Daniel Eyre’s career has been a winding path, taking him from technical beginnings to business development and sales roles within the healthcare sector. Along the way, he has learned the value of allyship and how it can positively impact both personal and professional growth.
Navigating the Healthcare Landscape
Daniel’s career started at EMIS, a well-known company in the healthcare industry, where he worked as a data migration specialist. “I started off my career in quite a technical space,” he recalls. He then transitioned to a small consultancy firm, leading a team of engineers and developers, but quickly moved away from development and into management roles.
For seven years, Daniel worked at Connected Health, focusing on the GP SoC team, dealing with QMAS, paying GPs, and the GP to GP program. “Most of that was supplier management, service management, and project management,” he explains. This exposure to various aspects of the healthcare industry provided him with a broad understanding of the sector.
Daniel also spent time at Capgemini, one of the big consulting firms, working on healthcare projects as well as projects for HMRC and the Welsh Government. “That gave me a very different insight into how particular worlds can be,” he says, reflecting on the diverse experiences he gained.
The Transition to Sales and Business Development
After having children and realising the need for a better work-life balance, Daniel made the move to the contracting market, which allowed him more flexibility in choosing where he worked. He worked for NHS trusts like Rotherham, Penn, and Manchester Foundation Trust before transitioning to digital dictation and speech recognition.
“For the last six or seven years, I worked in digital dictation and speech recognition, again within the healthcare sector, but for a number of companies ending most recently with Nuance, now part of Microsoft,” he explains.
The Meaning of Allyship
For Daniel, allyship means “really helping people progress on their journeys, whether that’s personal or professional.” It involves being a mentor, calling out inappropriate behaviour, and guiding people with experience. He recognises that as a “white middle-class man,” he cannot relate to certain experiences, but he values having a diverse network that allows him to connect people with those who can relate to their specific situations.
Daniel has experienced a form of marginalisation due to his role as a parent. He recalls instances where colleagues would exclude him from certain opportunities or discussions because of his need to balance work and family responsibilities. “I’ve been in positions where people have got promotions because they’ve worked 90-hour weeks every, they’re always available,” he says, questioning whether such an unhealthy work-life balance should be rewarded.
Calling Out Unacceptable Behaviour
Daniel has found himself in situations where he needed to address unacceptable behaviour, particularly related to racism and homophobia. Despite facing potential career consequences as a contractor, he has spoken up through appropriate channels, even when warned against doing so. “I’ve left organisations because I don’t feel that they’re the right organisation for me to fit into,” he says, valuing honesty and openness in the workplace.
Daniel’s experience with his son, who has ADHD and autism, has shaped his approach to leadership and understanding neurodiversity. He emphasises the importance of treating people how they want to be treated, recognising that everyone has different needs and motivations.
When it comes to challenging situations or intellectual challenges, Daniel values psychological safety and building relationships. “There are people I’ve met that you haven’t got that psychological safety net with, that can be quite rude at times and challenging, and it’s about how you don’t get too defensive and work through that,” he explains.
Practical Steps for Allyship
Daniel encourages others, particularly men, to actively expand their networks and seek out individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds. “It’s having that person you can have a chat with and see the issues that they’ve found in that particular area of work,” he advises. By building these connections, individuals can better support and guide others who may need allyship in specific situations.
Additionally, Daniel emphasises the importance of acknowledging when one lacks knowledge or experience in a particular area and being willing to connect individuals with those who can provide valuable insights.
Throughout his career journey, Daniel has learned the value of allyship, understanding, and fostering an inclusive environment. By sharing his experiences and insights, he encourages others to embrace allyship as a means of supporting personal and professional growth for all.
