My First Year at UP3: Ayda Abdullah

Hi Ayda! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at UP3?

I’m a Technical Consultant - I started off as an MDS Consultant in January last year, which is a bit more of a junior role, but everything is going well so far and I’m enjoying my new responsibilities. My normal day involves attending workshops, development within the ServiceNow platform, helping customers with queries and technical advice and helping other members of my team. I feel like everything’s gone so fast since I got pregnant and I can’t believe I’m nearly off on maternity now!

What 3 words best describe your first year here?

I would say the best words would be exciting, challenging and rewarding.

What do you think has been your biggest challenge to date?

I think my biggest challenge was probably when I first started here. I came from an internal company role, dealing with one stakeholder who was part of the same business. I wasn’t consulting or dealing with external clients - it felt quite safe I think. So the transition going from there to dealing with multiple clients from different businesses, with different business models and challenges was tricky at first. It was a lot for me to wrap my head around and it took me a while to get used to it. My team was absolutely great during the transition - from the very beginning you just felt totally comfortable asking questions, seeking advice and help. Everyone is so well informed about the different clients and processes and is always happy to give you whatever information you need to do your job. They made it so much easier for me. Everyone here is so supportive, from the managers to the technical teams, you get all the support that you need to get stuck in and feel comfortable doing your job.

It’s great to hear you’re feeling at home now. What are you most proud of from your time here?

Definitely how far I’ve come in such a short space of time. I’ve only been at UP3 since January 2022 and I feel like I’ve learned so much. My general technical and consultancy skills have accelerated and I think that’s because this company allows you to share your ideas and views and to be creative within your role. Your team is always there to help if you ever need any support, and you get so much training as well - I think I got 3 certifications last year in the space of just a few months! They just give you everything you need to be your best self and to help you succeed. My time so far has gone super fast, but I feel like I’ve come a long way in that short space of time.

You were promoted after 7 months in the team. Well done! What’s been the biggest change for you in your new role?

The biggest change has been moving from an MDS consultant where you’re more focused on yourself and your own development, relying on support and guidance from more senior people within the business to moving to a more senior role and becoming that support for other people. When you know you've got responsibility for other people who are coming to you for advice on a technical issue or dealing with a particular stakeholder, you want to get it right, because you want them to get it right. You were in the same position not long ago and want to give them the right knowledge to do their job well.

So you’re based in Sheffield, but the head office is in London. How have you found working from home? Tell us about how you stay connected and still feel part of the team.

I really enjoy working from home. It’s allowed me to have a really good work/life balance and it’s one aspect that I absolutely love about working at UP3. They make sure you’ve got all the right equipment and that your working space is comfortable, giving you everything you need to ensure you can get the job done right. To be honest, I think when you work from home it can be easy to isolate yourself, but working as part of this company you’re always calibrating with your team. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t speak to them, we’re always in touch. We also have weekly company meetings where they update us on any changes or work coming through the pipeline, so you always feel involved and in the loop. I go into the office once a month as well so I can catch up face-to-face. It’s a good balance for me.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! As you prepare for your maternity leave, how has UP3 supported you?

To be honest they’ve made it as painless as possible. When you work for a company and get pregnant, you worry that you’re going to become a burden or that you won't be able to do your job as well as usual. They’ve really made an effort to reassure me, accommodated all my appointments and had regular check-ins to make sure my wellbeing is being looked after. They’ve also been conscious not to give me too much work when I’ve not been feeling great. They’ve taken away the anxiety that comes with being pregnant and working and I’ve not felt like I’ve had to hide how I feel, I feel completely comfortable letting people know if I’m tired or feeling unwell. When it came to sorting my maternity, they’ve encouraged me to just enjoy being a mum and know that my job will be here waiting for me when I’m back. It’s been pretty stress-free!

We wish Ayda the best of luck with the rest of her pregnancy and welcoming her little one into the world, and we already can’t wait to have her back next year. We look forward to hearing all about her maternity leave and what it’s like being a working mum when she returns. To find out more about working at UP3 and to take a look at our current job opportunities, visit our Careers Page.