My way to the top - Penny Kemp | Official CIPS Magazine

22 July 2010 | Penny Kemp

Penny Kemp, head of IT Services Contracts and Supplier Management for GCHQ, enjoys the challenges of her role

My role

I am both on the IT Board and part of procurement management for the Government Communications HQ. So as well as the delivery of contract and supplier management I input into strategic decisions.

Motivation

Three things motivate me; I love negotiating, especially to resolve some issue, achieving set goals, especially when challenging, and when the whole team contributes as it feels great to deliver something together.

Consultancy versus industry

If I could change something about my career I wish I’d been a consultant earlier on. In an industry job you face challenges such as outsourcing, mergers, cost reduction and learn to create solutions, so when I became a consultant in 2007 I had already learnt a lot ‘on the job’. But if I had done consultancy earlier it would have given me the experience of solving problems for multiple clients, building new skills rapidly, and perhaps less painfully.

Practical thinking

I have been very lucky in the bosses I have worked for. The most memorable one helped me to put my emotions to one side and resolve problems with my head. If a supplier has caused a big problem it is easy to become emotional but the ability to put this to one side and see what is the best solution is a very useful perspective to have.

Love your job

Procurement is something you should love. Are you someone who likes getting the price down? Do you like solving problems and are you always thinking of new ways to improve things? You can always tell who is right for procurement when you hand them a challenging problem and their eyes light up.

All the opportunities I have had were unexpected. My advice would be to do the best you can where you are and then see what happens.

CV: Penny Kemp
Job history:
2009-present: Head of IT Services Contracts and Supplier Management for GCHQ

2008-2009: Consultant, KPMG

2007-2008: Director – Premise Management Procurement Global, UK and Ireland End Use, Alcatel-Lucent

2006-2007: Senior manager – Contracts and Negotiation for EMEA, Lucent Technologies

2002-2007: EMEA Internal Spend Leader - Supplier Management, Lucent Technologies

Education:

Geography BA (Honours)

Favourite film: The Harry Potter series
Favourite word: Possible

Favourite TV show: Mock the Week

Greatest fear: Getting stuck in a rut

Hero: Sir Ernest Shackleton – when work gets tough I reflect on his bravery