Meet Laura Fox, a British expat who followed love to Belgium and joined Projective Group after having her first child last year. With a background in political science and a current role in sustainable finance, she lets us in on her views about career transitions, the importance of corporate culture and embracing life outside of work. “Previously, I felt like a number at work. Projective Group focuses on who I am as a person and how I’m feeling,” says Laura.
Originally from the UK, Laura Fox went to university in Britain. “I didn’t study finance or economics, but political science,” she says. “I specialised in EU studies and did a year of Erasmus at Sciences Po, the political school in Strasbourg. There, I worked part time at the European Parliament as an intern, back when the UK was still part of the EU.” After her year in France, she went back to England to get her masters in political science at University College London.
A Brit in Brussels
In London, she met the man she now calls husband. He’s Belgian – that’s how she ended up across the Canal. Fortunately, moving to Belgium wasn’t much of a culture shock for Laura. “Thanks to my Erasmus year, I spoke French, so that came in handy moving to Brussels. And apart from language, it’s not so different here than back home,” she says. “The weather’s the same, the culture is quite similar. There’s more bureaucracy here, but also a better quality of life. And I have British friends here, too, so I really like it here.”
Cultural (mis)match
Before joining Projective Group, Laura briefly worked at a large consultancy. “But I didn’t like the culture there. When I thought about going back after my maternity leave, I just had such a horrible feeling. So I trusted my gut and I didn’t go back. That’s when I joined Projective Group.”
We’re glad to say Laura feels much better here. “I like the flat structure and the human approach. At the large consulting firm, I felt like a number, and all people were concerned with were job titles and promotions. At Projective Group, everyone’s very open and kind, there’s more of a focus on who you are as a person and how you’re feeling. I’m much happier now than I was before,” says Laura.
I like the flat structure and the human approach. At the large consulting firm, I felt like a number, and all people were concerned with were job titles and promotions. At Projective Group, everyone’s very open and kind, there’s more of a focus on who you are as a person and how you’re feeling. I’m much happier now than I was before.
Positive impact
Laura now works at FMO, the Financieringsmaatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden, which is the Dutch Development Bank. “The bank is partly owned by the Dutch government and focuses on investing into emerging markets. Obviously, they still want to generate profit, but their main objective is to have a positive impact on the local economy. They don’t have any investments in Europe. For the most part, it’s Africa and South America that they’re investing into,” Laura explains.
At FMO, Laura is working on a sustainable finance project. “There are a raft of new rules and regulations entering into force that the EU has passed in order to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement,” says Laura. “I’m working on a project that’s implementing those rules and regulations at FMO. I’m focusing primarily on the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which is focused on transparency towards end investors and taxonomy regulation. There’s an added layer of challenge here, since all these regulations are very Europe-centric, and FMO doesn’t have any exposure to the EU at all.”
Balancing act
Next to the work she does at FMO, Laura also helps out on Projective Group level. “We have a couple of people in the UK and the Netherlands, and me in Belgium, working on the ESG sustainable finance go-to-market for Projective Group. This allows me to use my knowledge from FMO to help with developing the go-to-market, submitting RFPs and things like that to try and get some projects.”
Balancing these two projects is something Laura really enjoys. But what she also appreciated, is how Projective Group approached her about the extra work. “They asked me if it was okay for me to do this, if I had the time. They assured me it wasn’t to impact on my personal life, and asked to let them know if it got to be too much. No one’s ever asked me that before. I really appreciated the genuine care for my wellbeing.”
They asked me if it was okay for me to do this, if I had the time. They assured me it wasn’t to impact on my personal life, and asked to let them know if it got to be too much. No one’s ever asked me that before. I really appreciated the genuine care for my wellbeing.
Prioritising work-life harmony
As a final question during the insightful conversation we had, we asked Laura if she had any words of wisdom for people thinking of applying to Projective Group. For her, it’s all about balance. “You have to enjoy your job because you spend so much time doing it. But at the end of the day, it’s just your job. You also need to focus on other things outside of work that bring you happiness,” Laura says.
“When I was younger, I felt I had to work really, really hard in order to prove myself. Now that I’m a bit older, and especially since I’ve had a baby, I’ve realised that I get just as much done when I work my normal hours with focus, than I would if I was just working all the time. One of my early managers said to me once: at your funeral, nobody’s going to say ‘she did a great job’. It’s going to be your family, and they’re going to say: ‘she spent time with me’. I think that’s some pretty good advice, so I’d like to pay it forward.”
Conclusion
Feeling good at work is definitely important. Corporate culture is a big part of that, as Laura experienced firsthand. Finding an employer that encourages you to maintain a healthy work-life balance allows you to enjoy things outside of work that bring you happiness as well. As Laura’s story shows, harmony between work and life is key. Inspired by her story? Check out our open vacancies right here!
About Projective Group
Established in 2006, Projective Group is a leading Financial Services change specialist.
We are recognised within the industry as a complete solutions provider, partnering with clients in Financial Services to provide resolutions that are both holistic and pragmatic. We have evolved to become a trusted partner for companies that want to thrive and prosper in an ever-changing Financial Services landscape.
