Celebrating Sue's Retirement at KTL

Sue O’Shea joined KTL in September 2019, just after her 65th birthday. From the very beginning, she brought both valuable experience and a positive mindset.

"When I first joined KTL, it was a small team," Sue reminisces, "just four of us”. We hit the ground running from day one.

Looking back, a few key moments stand out for Sue. The vender swap project, undertaken shortly after she started, brought a steep learning curve, but with the support of a growing team, they tackled it head-on. Then came the unexpected challenge of Covid-19.

"Going into lockdown with the team then of six people based at Solihull Business Park, moving to working remotely on Acquisition & Design projects in Telecoms was quite a feat," Sue says. "But coming out on the other side of Covid with a team of over 30, all working seamlessly despite the distance, is something KTL should be so proud of."

One of Sue's biggest accomplishments, however, is not a project or a milestone, but the team itself. "Seeing them grow, learn, and work together to overcome any obstacle has been truly rewarding.” When the shift to remote work brought feelings of isolation, Sue's solution was very effective.

"We started having daily 'coffee calls,'" she explains. "Just like in the office, we'd chat about anything and everything while the kettle boiled. It made a huge difference in keeping the team connected."

Sue's career journey itself is an inspiration. A single mom of two young children, she entered the workforce later in life. "Back then," she says, "it was expected for mothers to stay at home to look after the kids. But once my kids were independent, I started with some office work, eventually landing a job at GPN Ltd, which kickstarted my career in Telecoms."

What was one of the most defining moments for Sue? Learning to use a computer. "When I started doing office work, just mainly filing, I had never used a computer before, and I realised that if I was going to better myself, I needed to learn. A friend lent me an old PC and I found a book on ‘computer for beginners’ and just worked through it," she declares. "With determination, I knew I could achieve anything I set my mind to, and it helped me land the job with GPN Ltd."

This spirit of perseverance is reflected in Sue's advice to others: "Be confident. You can do anything you set your mind to."  Her own journey is a testament to that.

Looking back, Sue acknowledges the initial sadness of leaving her team behind. Yet, retirement brings its own set of exciting possibilities. "I'm looking forward to some 'me' time," "exploring the beautiful area I live in and spending time with loved ones." Trips to Italy and Australia are already on the horizon.

For her colleagues, Sue leaves a simple message: "Keep up the good work! KTL is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Telecoms and Power."

Perhaps the best way to sum up Sue's career is with the phrase she jokingly suggests: "Ask Sue.com." Because for anyone who knows her, one thing’s certain: if Sue’s asked to do something, it would get done.

To all of us at KTL, thank you, Sue, for your commitment, your positive spirit, and contributions. We wish you a fulfilling and happy retirement!

She has brought a wealth of experience and a positive attitude that would become a cornerstone of the growing team.