Name: Razna Khatun
Title: Culture and engagement partner at Leaders Romans Group
What I do: Internal communications covering ESG, culture, wellbeing and EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion]
My first proper job: Part time customer consultant to store manager
How I got into it: Following my career progression in retail as store manager, I wanted a role where I could use my sales skills to sell services rather than products, also to use the skills I’d developed in management to further my career in property. First I was appointed as new business advisor at LRG. After maternity leave, I joined the human resources team, which enables me to continue to use the skills I developed in a junior sales role and management level to create a positive working culture at LRG.
My first project: Soon after starting in my current role, I re-launched our core values – just six weeks into my start date. I quickly learnt to work with an agency to create graphics, also to work with design software to create several design elements and videos in readiness for a 2022 business-wide conference and internal and external launches. I communicated with a focus group and ensured that their input was included at every step, after all, our values are our people! A sub project branched from out from this: an embedding exercise which included other departments within HR administration, recruitment and training. We focused (and still do) on how we incorporate our values into all that we do across HR as a whole. A big part of this was aligning our values to our central service awards.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I would love to teach English to those in under privileged areas in the UK or another country. My ethnicity is Bangladeshi and although I was born in the UK and grew up here, I have felt that my roots belong in my motherland, Bangladesh. I have seen extreme poverty there, and I feel that by providing what I have or know can mean a lot to someone.
What I do in my downtime: I love watching a good series on iPlayer or Netflix, especially one that’s based on a true story.
My advice for someone just starting out: Get yourself out there and be involved in everything you can manage to take on! Being recognised is an easier way to progress, as numbers aren’t always everything. You can still progress by showing that you are trying your best.
My top priorities right now: My faith, my children, my marriage, my weightloss journey, my job – being happy in all of the above helps my life run smoothly.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: My beautiful late mother. We’d probably not eat much at a dinner party we’d just be hugging and hugging each other until the evening finished.
Why I love my job: I work part time so I am able to balance my work and life duties especially as a mumma to three little ones. My manager fully understands and supports my initiatives I bring to LRG, I feel valued for the work I do.
My support network: My best friend! We’ve been friends from forever (since toddlers) we have been through make ups, break ups, her dad passing away and my mother too, having children and getting married. There’s nothing we’ve missed together, no conversation is off limits. Pure love and joy.
My guilty pleasure: Cheesy chips.. and chips of all kind!
