Louise Halliwell
Demand Manager at TalkTalk
Don't be afraid to ask questions! I work with a lot of technical designers who like to go into lots of technical detail that I find confusing. If it is too high level for me, I'm not afraid to ask them to break it down. Not only does this help me understand their queries, but it also develops my understanding of what their role involves so I understand the question when it comes up in future.
About Louise...
Who am I?
"My personality type of Communicator fits my job role as I am both understanding and helpful to everyone I deal with. I act as the middle person between the design and project teams. My Manager trait is great for helping teams organise resources to complete their projects, while helping the design teams manage their workloads. I need to be able to explain things clearly to everyone involved using my Trainer trait, so they have an understanding of challenges and have all the information they need to make informed decisions."
What do I do?
"As a Demand Manager, I analyse the demand on our services from customers and compare it to the capacity we have to fulfil that demand as a company. During my 2 years at TalkTalk, I have already made the progression from Demand Analyst to Demand Manager. My manager has been very supportive and helpful finding training opportunities for me in order to develop the skills I’ll need for the future. I do not need to travel for my job, although I have been able to visit the London office on occasion."
How did I get here?
"I was previously a primary school teacher. I left the profession and worked as a project co-ordinator before moving to TalkTalk as a Demand Analyst, progressing to Demand Manager. I was motivated by looking for a job that made me happy. You work for a long time, so you want to make sure you're happy in the role you are doing. I enjoy being able to organise resources, communicating with lots of different people and building relationships along the way. My friend Hannah inspires me. She is the eternal optimist and a firm believer that if you work hard and believe you can do it, you'll get there in the end. When I've felt low and had doubts about myself she has always been the one to help me re-focus. She inspires me to believe in myself."
The life I live
"I enjoy going to the cinema, spending time with my friends and family and visiting different cities."
My typical day
"On a typical day, I will be holding and attending various meetings to understand upcoming demand. This information comes from different departments. I also have administrative tasks, such as creating reports of up to date information to ensure I know what upcoming demand challenges there are.I create the overall picture of the demand and prioritisation options so good decisions can be made. "
My qualifications
"Secondary education (GCSE/O-Levels)Post secondary education (College, A-levels, NVQ3 or equivalent)Undergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.)PGCE with QTS Primary Education"