I'm human, I get things wrong sometimes. And I would rather regret something I've done than something I haven't. So here's a few things I've got wrong and what it taught me...
THE HAMPER
After a big release, I raced to put together thank-you hampers for the squad — and completely forgot one of the team was vegan. The chocolate centrepiece of their hamper was something they couldn't eat. I was mortified: in my rush to show appreciation, I'd made someone feel overlooked, which was the exact opposite of what I was hoping for.
It was quickly put right, but I've never forgotten it.
Lesson learnt: Stop. Think about what you're doing — and who you're doing it for. Good intentions delivered fast can still land badly; the care is in the details.
THE JOB THAT ALMOST WASN'T
When I first applied to Genio, hiring was frozen mid-process because of the uncertainty COVID brought. I was gutted — I'd wanted the role, done the work, and it evaporated for reasons that had nothing to do with me.
Months later, when hiring reopened, I got the call to re-interview. I got the job.
Lesson learnt: Sometimes things are entirely outside your control — and that's OK. Don't take systemic setbacks personally, and don't burn the bridge; the door you thought had closed can reopen.
UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
I'd played football growing up, so joining the university team seemed obvious. What I hadn't clocked was just how competitive it would be — and I quickly realised I simply didn't want it enough to match the people who did.
So I stopped. Turns out trampolining was much more fun anyway.
Lesson learnt: It's OK to follow what brings you joy. Quitting the wrong thing isn't failure — it's how you make room for the right one.
THE POLISHED ROADMAP
Earlier in my PM career, I held onto a roadmap until it was beautifully polished before sharing it with my team and stakeholders. They picked holes in it. It didn't have everything they wanted. I couldn't please everyone — and by presenting a finished artefact, I'd turned potential collaborators into critics.
Lesson learnt: Share early, even when it feels messy. Involved collaborators beat distant stakeholders every time.