What EVP means to me - Jules’s view
Continuing our series in understanding what EVP means to different people, in different industries and roles - we asked our Co-founder Jules to give us his insights.
“The world of work has changed greatly since I left university in the mid 1990s, and the evolution of what people value from work has been one of the biggest changes of all. My personal experience mirrors the changes that have taken place in society at large. Back then I was very ambitious and focused on salary, status, and career progression, but over time my priorities have gradually transformed, leading me to discover what truly brings me joy and fulfilment in my professional life.
The Pursuit of Money and Status:
As I began my career at Oracle, a leading software company, my primary focus was on financial rewards and climbing the corporate ladder. After a year, when there wasn’t a clear opening for me I jumped ship to Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) where my salary almost doubled overnight. I worked hard, was good at the job and achieved promotions swiftly, but as my late 20s approached, I looked around and started to want something more. There was nobody I considered a role model – the partners at the time were overwhelmingly wedded to the job, many were on their second or even third marriage, and often had no room in their life for anything else.
A Search for Purpose:
Through Accenture, I had the opportunity to participate in the Accenture Development Partnerships volunteer program in return for halving my salary. I spent the next 6 months working for the World Bank in Cairo. Although the work had a more obvious impact on the world (I was helping set their funding priorities for the Middle East rather than simply helping corporations make more money), ultimately the impact of my work felt very remote, and the bank had a corporate culture not significantly different from Accenture.
Embracing Creativity and Autonomy:
So in 2005, at the age of 31, I made the decision to leave the corporate world behind and pursue my passion for photography. Over the next 15 years I established myself as a successful commercial photographer, shooting advertising campaigns for global brands such as Canon, Google, Four Seasons, and Unilever. Not only was I doing work that excited and motivated me, but it also offered the autonomy, flexibility, and connection to results that came with being self-employed. But photography can be a lonely career path, and while I shared a studio with others and had a network of friends I could bounce ideas around with, ultimately there was nobody who really shared the journey with me. I enjoy working as part of a team, and there was no team.
The Pandemic-Induced Pivot:
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 essentially shut down the photography industry for the best part of a year. Faced with this situation, I decided to return to my consulting roots, but this time with a smaller firm called Q5, known for its people-first culture. During the 18 months I spent there I certainly felt valued, and the working environment that had significantly evolved since my Accenture days. I had more autonomy in choosing projects, opportunities to explore my own interests, and my colleagues were almost universally great people to work with and learn from. Additionally, the remuneration structure tied my pay directly to my performance, even if this was only reflected at year end.
Rediscovering Personal Fulfilment:
While my time at Q5 brought many positive aspects, I realised that ultimately, I wanted to put creativity at the heart of what I did once again, and regain the autonomy and flexibility I had being self-employed. I also really missed feeling I truly owned my work. Even the less interesting parts of business become motivating when it’s your own business. So, together with my wife Emma, we set up We are The Loves a year ago.
So what have I learned? Rather like most others in the worlds of work, I have come to value other things above salary and seniority. I now work in an environment that brings me a little bit of joy every day, I own my schedule, I can clearly see the impact of my work and am directly responsible for whether my business thrives, and I get to work with the most talented and supportive co-worker. Finally it seems like all the pieces have come together and I couldn’t be more fulfilled.”
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