Vicky Reddington ─ transforming talent into exceptional teams
January 12, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Vicky Reddington
Co-Founder
Amplified Group
Are you looking for the ultimate driver of change, team builder for competitive advantage, who is focused on delivering results? We know the person—Vicky Reddington!
Vicky is the co-founder of the Amplified Group, which helps technology companies gain and maintain Organisational Fitness to get the best of her client’s talent and enable them to thrive in today’s fast paced world. Prior to the Amplified Group, she spent 20 years working in global and EMEA leadership roles at Citrix and VMware with a reputation for always delivering results!
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Vicky Reddington!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I was so shy at school, I used to wear a top and bottom brace that I was just supposed to sleep in, so that I didn’t have to speak up in lessons.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
There is a saying that bronze card holders want to be silver, the silvers want to be gold and the gold want to be at home – I was one of the latter. Since the pandemic and being completely virtual, we have taken the business global and I am ready to get back on a plane!
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Cheshire, England! My dad was a potato farmer. At the age of 13 I was invited to a friend’s home for supper. I had never even seen or eaten pasta, so when I faced a plate of spaghetti bolognaise, I had absolutely no clue how to eat it!
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I presented in the innovation slot at Citrix’s Analyst summit with the Citrix Executive team in 2006. My message was focused on the power of simplicity. I remember having real imposter syndrome. Mark Templeton, the CEO of Citrix told me to have confidence in my story telling, which is ironic given the shyness I referred to earlier! His belief in me really gave me confidence.
I was asked to build a new transformational partner organisation at VMware. Understanding the power of people, I started to work closely with Luca Stigliano, VMware’s head of L&D in EMEA and he introduced me to Patrick Lencioni’s methodology, “The Five Behaviours of a Team”. I was so blown away by the power of it and the Amplified Group was born.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I had the opportunity to work with some amazing leaders who influenced my career, but the biggest lesson early on was from Stefan Sjostrom, who said “You have two ears and one mouth; use them in those proportions.”
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Don’t underestimate the power of teamwork. I turned down promotions thinking I wasn’t up to the job, whereas I now realise I didn’t need to have all the answers. The most important thing as a leader is to build a talented, diverse and united team that work together. Then you can truly make a difference.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
Mentoring is one of the most rewarding things I do. At the Amplified Group, we offer a limited number of free mentoring slots every month on a first come first served basis, which is open to anyone who asks!
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Early on at the Amplified Group we surveyed 200 IT leaders from start-ups to tech giants. Distilling the results, we found that organisations, no matter their size or age, need to have Organisational Fitness to be agile in today’s fast paced tech world. This is the basis for the work we now do with tech companies.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
We are just finishing off our second series of our podcast, Get Amplified. I have had to learn how to record, edit and publish podcasts. We will soon be thinking about series three, so this is a request for more women guests!
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
Scaling the business as quickly as we were pre-pandemic and finding the courageous and forward-thinking leaders who know that prioritising and investing in teamwork remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
