We are excited to announce our Community member of the month for February Lesley Case
Lesley will be a new face to you but one the community is sure to see much more of! Lesley has been a driving force within the NHS's Developer community since its launch last year. I have enjoyed hearing more about Lesley as a professional and as a person, who has more in common with myself than I thought (including a dislike for GCSE maths!). So please read on to hear Lesley speak for herself and join me and congratulating our February Member of the Month!
How did you get into an automation career?
RPA was new to the company I was in at the time. I saw a presentation about its capabilities it piqued my interest. I’d been working as a programmer for a number of years (software development and data warehouse development), and I was ready for a new challenge. I became the first RPA developer at that company, and I loved every minute of it. Over time my passion for RPA and the benefits it brings has only grown.
Tell us a professional achievement you are proud of?
The success we’ve achieved with RPA in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is something I’m particularly proud of. It is hard working as a solo-developer and to be where we are in the 18 months, I’ve been with them is a testament to the team and has really showcased what RPA can do when done well.
What do you find useful when you are stuck on something at work?
Often just having time away from my desk can really help me with problem solving; things like going for a walk or focusing on a mindless task for a while can really help with those eureka moments.
I also love ‘The Rubber Ducky Method’. This has helped me as a solo-developer, although my ‘rubber duck’ is my dog!
When I do need to speak to a real person my first port of call is the Blue Prism Community. I’ve found this to be a real help and a great way of building relationships with other NHS RPA Developers.
What career advice would you give to yourself at the start of your career if you could?
Lack of confidence does not mean lack of skill/knowledge. Don’t be afraid to contribute and have your voice heard - even if there is something you’ve misunderstood, it is an opportunity to learn.
Tell the community something about yourself you don't think they will know!
I hated IT and Maths at school (they were my worst GCSE grades) and I never expected or planned to have a career as a programmer. My love for problem solving and learning new things lead me into IT and I’ve never looked back.
What advice would you give women pursuing a career in automation?
My advice could really apply to anyone, but as someone who has often been the only woman in a development team this advice would have helped me at those times:
Don’t be afraid to vouch for yourself and make your voice be heard.
Women have as much of a right to be in tech as anyone else. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise or make you feel like you don’t belong.
Invest in yourself and find your niche / what motivates you. Tech is an ever-changing environment and the ‘hot new thing’ changes regularly (ChatGPT anyone?). There is something out there that is your sweet spot. Hunt it down and own it!
What do you think would get more women and girls interested in a career in automation?
Showing that a programming/automation is more than Maths or ‘writing code’. It is creativity, problem solving, research, continuous learning and even ethics.
