Meet Pip - JGA's trusted builder of relationships
Relationships: they’re the beating heart of every organisation – or at least they are at JGA, where enabling people to work more effectively together is a core part of what we do.
So it’s no surprise that developing supportive relationships – whether with our clients, trusted partners and stakeholders or internally as a team – is a priority for our Associate Philippa Meaden.
Happily, it’s also what Pip (as we know her) enjoys most about her work with JGA.
‘Developing our relationships is a major part of what I do,’ she agrees. ‘Each one is different. There’s no one size fits all for any of our clients, services or partners, and I love that.’
Adding value by learning from others
Pip’s gift for clear and perceptive communication means she’s well placed to do this – but that’s not ‘all’ her professional life involves. She’s also an Independent Trustee Director for two companies, where she enjoys being an ‘independent voice’.
‘In JGA’s line of work, where we’re supporting a range of organisations, it’s important to have an enquiring mind: it keeps our thinking fresh,’ she says.
‘How can we be current if we don’t have conversations elsewhere? How can we recognise that we don’t always get things right if we’re not open to learning from the experiences of other people? It’s about sharing best practice.’
Speaking the client’s language
So being agile is essential?
‘Yes,’ agrees Pip. ‘At JGA, my challenge is juggling different projects at different stages across different services and being able to dip in and out of any conversation, with any client.’
Employee-owned (EO) or not, each one is different. Even though the issues faced by organisations and their leaders might be similar, Pip must skilfully tailor her language to suit the specific relationship – especially when it comes to EO, where ownership can mean very different things to different people.
‘Developing [JGA’s] relationships is a major part of what I do – each one is different. There’s no one size fits all for any of our clients, services or partners, and I love that’
Pip Meaden, Lead Associate
As she explains: ‘A significant proportion of my work is within the transition phase of employee ownership when founders / owners are picking up the idea of EO (possibly for the first time), as an option for their succession planning, and asking: ‘Is this the right avenue for me?’
‘As Associates, that’s when it’s particularly important to remember that although we understand transition, people and governance, others might not. But we’re good at building rapport quickly – we understand how to communicate in a way that enhances the delivery of our services and adds value.’
Making a difference for each client
Pip has been working with JGA since 2014, following a 15-year career with the John Lewis Partnership.
Looking back, she’s struck by the way in which the business has grown and the shared values that connect our Associates as we take our first steps towards employee ownership.
‘As a group, we enjoy knowing we’ve made a difference to others,’ she confirms. ‘And for me personally – having spent so many years in a large organisation where I had to be in at a certain time, in a certain place – it’s liberating to run my own business while also working in a free space here, but with some direction.
‘At JGA, it’s a grown-up environment. I like the personal autonomy we have.’
The joy of a supportive team
Pip also likes the balance she’s struck between working from home in rural Lincolnshire and meeting clients and partners face-to-face. Her location enables her to travel across a range of regions, particularly in the North and East.
Life’s busy. So when Pip is at her desk, what five things does she most enjoy about her working day?
1. A coffee or a good cup of tea – I don’t mind which, but I love Earl Grey and I like my coffee mild-flavoured with warm milk.
2. The fact I know I’ve made a difference.
3. The opportunity to walk out my back door into beautiful surroundings. I know I’m very lucky to have that space and fresh air.
4. Having a team around me to call on if I need them – everyone’s so supportive.
5. Knowing that at some point I’m going to have a laugh. I don’t know when or what it might be but I do know I’ll have a giggle...!
If you’d like to know more about how JGA can support your organisation through our Transition, People and Governance services, please get in touch here