International Men's Day Spotlight: James Watson

To cap off our International Men’s Day week of celebrations, James Watson , our VP of People Operations & Belonging, shares his personal and professional journey in this candid interview.   

He talks about his struggle with imposter syndrome, his coping mechanisms, and his purpose of contributing to something bigger than himself.  

He also highlights the caring and inclusive culture of Finastra, which allows him to be himself and have a balance between work and well-being, and explains what ‘Open, Together’ means to him and how it defines a company's commitment to its people. 

1. How would you describe Life at Finastra?  

How many words am I allowed to use?!... I can only say this place just gets increasingly under your skin with every day that goes by. I didn’t have much insight into what life would be like at Finastra before I joined, which isn’t uncommon and why we have been working on developing our People Pledge and Employer Brand, to share more. However, when I joined and after getting my feet under the table, I found a deeply caring organisation. One that really cares about our customers, the way we do business, our purpose and (most importantly for me) our people. I'm proud to work at an organisation that doesn’t just say it is inclusive, you can feel it every day and in every way we operate. Finally, we have a lot of fun here! Yes, the work can be challenging, but we don’t lose the human touch. We are social beings... we need to have some fun along the way, and we do! 

1. Tell us one thing you want people to know about you?

In the spirit of International Men’s Day, I can share some of the things I have personally struggled with throughout my career. One thing I have constantly battled with is imposter syndrome and insecurities of the feeling of not being good enough. For me, it is not so much about having the confidence in what I do, but rather about analysing how others perceive me. I realise I’m not unique in this and it is human nature to want to meaningfully contribute to things bigger than yourself. I’ve learnt that it’s important to recognize that the communities you live and work within value you for the person you are and what you bring to the table.  

Over the years, I've built some coping mechanisms. Part of this is being comfortable in your own skin and remembering to believe in yourself (because if you don’t, who else will?), The other part is consciously investing in meaningful relationships at work. Receiving open authentic support, coaching and feedback has always helped me consider objective insights to balance my own internal perspectives. I have been lucky throughout my career with the people that have supported and invested in me. 

1. Tell us one thing that everyone should know about Finastra?  

There is a lot to be proud about in being part of Finastra. I've shared a little about the culture, but it’s also important to recognize Finastra’s role across the financial sector. We are so intrinsically embedded into many of the world's largest financial institutions, providing critical and game-changing solutions. The part we play in delivering financial products to millions across the world is no mean feat! We should take a moment to be proud of what this company does, how it does it and the role that each of us plays in the ecosystem. 

1. What does balance mean to you?  

For me, it’s critical. It creates harmony between the million things we all have going on in our lives... The challenge comes in keeping it and knowing when it’s beginning to tilt. I had recently become a father when COVID hit and at the time I was travelling 50% of the time. When lockdown caused everything to come to a pause, it was so eye opening for me. I realised how out of balance I was and how much I was missing of being an active parent as my little boy grew up. I sometimes reflect on whether I would have seen that if it were not for the pandemic – it would have been something I would never have been able to get back. 

1. What does ‘Open, Together’ mean to you? 

At its heart, ‘Open, Together’ is a statement of intent. We, as an organisation, are greater than the sum of our parts. ‘Open, Together’ defines our commitment to investing in our greatest asset...our people and to grow through collaboration, teamwork and our rich diversity of thoughts and ideas - the magic ingredients to our success! 

1. Can you talk a little about how you look after your well-being (mental health/physical, etc.) 

I must admit, over the last year I have found that a little tricky! With a new 7-month-old daughter, finding the time to look after yourself has been an important juggling act! I've had to do a little trial and error to find a way that works. Whilst not the world's greatest athlete, I personally believe nothing helps more, both mentally and physically, than exercise. It’s one of the only things that takes my mind off the many things that occupy my attention and helps me relax and recharge.   

I'm not a morning person, so I tried to find some time after work and after putting the kids to bed... But (I'm sure parents out there might agree) nothing is more tiring than the 2 hours of wrestling 2 children through dinner, bath, and bedtime. So, it just never happened! I turned to my amazing partner, Lucy, who is the world's best morning person, and we agreed we would both get up before the kids and do an hour of exercise together - on the caveat that she must be the one to drag me up and out of bed! 6 months later, it's now a routine! 

1. Tell us what aspect of International Men’s Day is important to you 

There are two particularly crucial elements to International Men’s Day in my mind. Firstly, to celebrate men that play a significantly positive part in enhancing the communities or society that they live or work in, no matter how big or small. Secondly, to also shine a light and create a safer space for men to be open and seek help for challenges that they may face. I grew up with male role models in my family that shied away from speaking openly about their feelings let alone struggles that they might be fighting with, yet knowing the lives they have had there must have been plenty. Society has changed dramatically over the last few years but still there is work to be done.