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Guest Post, Hiring, Interviews, SMR, Tech, Women In Tech | | 2 min read

Samantha Burnham

Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do? What’s your job role?  

Right now, I’m the Product Manager for Tesco’s UK recruitment platform. In the coming  months I’ll bounce between our current platform and a new platform that’s being developed  with my colleagues as a global solution and ultimately, I’ll be Product Managing that platform when the current one is sunsetted.  

What inspired you to pursue a career as a Product Manager and how did you get started?

I got into Product Management naturally after working in Operations. When I saw the advert  for my role, I felt like it was made for me. There were so many similarities between my  experience and what this role was aiming to achieve that I felt the alignment was spot on. My  manager was really supportive and saw that it was a great opportunity for me too.

What’s been your biggest achievement while working at Tesco? And how did it come about?

 It may not necessarily be classed as an achievement, but my favourite thing about my time at  Tesco so far is the relationships I’ve built with colleagues.

What challenges have you faced in your career and how have you overcome them? 

As with any supplier-provided software, we’ve faced some challenges with having to align  timelines when delivering requirements change. But we’ve worked hard to build a more  transparent, collaborative approach to sharing our roadmaps to support this.

How do you stay motivated and continue to grow in your career?  

I learn everything I can from more experienced colleagues and make sure I’m always aware of  the plethora of training opportunities available at Tesco that can enhance my skill set.

What’s the best thing about working for Tesco?  

There are so many opportunities to learn and develop – and it’s really encouraged. And the  great people I get to work with. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with others at a similar stage in their career?

 Don’t be afraid to ask questions even if you think you should know the answer.

How does Tesco encourage and support diversity and inclusivity across the tech teams? 

I can say with confidence that Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the forefront of Tesco’s  recruitment practice. It’s built into processes and beyond that, it’s built into systems, making  it non-negotiable, which has been really encouraging to see.