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Joining Capita as a development lead, Charu has thrived in her role and become an enterprise architect in software design – and she has plans to develop and grow further as she moves higher up the business. She talks to us about her role, why her job is all about understanding business problems and how she’s been supported and nurtured by her managers and colleagues.
As an enterprise architect, I help different businesses to solve problems by designing IT solutions for them. My role is very varied day-to-day - I’m currently working on the latest technologies in the business, including AI, working on frameworks, and interacting with clients to understand a business problem and offer relevant solutions.
Getting to grips with a problem
We don't start by creating a solution, but by understanding a business problem and how we can resolve it. That’s what makes this such an interesting role, because those problems can be massively varied. We identify the dependencies on data, legal and commercial aspects, regulatory compliance, infrastructure resilience and integration requirements, as well as identifying the right set of secure and sustainable technologies. It can be a challenging industry to work in because technologies are ever-changing in the market. There can also be a lack of uniformity in technologies unless everyone follows a common framework.
A diverse team – with diverse challenges
One of the most interesting challenges I’ve worked on recently was designing and implementing a project from inception to delivery in less than two months – this was a very unusual timescale but our efforts to make it happen were hugely appreciated. I’m glad that not every project works on such a quick turnaround!
As a team, we meet periodically to discuss new projects and bids, cross-project topics and challenges, talk to the senior leadership team, present what we are up to and propose better ways of working in the Capita architecture space. As the team lives across the UK, we normally meet in the central London Capita office.
Being heard and listening to others
One of the reasons I really enjoy working here is that everyone's opinion is heard and valued within the team. Ever since I joined the working environment itself has been calm, but the work challenging, which feels like the perfect combination for me. We have members of different race, gender and culture in our wider team, and everyone is respected for their skills, not judged for who they are or where they’ve come from.
The whole team is provided with the training they need to grow professionally and maintain a good work-life balance. I joined as a development lead and I’m now an enterprise architect so, as you can see, there’s lots of career progression available here. Personally, I’ve had soft skills training in-house and then external training on AI, Microsoft and TOGAF 10. While on a course, I’m able to block the time to study so I can really focus on learning and getting my head down when I need to, and that has really helped me to secure these certifications. Plus, I’ve found my team and managers to be very supportive of my training.
Looking to what’s next for me
Capita makes it easy for me to keep a clear work-life balance so I’m able to give equal importance to both. I’ve also been given the flexibility I need for my own personal commitments. At work, I’m part of the Capita Wellbeing Network, which I really enjoy and have made the time to get involved with.
My plan for the future is to carry on progressing – first, as an enterprise architect, I need to work on various aspects of TOGAF architecture to make a solid foundation for my future roles, along with growing my understanding of various business aspects and taking that to the next level.
