Helen Wylde is the UK managing director of Bringme, a Belgian digital solution to sending and receiving parcels at home and at work.
With a varied and extensive background in business, marketing and tech, ranging from banking to telecoms, entrepreneurship and leadership, and now onto Bringme, Helen is an inspirational woman leading the way for women in tech.
Tell us a bit about yourself, background and your current role
I am the Managing Director of Bringme UK – the intelligent Smart Locker service for residential buildings, University residences and Corporate businesses, currently doing a BREXIN and opening up the UK to our innovative IoT products and services.
Did you ever sit down and plan your career?
Yes when I hit 25 and realised if I didn’t have a proper plan I wasn’t going to get anywhere! I put together plans A, B and C. Needless to say these have changed many times! I now normally review where I am and what I need to do next in terms of skills, qualifications, experience and networking about once a quarter.
Have you faced any challenges along the way? How did you deal with them?
Yes, many, from getting the right experience and skills to get to the next level, through to people who I had to persuade I could deliver. Someone once told me I was “tenacious in the face of adversity”, and I have hung onto that as a good mantra for my career. I am also lucky in so much as I have had many exceptional and inspirational bosses who have coached me through my more challenging experiences and a great support network of family and friends who seem to believe in me!
How do you feel about mentoring? Have you ever had a mentor or do you mentor anyone?
I haven’t had a mentor and I truly wish I had! I sincerely believe in mentoring as a concept and do have various relationships where I am mentoring. To me it is a privilege to be asked to do this, after all, this is the way to build future talent for UK plc.
If you could change one thing for women in the workplace, what would it be?
Actually, it’s a great time to be a woman at work. I think if was to change anything it would be to make women more confident in their ability – you really can do anything if you put your mind to it – but most importantly be true to who you are, and work hard!
