Continuous learning and progression is key for Susan
Hamilton-based Susan Forsyth puts what she describes as an awesome career at Gallagher down to the learning experiences she’s prioritised as an everyday part of her professional and personal life.
Be it informal self-learning through the likes of articles and videos, professional short courses, on-the-job experiences, or through one of the many tertiary pathways Susan has trodden, she’s dedicated to extending her outlook and skills.
“I very much believe that Gallagher's investment into my upskilling has reaped rewards,” Susan explains.
One of our values at Gallagher is ‘We help each other to grow’. As a company, our curiosity and thirst for learning means we like to support people to reach lofty heights. Susan started with Gallagher as a Production Team Member in our Operations team back in 2002, moved to Security in a Customer Service Representative role, and today she’s an Financial Accountant within our Finance team.
“As I was returning from maternity leave, I’d been with Gallagher for 11 years, and decided I needed a new challenge. I talked to my leader about applying for a role in Finance. He backed me fully and encouraged me to go for it. That was in 2015. A few years into my Finance role I decided it was time to go back and do some study,” Susan explains. “That’s the great thing about working for Gallagher – people here back you to follow your dreams.”
She also credits teammate John Shields who she says has felt like a mentor in my early career – and a friend – over the years.
“John’s always been there to make my life interesting,” Susan laughs. “He’s backed me and that’s been so important in taking the next step.”
Susan’s love of learning started with a Tourism qualification at Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua, followed by a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato, double majoring in Tourism Management & Anthropology. Then it was onto a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Studies, also at Waikato University. Now she’s most of the way through a Bachelor of Applied Management, majoring in accounting, through Wintec – something she’s been working on part-time for the last six years.
“My favourite subjects at school were Economics, Cooking, and English,” Susan says. “I also took Math and Accounting – they weren’t my favourites, but I did well in them.”
Susan’s studies have covered papers in financial accounting, tax, law, and economics to name just a few.
“Everyone’s career pathways are really different, and what you do depends on the direction you’re trying to take. For me, I wanted the educational background, as that’s how I make sense of the world. But I also recognise that for other people learning on the job is equally as good. The educational side of things gives me the theory and diversity of thought - the theory is important to me,” Susan says. “Now I’m like ‘oh click’ when the theory and my on-the-job learning come together.”
Gallagher supports personal and professional development. Do you want to join a company that supports you to have a career similar to Susan's? Find out more about the vacancies we have on offer here.