Getting to know Ann

Find out more about our fabulous new team member, Ann Smith.

What have you enjoyed most about your time at The Juniper Co. so far?

Definitely, being part of the team. It's very collaborative and you really feel that you are supported. I love the fact that, whilst the company is about learning, personal development and coaching for others, it also is something that is very much offered to us within the company as well. You can always learn and increase your skills.

What are you most looking forward to contributing to the team?

I've come from a corporate background, so I have a good understanding of the way that world is structured and how we can best support our clients. My experience of working in larger teams has helped me to be able to read people well and really understand their needs.

I also enjoy exploring how we can be more innovative in the ways we present and engage with our audience, and I already feel empowered to use my creative side. I think creating a great learning experience is about holding someone's attention and understanding the different ways in which people learn. One of the great things about Juniper is that whatever service we are offering, whether it is learning and development, consulting or strategy, it is very much tailored to each client and what is going to work best for them.

How does your DISC personality profile reflect your strengths?

My personality profile is CS, and I am described as a precisionist. I'm a systematic thinker, quite detail orientated, and I like to know my subject matter before I throw myself into something; so, I would say it is pretty accurate! I am quite steady, calm and optimistic and, if my friends had to choose a word for me, they would say I am very resilient.

What is your secret superpower?

I would describe it as having the ability to put myself in someone else’s shoes – figuratively speaking, of course. I really value inclusion and collaboration, so I put a lot of effort into listening to everybody's input and trying to look at others’ points of view. I think it is very important to consider things from all angles.

What is the best thing that you have purchased in the last 12 months, and why?

I am quite a gadget person, so I am torn between two! The first would be my electric throw, which is a total game changer. Heat the body not the room, as they say. I just love the fact that it can go with me everywhere and I feel that I deserve commission because I have told so many people about them, and so many of my friends and family have now bought them. My other choice is something called a Mud Daddy – it is a water carrier and pump that I can keep in the boot of my car, so when I take my dog Humphrey out walking, I can wash him off before putting him in the car or heading into the pub for Sunday lunch.

Do you have a favourite film or book?

My favourite film was always the original Mary Poppins. I love the songs that are in it, and I can remember so clearly watching it as a child. Then about 10 years ago Saving Mr Banks was released, which is about the author of Mary Poppins. It tells of the challenges she overcame to write the story, and the battles she had with Walt Disney as her creation was taken from the page and transformed into film. So, now I have two favourite films! I just love the combination of the two, because Saving Mr Banks really made me look at the original in a new light.