Q&A with Rachel Ramsay, People and Culture Director
We sat down with Rachel Ramsay, who leads the People and Culture function, to discuss her role at BCB Group and the challenges facing the crypto industry from her perspective.
Q: Describe your job role at BCB Group.
Rachel: I have the privilege of being our People & Culture Director here at BCB which means I interact with all our colleagues, regardless of what role they’re in, on an almost daily basis. My job is primarily to work alongside our Senior Leadership Team to ensure their teams are set up effectively to deliver against the BCB Group Mission and Vision. Both professionally and personally, I strive to ensure people are happy and engaged in both their role and BCB in general. I see myself as a trusted advisor internally both to colleagues and to managers and I am always working to make BCB an even better place to work than it already is.
Q: What does a typical work day look like for you?
Rachel: There really is no typical day and I know it’s cliche to say that but it really is true. I have to be ready to jump on calls at short notice, handle concerns from team members or support our Finance Team with queries. It’s natural that our days are unpredictable, similar to the volatility of the crypto market, however I love the dynamic nature of the role and I always focus on the positives that come out of change.
I try my best to organise my week around the planned activity, sometimes easier said than done, but I do really love the flexibility. It keeps things exciting knowing that a quiet day could quickly switch to one of my busiest with new challenges to face and learn from.
The ever changing nature of the role has forced me to organise myself (although I’m not sure my team would agree with this!) to ensure no plates are dropped and they just keep spinning. Of course there are regular activities that have to happen like payroll (we have to keep the people happy) and our performance review cycle (which currently kicks off every 6 months) however my team generally manages this.
I try to focus any down time I have on looking at ways to enhance how we currently work, whether that be in our policies and procedures, our enhanced benefits, or company wide initiatives such as our career framework and compensation principles.
Q: Why did you choose to go into this industry?
Rachel: I think my friends and family always knew I would find a role that involved regular interaction with people. From a young age, I’ve always had a very caring personality, with a genuine desire to help and support people, with an awareness of individual differences and ways of approaching more sensitive situations.
HR, as it was known when I initially started my career, seemed like the perfect place to combine my personal interests with my work. I have been involved in all aspects of the People Profession and have always enjoyed the generalist aspect of the role, as I’ve progressed, I’ve been lucky to work at organisations that have allowed me to put my own spin on the role, prioritising the elements that interest me most (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Engagement, and Career Development). The People Profession has evolved since I started but definitely for the better. I am lucky that at BCB there is always a seat for me at the table and that my voice is listened to; our ExCo and SLT understand and value our people, which makes it easier for me to land the initiatives that I need, and want, to land.
Q: What do you think the biggest challenges facing the industry are right now and how do you think BCB Group is addressing those challenges?
Rachel: From a People perspective, the market is volatile at the moment. There is still talk of quiet quitting and people are expecting more than ever from their workplace; flexibility, higher comp, enhanced benefits etc. It is difficult for the People Team, in any organisation, to keep up with increasing demands and ensure they are balancing the needs of different stakeholders (senior leadership vs the rest of the organisation).
Personally, I am making a real effort at the moment to deliver value to our Executive Team by increasing data insights and working towards providing metrics that allow us to report on, the words on everybody’s lips, Employee LifeTime Value. Now that the People Team has a genuine seat at the table, we need to keep up the momentum and continue to show value to our stakeholders.
Q: What is your favourite thing about working at BCB Group?
Rachel: I love how supportive everyone is of each other. There are no egos and no one perceives themselves as too senior to get something done. I don’t know a single person at BCB who sticks exclusively to what is in their job description. It’s the most transparent and candid environment I’ve ever worked in and I know I’m supported in doing what is right, even when it’s not the status quo. I am given autonomy to do my job in a way that suits me, but with a support system around me when I need it. The people are what makes BCB and I love coming to work every day for all of them.
Q: If you had to describe BCB Group in one word, what would it be?
Rachel: Inspiring; the people I work with inspire me every day with their unique insights and creative ideas. Just when you think you’ve thought of everything, someone throws in a new perspective that puts the cherry on the cake.
Q: What are your interests outside of BCB Group?
Rachel: I love the gym and trying out new things from a fitness perspective like hikes, bouldering, and pilates. I’ve joined a new gym recently and I’ve been carving the time out of my diary to fit it in when it suits me, knowing I can pick up my work later when I’m feeling more energised and in the right headspace.
However I’m all about balance! Any of these activities will always be almost immediately followed by a delicious meal and a few drinks with friends. I’m always on the lookout for new restaurant recommendations so please pass on any that I need to know!
