Meet the Mentor –  Natasha Brealey

Written by: on August 5, 2019

Meet Natasha, a Project Manager at M247 in Manchester, a leading connectivity-led cloud service partner and one of our mentors on our ‘Tech for Good’ programme at Loreto High School in Chorlton. Natasha currently lives in the green hills of Saddleworth, Greater Manchester. When she left Sixth form college, she started full-time employment in catering & hospitality, before finding her career within the technology industry, where she have recently qualified as a Prince2 Practitioner in project management.

Can you tell us a bit about what your organisation/employer does?

M247 are a Worldwide cloud, communication and connectivity provider for businesses. Providing a unique combination of services and products to enable businesses to grow and transform with technology!

Can you briefly tell us what your job role involves?

My job as a Project Manager involves managing technical projects, working with strict budgets and timelines, chairing stakeholder meetings and holding people accountable for their role within a project, to ensure the end results is achieved and we deliver what we have promised to the customer.

It provides a lot of variety to my day; I work with people from across the whole organisation at all levels, I can honestly say that I love my job.

What led you to your current work and what did you do to get there?

I worked with a recruitment company to find a new direction. I had never considered the technology industry before as I had a very different working background in hospitality. Since I started at M247 5 years ago, I haven’t looked back. I have been promoted 3 times, working my way up to the role I am in today.

What skills do you think you need to do your job?

You need:

• Very good interpersonal and organisational skills, communicating with people from all levels of the business
• To be able to manage the different stages of a project and the people required efficiently
• Passion and drive to deliver on the companies targets and goals

What made you want to work in the tech/digital/creative industry?

I find it incredibly interesting and exciting. The future within the technical industry is limitless and I am very proud to be a part of it.

If you think about how much we rely on tech in our day to day lives and about all of the developments over the last 5 years, it’s hard not to want to be a part of it!

What does an average day look like for you?

Within my role I liaise with contractors and internal departments, attend site visits around the country, hold meetings and report my findings to the Senior Management team.

However, with my type of work there is no average day, the work I do and the people I work with are constantly changing. This is what makes my job and the sector I work in so exciting.

What’s your favourite thing about working for your current employer?

The culture! We are a very warm, welcoming and supportive organisation. It’s a pleasure to work with so many knowledgeable people who encourage you to succeed. Our company values really do bring out the best in everyone.

Do you have any role models in the tech/digital/creative industry and why do you look up to them?

Simone Roche MBE. I think what she has done to create awareness of gender equality in the Northern Powerhouse region is inspiring. Her career history proves you really can do anything.

Any advice for a young person who might want to do this as a career?

You can do this!! Dreams can be achieved with hard work and determination.
You do not have to be the most academic or super intelligent person to succeed. Mistakes and knockbacks happen, embrace them as they are required to build you into a bigger, better version of YOU.

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