Hayley

Hayley, the Head of Business Resource Hub at redk, has found a lucky position where her job “pays the bills, but also is something that I enjoy doing.” Her role is far from simple; Hayley is a Head of Business Resource Hub at redk. She is a leader in that hub, a finance controller for the UK activities, and works on GDPR compliance alongside the cybersecurity manager—a woman who truly "wears a lot of hats."

Her career path was an unexpected detour. With a background in international business and Spanish language and literature, she moved to Spain for what was meant to be a short study abroad, only to stay and land her first job as an English teacher. The true turning point, however, came during a summer job in the Pyrenees mountains. At a campsite, she randomly encountered one of redk’s directors, who, interested in her language skills, invited her to apply.

Hayley joined redk 12 years ago as an administrative assistant in a small, two-person team. As the company grew, expanding from the Spanish market into the UK and other parts of the EU, she volunteered to move abroad as one of the few native English speakers to help set up the UK organization. This growth culminated in the acquisition of another company, which presented a major challenge: integrating the new employees and a second organization into a cohesive culture that essentially had to be created. This three-to-four-year integration period became one of her most significant roles.

In her leadership position, Hayley believes the most essential skills are not technical, but human: empathy and understanding. Working in a multinational company requires patience to navigate differences in cultural norms and backgrounds. Crucially, she highlights the "ability to interpret messages"—to not only understand what a person is saying but to transfer that message to someone else in a way they will understand. “That’s really tricky, but it’s super important to do.”

Beyond the office, redk has contributed immensely to her personal growth by enabling her to actively live her values. With the company’s emphasis on work-life balance, she channels her passion for wellness and sustainability into community projects, hosting weekly donation-based yoga classes and running a sustainable fashion project in Brighton focused on conscious consumption and reducing waste.

When asked about her "dream job," she admits it has nothing to do with CRM solutions. Her true passion lies in human connection, working with brilliant, capable people who are all moving towards a greater good. Paradoxically, while colleagues might see her as “the boss lady,” she prefers working "behind in the shadows," focusing on creating the "invisible, many little improvements" that nobody notices, but everyone feels.

Crucially, she has never felt a barrier due to her gender; instead, she has always been uplifted, given the tools and permission to pursue any idea she had. This supportive ethos was best demonstrated when she requested a short-term sabbatical to pursue personal goals. Rather than creating barriers, her manager—the CEO—asked her, "What do I need to do to make this happen for you? How can I make this happen for you?" This attitude reinforced her belief that work is important, "but it's not our entire life."

For Hayley, the word “work” is not the traditional definition. To her, it’s about applying her attention, interest, and skills “to create something that has value… a purpose that is larger than myself.” She sees herself and her colleagues as “contributors to a future that we are collectively creating,” grounded in a daily commitment to leave things a little better than how she found them—whether that means forecasting cash flow, empowering a team member, or organizing a community event.