Career Journey & Growth

At NextGen, growth isn’t a buzzword – it’s actual skills developed, real challenges tackled, tangible progress made. Here, Felicity M. gets specific about her own growth journey.

Q: What initially attracted you to the Change Control Engineer role, and how did that role prepare you for later positions? 

A: The main draw was the supportive environment; NextGen’s team met me where I was as a nervous graduate, giving me confidence by promising to teach me everything I needed. Crucially, they presented the role as a clear first stepping stone by showing examples of people who had used it to launch careers as BAs, developers, and CEs, illustrating that I could customize my own professional path.

Q: What was the biggest shift in responsibility and mindset as you moved from Change Control into Release Manager and then into Head of Quality?

 A: The jump from Change Control to Release Manager was a shift from independent work to relationship management. I went from doing my own specific tasks to facilitating others’ work, communicating with developers and CE to ensure releases were timely. The second, larger shift from Release Manager to Head of Quality was people management. My mindset had to change from individual contribution to enabling the team. My job became removing roadblocks and helping them succeed, rather than telling them how to do their jobs.

Q: Was there a moment or project that was the turning point in your career progression? 

A: It wasn’t a specific project, but a strategic action: I defined a trajectory and told HR and my managers about it. Even though I didn’t end up as the Business Analyst I initially suggested, it showed them I was proactive. This meant my managers could advocate for me, guide me away from unsuitable roles, and pre-flag the Release Manager role when it came up. Calling out what you want gives you flexibility and gets people backing you.

Q: What kind of support or mentorship have you found most helpful?

A: I was fortunate that my department head took me under her wing, especially when I moved to Head of Quality (filling her role). She became a mentor and a strong advocate for me, seeing that I was proactive about my career, taking recommended courses, and genuinely wanting to progress. I wouldn’t be where I am without her support.

Q: What key lessons have you learned throughout your journey? 

A: Being able to communicate effectively is paramount. Being able to articulate your goal is often half the battle. People at NextGen want to help; you just have to clearly tell them what you’re trying to achieve.

Q: How has your perspective on quality and delivery evolved since you’ve taken on more senior responsibilities? 

A: When I started, quality was a narrow view of hitting specific targets and requirements. As I’ve moved through my career, quality has become more about setting and meeting expectations. Being able to communicate why we’re doing something, how we’re doing it, and then delivering on that promise is what quality means to me now.

Q: What advice would you give to somebody who wants to have a long, evolving career at NextGen? A: Be proactive and drive your career yourself. Define the next step and tell people what it is, it shows them you are serious. When people suggest ways to progress your career, do them. You need to lead the charge, and that gets people on your side as advocates who will help you immensely.

For more on how we make “growth” real at NextGen, learn about Alessandro Pinna, our Head of Customer Success’ journey here.

And to learn more about life at NextGen, check out our careers page or our careers blog.