CMgr: “I wanted to be uncomfortable”

Many people have made major life changes as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Jake Terence Parrott’s dramatic personal pivot came just as he completed the CMgr process

jake Terence Parrott, 24, was ready to take the next big step in his career. He was preparing to move to Cardiff to take on a zone aftersales manager role for Groupe PSA, looking after authorised repairers across the group’s vehicle brands. He was also on the road to becoming a Chartered Manager, having completed his degree apprenticeship. Then the pandemic put the move on hold.

Finding himself on furlough as COVID-19 cases hurtled towards their first peak, Parrott continued his progress towards becoming a Chartered Manager and was inspired by his NHS-worker parents to volunteer at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital. It all got him questioning his next steps.

“I came to the realisation that I was really comfortable in my life,” he explains. “I kind of had everything. And I kind of felt like I was missing something in terms of really pushing myself.”

Parrott was grateful for the opportunities that Groupe PSA had provided for him. He had worked for Vauxhall, which was acquired by Groupe PSA during his time there, for more than four years, before moving over to PSA. He completed his degree apprenticeship there. Almost everything he’d learned about business came from his managers within Vauxhall and PSA. He knew that he could have an amazing career if he continued on the path he was on. “But at the same time, I felt like I could do more than that.”

After looking into his options, Parrott decided that he needed to push himself out of his comfort zone. He would leave everything behind – his career, friends, family and relationship – to go to Dubai for a master’s in international business at Hult International Business School. “I wanted to test my abilities and my resolve. I wanted to be uncomfortable.”

Parrott started out on his management journey at the age of 18, working in HR. At the time, he lacked confidence in his people skills. His motivation for becoming a manager was largely about wanting to get involved in strategy – “and, if I’m honest, having the power and freedom that comes with that”. But two conversations with mentors made a big impression. One manager told him that the work he was most proud of always involved empowering others to do their best. The other explained what he looked for in his hires: emotional intelligence and the right attitude. “My opinion shifted dramatically,” Parrott says. “I believe that people are what makes a business. I’m not just driven by personal achievement now; it’s about the satisfaction that comes from helping others.”

In preparation for his move to Dubai, Parrott took a job at Tesco, working nights as a personal shopper. He was happy to be busy and liked everyone that he worked with. But with his CMgr application complete, he had a lot of time with his thoughts. He started thinking about what he was giving up and questioning if he was doing the right thing. “I felt quite lonely at times, going over everything in my head. I was struggling to come to terms with it,” he says.

Parrott was able to draw on previous lessons and experiences at this moment of self-doubt, and he knew how helpful it can be to talk about your issues. He started speaking to colleagues at Tesco about how he was feeling. “Once I put it out there, everyone else started to share with each other. Knowing that other people were feeling the same, telling me their personal stories, allowed us to go through it together.”

These conversations strengthened Parrott’s resolve: he was doing the right thing. Receiving confirmation of his CMgr status and an Award of Excellence from CMI for his academic achievements further boosted his confidence. “There are things I could have done better throughout my career, but ultimately all of those experiences have shaped who I am today. To have someone validate that and say that it’s a huge achievement in terms of personal development – that means a lot.”

Now out in Dubai and weeks into his master’s degree, Parrott is focusing on the here and now, but also mulling over his next steps. “One of my biggest interests at the moment is organisational culture. I’d love to deal with people from different backgrounds across different functions and departments. I’d like to be able to use my skills to bring people together and build a culture, whether that’s within an organisation, a department or a project, to deliver results and help people grow.”