Welcome to Made Tech Insiders, where we interview the talented individuals shaping our organisation. We’ll explore career journeys, project highlights, and future tech trends, showcasing what makes Made Tech an exceptional place to work and innovate.
Q: Welcome to Made Tech Vicki! Can you tell us a bit about you?
Sure. I’m married to my husband Ken, and we have 4 children (aged 12, 19 – twins and 26) and 2 dogs. We live on the outskirts of the West Midlands in a rural village called Shustoke and when I’m not working I love all things music related. I sing in a choir (for fun, not professionally!) and play the piano and violin. I love live music.
On the work front, after doing a Business Management and Music degree at Leeds University (conducting was my favourite module), I started my working career with BT Syntegra, the systems integration arm of British Telecom at the time. I joined their 2-year graduate programme straight out of university, with my very first role being a project manager for delivery of a new training system for the Apache helicopter.
For the first few years of my working career I specialised in project and then programme management before moving into client and business management – with the constant always being working within the public sector.
I spent 8 years at BT Syntegra, 2 years at Detica, a consulting and systems integration firm which was then acquired by BAE Systems, and became BAE Systems Applied Intelligence – the consulting and SI arm of its business. I made a move to NTT DATA leading their public sector business for 5+ years before joining Made Tech.
Q: What is it about the public sector that you enjoy?
Working with the public sector, I value the direct correlation between the work I’m doing and the improvement that makes to UK citizens, our communities and the ability of civil servants to do their jobs. I find ‘making a difference’ however many steps removed, hugely motivating.
Q: Was that part of your decision to join Made Tech?
The fact that Made Tech focuses solely on the public sector was a big part of it. The growth trajectory that Made Tech is on was also a big pull for me. I’m really excited about the contribution I can make to helping evolve this business and grow sustainably.
Q: You touched on growth there, can you talk a bit more about that?
Growth is exciting but I’ve always believed that sustainable growth is what matters most. Not done right, growth can be unsettling and cause burnout, fatigue and uncertainty for our people. Done well, sustainable growth means clear direction, priorities and ambition, job security, career development for everyone and interesting and motivating work with clients who share the same values as us.
Q: Change is rarely without its hurdles. Can you tell us about any challenges you’ve dealt with?
I’ve dealt with countless challenges over the years – screaming and swearing clients, challenging suppliers (including one who needed rescuing from the brink of bankruptcy), and then the personal challenges that people in my team have faced (with their or their family’s health, for example). But I suppose I’ve always believed that change and evolving is part of working and personal life and when you’re having the hardest time and fighting the biggest fights, that’s always when you learn the most and evolve yourself that little bit more.
Q: How would you describe your leadership style? Particularly during those challenging situations?
Perhaps you can ask that question to some of the team in a few months time! This is actually a simple question to answer for me. My leadership style – in good times or challenging ones, is high integrity, transparency, accessible, frequent communicator and low ego. I think about how I’d want people to describe me once they get to know me and I’d like to think they’d say that Vicki is someone you can throw anything at and she’ll be calm, resilient and always put people first.
Q: Let’s end with this, is there advice you look to during change?
It’s the same advice I tell my kids (passed down from my own parents).
- Trust your gut, it’s usually right
- Be yourself, you’re in the wrong place, job, or friendship circle if you can’t be your true-self
- Do the right thing, whenever you have to make a decision and you’re wavering, do the right thing – morally, ethically, with impact on people in mind and you’ll never regret your decision
- Have fun, continual change in our work and home lives will always be a constant, so embrace it and have fun along the way
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About the Author
Vicki Chauhan
Managing Director
Vicki is Made Tech’s Managing Director. With 26 years of experience in the public sector she’s been incredibly successful in delivering growth and success throughout her career and has a deep expertise in shaping, growing and leading service-oriented businesses and teams. As a passionate and growth-focused leader, she is driven by her commitment to working “with great people to do great things.”
