Changing jobs is a momentous decision. Taking the plunge and moving on is a decision that no-one takes lightly, especially when leaving behind bonds of friendship and shared successes. On joining Hymans two years ago, I wrote a little about my experience of leaving my previous employer after 20 years and my hopes for what I could achieve in my future role. Today, I want to share a bit about what it’s been like to bed into the business – and to reflect on whether my decision has worked out the way I’d hoped it would. 

Values that mean something

In our industry, a lot of companies talk a good game about their corporate values. But living them and breathing them is something else entirely. At Hymans, I’ve found that our values really matter – in conversations with colleagues, they come up a lot, and I’d bet good money that most of our people could name them without hesitation. (If you’re interested, they’re ‘friendly’, ‘confident’, ‘partnering’ and ‘straightforward’.)

Of course, a close cousin of company values is that intangible beast, culture. And the culture at Hymans is exactly as I’d hoped, and just as it had been represented by the partners I spoke with in my early conversations. People are just genuinely nice, happy to give freely of their time to colleagues and with a real desire to do a great job for our clients.

A genuinely sustainable partnership

I probably wasn’t paying enough attention in the early months after I joined, but more and more I’ve come to appreciate how committed the equity partners are to the concept of a “sustainable partnership”. There is no appetite to maximise short-term revenue and profit at the potential expense of the next generation of equity owners. And let’s be clear – they could! But the culture simply isn’t like that, and I think this commitment to sustainable partnership really sets Hymans apart. We celebrated our 100-year anniversary last year; the desire to be around, as a partnership, for the next 100 years really shines through.

What else have I learned? Relationships are critical

Another thing I’ve really come to realise much more is that our professional networks and relationships are far more extensive than I'd previously (naively) appreciated. For example, the extent to which the Professional Trustee community has ties with all the different advisory firms – obvious when you think about it, but not something I’d fully thought about before. It’s also a reminder of the old advice to ‘be nice to those you meet on the way up, because you will meet them on the way down”. Our industry is a web of close connections, so it also pays to put in the effort to maintain relationships over the years. Who knows – one of those could bear fruit in the form of a dream job opportunity...

The hard stuff

In case my experience to date is sounding a bit too rosy, it’s worth saying that joining during the pandemic was not without its challenges. I’ve found that although you can build strong relationships using virtual means, it takes a bit longer. 

I also found myself, at times, feeling a touch of imposter syndrome (haven’t we all?). I’ve taken on clients from a variety of colleagues since I joined – primarily due to retirement or role changes. Some of those people were hugely respected figures in the industry, with big boots to fill. It’s inevitable that you find yourself comparing yourself to them, but reflection and conversations with colleagues has led me to see more clearly that everyone has a different style and their own way of doing things. My approach might be different, better in some ways, perhaps worse in others, but hopefully no less effective!  

So, any regrets?

Absolutely not. In some ways there’s little point looking back, and I can confidently say that the role is everything I hoped and more. I’ve relished the opportunity to establish myself in the business. And the company culture – so difficult to quantify, but so vital to our working experience – is brilliant; fully aligned with my personal values.

Last, I’ve been so impressed by the people, especially the talent coming up through the company; the energy, enthusiasm, and desire to make a difference. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the years to come.