Success Redefined - An Interview with Hilda-May Latham

Hilda-May Latham is a Technical Director at Amey. Her work in the rail division looks specifically at programme and project management, at setting strategy, identifying and ensuring competencies for the team and looking at growth and change for the business.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I had a vision of being a vet. I love animals, so as a vet I could help animals heal. But I've always been very organised in my approach, and I enjoy structure, so I think that's naturally led me on to the project management career path.

What did you think success meant growing up?

Looking back, success always meant that linear progression line for me. I was always focused on what's the next step, where do I need to progress to next.  

How do measure success now?

Today, I look at it differently in that I think success can mean different things at different points in your life. It's definitely not a linear progression line throughout, it can go up, down, sideways, basically it can look like a mess of spaghetti sometimes! Now I see it as more about the journey, not the destination or the end goal. It’s about the growth process as a whole. That means embracing the short-term uncomfortable and also balancing it with self-care, prioritising some of my needs and putting strong boundaries in place.

What's been your proudest moment, and did that make you feel successful?

I've struggle with this one a little bit because I find proud moments difficult to identify, probably because I think we also don't celebrate success. The one moment that immediately stands out for me is when I completed the Scotland coast to coast race. Running, cycling and kayaking, from Inverness all the way over to Fort William, in two days, covering just over 100 miles. I had to overcome some really difficult moments through the race but I also got a huge sense of achievement from it.

I've had moments like that in my career as well and with family. As a family we recently did a three day hike in South Africa, out on our own, in the wilderness and to do that and still be alive and having enjoyed it, was awesome success in the moment.

What's been your biggest challenge when it comes to trying to achieve success?

Definitely managing my mind, and that still always surprises me. It's about managing my mind and managing it in a way that helps me succeed and helps me be a better version of myself, without being too harsh on myself. I'm trying to move away from perfection and trying to embrace the fact that I can't do everything, and be everything, for everybody, all the time and that’s helped. With every part of my journey, I've learned something completely different or sometimes I’ve had to relearn the same learning but at a deeper level.

Do you feel like you've had to take risks in your life to try and create success?

Yes, without a doubt and I'm probably naturally a risk adverse person. I moved from South Africa to the UK when I was 23, all on my own and I think that was a level of risk that I took and a sense of bravery that was needed to embrace it. Throughout my career as well, every step change was a risk to do something different, something new and something that might expose me or give me a sense that I might fail. But whether it’s career or my personal adventures and challenges, there is a risk that is worth taking, despite the discomfort.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing women in the workplace, when it comes to success?

If we're saying success is climbing the ladder in the workplace, then I think there’s a tendency where, as women, we hold ourselves back. So it's overcoming that and balancing what's important to us, as individuals, with our work. I've been in a place in my career, for a long time, where I wasn't entirely happy and I tried to push through and progress, but last year I decided that actually I was still not happy and I needed to do something different. Something more aligned to my values. It's alright pushing, but at some point, it's important to pause and think about what is more aligned to your values. I found, now I'm working in a role that is more aligned to my values, I’m now able to perform better and be a better version of myself but if I wasn't brave enough to take that opportunity, I would still feel like I'm not achieving what I want and not making a difference.

How does happiness play a part in success for you?

Oh, I think hugely.  It's alright to grind or hustle for a short period of time but long term it's not sustainable and I think that's where the want for happiness comes in. You don't have to be happy all the time but there's a part of you that will know whether or not something's right for you, at a deeper level. Then it's about being brave enough to change, to realign more with your heart, rather than what your head might tell you.

How does wellbeing play a part in your definition of success?

When I used to plan my week, I used to plan home life and I used to plan work life, in their own individual bubbles. I'd have 100 things to do at work and I'd have 100 things to do at home and I knew that something had to give. So now I take that into consideration and I’ve built a strong foundation for my well-being. I've learned that I'm a morning person and I enjoy the calming effect of mornings. Mornings are where I do a bit of thinking or where I'll go and exercise and look after my well-being, to set the day up right. It doesn't matter if it's five o'clock in the morning, it makes such a difference, so I try to plan it into every day and prioritise that now because otherwise I feel off for the rest of the day.

How important has relationship building been in your career?

I'm learning that relationship building is even more important than I originally gave it credit for, it’s still something I'm working on and learning. I think difficult conversations for example become easier once you've built that relationship. Ultimately, we’re all humans and we do business through our relationships. I am, for example, much more inclined to trust somebody who I know and have worked with before than from a new person. During the pandemic I realised that one of the things that's key for our own well-being is connection. Forming relationships are all about connection.  

What's your biggest goal for this year?

Well, I've got a few work-related goals. On a personal level, I've decided to cycle the coast to coast of Wales from Conway to Worms Head on the Gower in August. I'd like to do this race to raise money for Cancer Research, as a lot of my family and some friends have been touched by cancer over the last few years, so it’s important to me to fundraise and challenge myself as well.

If you could give your 15 year old self some advice what would it be?

I think it's about embracing the moment and not expecting progress to be linear.

The other piece of advice would be stress + rest = growth. Those are some of the big lessons that I've learned.

If you had to share one secret to success, what would it be?

Success is always changing, don't be afraid to change with it.

If you’d like to find out more about Hilda-May’s work please connect with her on LinkedIn.