From Mum to Project Management Officer

An Inspiring Journey

Welcome to our monthly Team Spotlight blog, in which we feature different members of our team and highlight their unique contributions to the organisation. Within Tugela People, we firmly believe that the key to success lies in the strength of our team.

Our team members come from diverse backgrounds with varying skill sets and experiences. However, despite our differences, we all share a common goal – to work collaboratively and positively impact the organisation’s growth. Through this series, we hope to give you a glimpse into the life of our team members and how they contribute to our collective success. Through their voices, we hope to inspire and motivate others to pursue their passions and make a difference in their own unique ways.

This month we had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Mee:

What is your role?

I work for Tugela People as part of the Professional Services team. My role as a Project Management Officer involves working with our Project Managers to support our Sage People customers, including existing clients with multiple phases of implementation and customers new to the Sage People HR system. I am also responsible for project governance and project management for smaller pieces of implementation our clients require.

Tell us about your background.

Before joining Tugela People, I ran my own small business for ten years designing and making baby clothing and headpieces for photographers of newborn babies. I loved this as it allowed me to be present at home while still working and providing for my young family. Prior to this, I fulfilled various administrative roles abroad in the Army environment. On my return to the UK, I continued working in similar roles until I had my children.

Why join Tugela People?

I really enjoyed my previous administrative roles, and with my children being older and more independent, I wanted to get back into the professional environment. Tugela People offered me a position I could grow with as a project management officer working towards a project management role. This excited me, and from my first interview with the company, I knew that Tugela People would be an amazing place to work. They are very customer focused, which I loved, as I knew I could draw on my own experiences of running a small customer focused business. They are also highly supportive of personal growth, which is very important to me as I wanted a role where I could develop and forge a new career.

How has your journey with the company been so far?

I joined the company in June 2022, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the company so far, and it has been a tremendous learning experience. The team at Tugela People are wonderful to work with; even though our roles are remote working, there is very much a team spirit mentality, and everyone is very supportive of each other.

How do you envision your future with the company?

I aim to continue to learn and add new skills to help me progress in my role. I’m also looking forward to being a part of the company’s future! There are already many new and exciting opportunities on the horizon for growth, and I’m excited to be a part of that.

Aside from work, what else do you enjoy?

I have six children, aged 23, 22, 20, and 17, and 10-year-old twins! The older children are primarily off doing their own things now, but the twin’s Felicity and Ellie and I spend a great deal of time together. Day trips out, crafting, movie nights and baking. When I’m not with my family, I love long countryside walks, taking in the scenery, or early morning local walks around where I live in Shepshed. On those walks, I enjoy listening to podcasts and music. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, pub quizzing and short breaks away.