Q&A: Introducing Stella Redgrave-Nevison
WHY EXPERTISE MATTERS
This appointment is central to our NxTGeN succession strategy - elevating one of our best performing and exceptional managers - to lead the team into the future.
#1 - THE JOURNEY
What's the short version of how you got here — the path that led to this point?
Branch Manager at 24. Manager of the Year. Top 5 in the country. Looking back, that was a lot of responsibility for someone young – and it shaped how I think about leading people.
Then at HCL, from a standing start - I achieved my first year targets within six months. I remember the whole office clapping. That moment told me I could back myself in what most people understand to be a highly competitive and uncompromising market place.
The L&D work that followed taught me that if you can coach and train, you can empower anyone to succeed. That’s still the lens I lead through today.
Starting Indigo is my life’s work – a pure start-up that’s now an NHS Framework-approved supplier, with 5-star reviews from doctors and clients alike.
You co-founded Indigo Healthcare Recruitment a decade ago. What was the moment you decided to build something of your own rather than work for someone else?
Ten years at HCL – and I loved every minute of it. Great people, great learning. But after my second baby, I knew it was time to build something that was mine.
It wasn’t reckless. I’d spent a decade learning the business, building the confidence, understanding what good looked like. I just reached a point where I knew I could do it – start from nothing and make it work. So that’s what we did.
What's the hardest thing you've done in this business that nobody outside of it would ever know about?
Hmmm – there are 2: Starting Indigo when my little girl was 10 months old and then surviving on very little sleep for about the first 4 years. This period of my life taught me that pushing through and taking things one step at a time is the way to tackle challenging situations.
The other notable achievement has been achieving Framework status to become an approved supplier of Drs into the NHS.
This was only possible when we could evidence the placements we were able to make as a start up, and off-framework, which was doubly challenging. Challenging – but made possible by sheer determination, belief and hard work.
What's the moment in your career at Cubed / Indigo where you surprised yourself?
The first time I delivered a live webinar to an audience of about 30 + people gave me the confidence to look forward and push myself to do as much client facing presentations as possible.
Presenting to large numbers of people feels daunting – but as long as I’m prepared and know my stuff ( which I do) – I can get over any nerves.
I focus on the task at hand to ensure that I get the outcome I’m looking for – be that positive feedback, winning business, or making a meaningful advance with a client.
I have had to make some very difficult decisions for the good of the business which have not been easy or felt comfortable. Being in a leadership role requires this – delivering a difficult message is never easy – but it’s often necessary. Having honesty and integrity at the core of my delivery is very important in all that I do.
