“Be brave and say yes to things that feel uncomfortable.”
Kimberley Shepherd didn’t follow the typical “tech path” and that’s exactly what makes her story so powerful. With a background in live music, a website project that unexpectedly landed on her desk, and a master’s degree completed in her 30s, Kimberley’s journey into tech has been anything but linear. Now, 10 years on, she’s found her perfect fit as an IT Delivery Lead at the National Trust, a role that taps into her strengths in leadership, planning, and strategy.
From taking a sabbatical to the Middle East to landing her dream job in one of the most values-driven organisations out there, Kimberley opens up about why coding wasn’t for her, how finances were a real barrier early on, and why being brave enough to say yes to uncomfortable opportunities changed everything.
In this blog, she shares the moments that shaped her and the mindset that keeps her moving forward.
Hey Kim! We are so thrilled to have you involved with Women Rock 😊 Please could you start by introducing yourself and letting us know how you got into tech?
Thanks for having me! I’ve been “in tech” for around 10 years, but it wasn’t a conventional start; I was doing an internship in live music whilst at university studying for my undergraduate degree in English & History. My internship was at an independent record label working in grassroots music, organising gigs, festivals, exhibitions, etc., but a project to oversee a new website fell onto my desk and changed everything. Over the next decade, I built skills working for charities, retail brands and agencies, starting in brand and marketing but specialising quite quickly in Digital & IT, particularly delivery. I didn’t complete my master’s in project management until I was in my 30s, by which time I’d got real experience and understanding, especially to say I started so far away from tech.
You mentioned during our call that working for the National Trust was a dream job. Tell us how you landed the role?
I had a conversation with my degree tutor on wanting to work at the National Trust when I was at uni, but like most graduates, I had no idea what I wanted to do. The short story is that after taking a ‘sort of’ sabbatical to work in the Middle East for a year, I came home and went back to the comfort of my previous company as Digital Delivery Manager. I was living in Cheshire, away from friends & family, plus it was the tail end of Covid, so my favourite thing became exploring Dunham Massey (one of the National Trust’s northern properties) to reconnect with being ‘home.’ I talked about the property during my interview for National Trust; I always say was one of the best interview experiences I’ve had, and I felt connected to the team instantly. They completely sold the culture of the organisation to me, and I could see strong development opportunities. I joined as a Delivery Manager initially and then applied internally for my current role as IT Delivery Lead. It’s a bigger job, managing the development and delivery team in IT Digital as well as overseeing several workstreams such as the website, online shop, holidays and cyber security enhancements. It really is turning out to be my dream job; it’s fast paced, complex, I’ve got autonomy to make big decisions and feel like my expertise is really valued here.
If you weren’t working as an IT Digital Delivery Lead, would there be a different role in tech you’d love to try?
Honestly, delivery is just the right fit for me, so probably not. I love planning, leading people and strategising for outcomes, so it feeds into all my strengths. I did develop a keen interest in AB testing in a previous role, which really built my data analysis skills, so maybe something with testing or user experience. I have tried to spread my wings; I did an introduction to Java & HTML a few years ago and can comfortably say, you will never see me coding again!
What do you enjoy the most about working in IT Delivery?
I get to work with the full team to plan outcomes and see the end-to-end of a project or solution. Whether it be working with product and delivery managers to scope and refine the idea, developers and testers building the solution, or working with operations to release a change… in delivery, you really are involved in every aspect. It’s fast-paced, no day is the same, and I get to use my critical thinking skills a lot.
If you could go back 10 years ago when you were doing your degree, what would you tell yourself?
Trust the process. Whilst I was writing essays on Wordsworth and Henry VIII at uni, I never imagined I’d be managing a team at Europe’s largest conservation charity. So also maybe, be brave and say yes to things that feel uncomfortable. Without sounding patronising, sometimes we have to do things, jobs, projects, etc. that we might not enjoy, but I think it’s all leading me to the right place at the right time. It’s often felt like my skills and passions would never align, but it is possible if you just trust the process and see everything as a chance to develop and add to your skillset.
Why should someone choose a career in tech/digital, in your opinion?
If you’re a person who thrives on change or on evolving an idea and the challenge of creating something new, then it’s an excellent field to choose. I also think that tech is really leading the way when it comes to diversity and progressive working; in the last five years, especially, I’ve been grateful for the way the tech industry (for the most part) has evolved its ways of working.
Are there any barriers you have faced throughout your career? How did you overcome them, and what advice would you give to other women facing them?
In my experience, a huge barrier to getting into tech was finance. I did a lot of research into how I could develop my qualifications before settling on a master’s degree, as it meant I could use longer-term finance options such as student finance. This meant studying whilst working full time, which was tough going for two years and isn’t an option for everyone. The average introductory certification to project management is around £1700, which isn’t attainable to everyone, especially if you are in a junior role. My main advice would be researching your best options; ask for sponsorship from your company or development opportunities, look for free online courses and try to carve out opportunities in your current roles to showcase your abilities.
Tell us about someone who inspires you in life.
The obvious answer would be Taylor Swift… But if I focus on my career, I have been most inspired over the last few years by a previous colleague of mine, Madalyn Matthews. She was fresh out of university when she joined my old team, but from the second we me,t I was impressed at how open she was to challenging her personal and professional development. It was eye-opening to see someone who not only didn’t shy away from doing uncomfortable things but actively pursued them. She is a rocket when it comes to digital and made me up my game when it came to setting goals, understanding my personal PR and being bold in my development. I’m never not impressed by the way she is carefully orchestrating her career, and she also introduced me to vision boards.
Finally, what is a quote/mantra you live by?
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
A bit of Dolly Parton never hurt anyone.
What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?
“The French Lieutenant’s Woman” by John Fowells. An all-time favourite.
What is your favourite song?
This might have been the most difficult question! I couldn’t pick one, so today it would be “Let Me Be Wrong” by Jensen McRae because her new album is fab.
Interviewed by Steph Jackson
