Inside our People Networks – Meet John

What is your role at Vodafone?

I'm a Margin Assurance Lead Analyst, which means I look at our costs, inventory, usage and revenue, and make sure everything adds up and that we're not overcharging anyone.

How long have you been at Vodafone?

6 and a half years

What's been your career so far?

I started off doing a PhD in Classics (basically, archaeology) - I decided I needed a change, and a friend recommended I apply to Vodafone. It turns out there are a huge number of transferrable skills - to get anywhere in archaeology you need a smattering of everything and the ability to bring it all together, and for analyst and process-focused roles, that's really important.

What network are you part of?

LGBT+ Friends Network

What made you get involved in the network?

I wanted to get involved in raising the profile of my community - when I started I felt there was very little LGBT+ representation in my function and I'm pleased to say that's different now.

Tell us an interesting fact about you!

I write novels in my spare time.

How many languages do you speak?

Three - English, French, and Italian - none of them particularly well!

How many countries have you visited?

Seventeen. I particularly liked Portugal and France.

How do you switch off after work? Or how do you manage your wellbeing?

Writing, baking, cooking, seeing friends, and supporting campaigns I care about.

Do you have any book/film/TV recommendations?

How long have you got? I can highly recommend The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - a wonderful stand-alone fantasy novel to get lost in. If you fancy something a bit longer, The Mask of Mirrors by M A Carrick is the first of a stonking trilogy which is huge fun to read.

What are you most looking forward to over the next year?

Taking some down-time in late May, and Pride season in June.

Why do you feel that Vodafone is a Great Place to Work?

Because it's a company that fosters genuine communities of talent through its diversity networks and the function-oriented communities of practice. If you have an issue or a question, there's someone out there who knows the answer or at least feels your pain - and there are so many opportunities to work with them and try something new.