enjoyable and very worthwhile. I'd like to understand the type of content you enjoy. For example, a recent post I made about a parking fine was seen thousands of times which really surprised me but if I post something without a photo, it barely gets seen (so there is always a photo now). I can post something unrelated to my work and again, it gets surprisingly great engagement so there doesn't appear to be a logic, especially now that hashtags seem to have disappeared 💁‍♀️ For those who follow, what do you like and what would you like more of? ✍ Hints and tips ✍ Direct experience ✍ Industry news ✍ General day to day updates? If you'd rather not state here then you can always message me. I'm less interested in trying to fathom the algorithm for likes this is about engaging with like minded people - and I'm curious. It was a busy week travel wise for me with a trip up to York. What a beautiful scene right outside the office.

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Some Monday motivation to tackle those unanswered questions. How are you challenging your current thinking to solve your toughest problems? If you or your business feel it's time for a super boost in ways of thinking then its time we booked in that coffee. ☕ #leadershipcoaching #coachingculture #leadershipdevelopment #creativethinking

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