Chrissie recently stepped into the role of Managing Director at Blu Sky, helping to oversee the operational and delivery side of the business as it continues to grow.
Having been with Blu Sky for four and a half years, she has progressed through several roles and has been a key part of the company’s journey.
We caught up with her to learn more about her career so far, what her new role involves, and what she enjoys most about working at Blu Sky.
What is your role at Blu Sky and what does it involve day-to-day?
I’ve recently become the Managing Director, which is a new role both for me and for the business. It’s a varied position and spans people, clients, business development and relationships.
I work closely with Jon and Steve on strategy, while also driving the operational and delivery side of things at Blu Sky. A big part of it is making sure we have the right services, systems and processes in place to support the team and deliver the quality and value our clients expect.
How has your role changed since joining Blu Sky?
I started out as a Client Relationship Director, looking after a portfolio of clients and making sure they were getting what they needed. From there, I moved into Head of Client Operations, where I started focussed more on client pillar, OKRs and the strategic side of things.
Now, in the Managing Director role, it’s about having visibility across all the pillars and being responsible for delivering for the business. It’s definitely a transition, but having a strong understanding of the business has helped a lot.
What made you want to work in this field?
It definitely wasn’t always the plan. I started out in the British Army and after that I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do.
I explored a few different options before landing on accountancy. My mum used to do the books for our family’s hotel business, so that helped shape my thinking. People often assume accountancy is all about maths, but for me it’s much more about problem solving and understanding the story behind the numbers to be able to support the business owners achieve their goals.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Not being afraid to make mistakes. People can be really hard on themselves when they get something wrong, and I think accountants can struggle with this because we like things to be perfect.
But actually, it’s from those mistakes that you learn and grow the most. The important thing is to hold your hands up, learn from it and move forward.
What’s your favourite part about working at Blu Sky?
The people. I really enjoy turning my laptop on in the morning, saying hello to the team and getting stuck into the day. The people make it such an enjoyable place to work.
There’s also a huge amount of variety in the work, which I love. We’ve got people from different backgrounds, cultures and areas of expertise, and that makes it a really interesting group to be part of.
What advice would you give to a busy CEO?
Let go a little and trust the people around you, especially when it comes to finance.
It can be hard to step back from the detail, but if you stay too deep in it all the time, it stops you focusing on where your time is most valuable. It’s not about ignoring the numbers, it’s about having the right support around you so you can focus on where you add the most value.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining Blu Sky?
Take the leap of faith and do it. It’s genuinely a great place to work, and you really feel trusted within the business.
Your voice is heard, and you get opportunities to be involved in Blu Sky’s direction and strategy. That’s true at all levels, not just when you become more senior.
And finally, what do you get up to outside of work?
CrossFit is my main passion outside of work and I’m hoping to take part in a few competitions this year! I’ve also recently completed a wine course, which was great fun. I’ve finished the level 2 qualification and I’m already looking at level 3.
