Category Archives: Noleen Neil

Veri Connect’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental initiatives; it encompasses the social holistic well-being of its employees. This became evident when I, a parent, foster parent, and now a grandmother, found myself at the crossroads of juggling familial responsibilities and work commitments. Ann Marie’s decision to introduce sabbaticals is a testament to the company’s dedication to fostering a positive work culture that understands the diverse needs of its employees.

In the fast-paced world we live in, achieving a harmonious balance between our personal and professional lives can often seem like an elusive goal. However, I consider myself fortunate to be part of a forward-thinking company  that not only recognises the importance of work-life balance but actively encourages and supports it. As an employee of Veri Connect, my journey towards balance took a remarkable turn when I was granted an 8-week sabbatical, thanks to the visionary leadership of our CEO, Ann Marie.

The benefits of work-life balance extend far beyond the individual; they ripple through the entire company. Preventing burnout is one of the most significant advantages. By acknowledging the importance of taking time off to recharge and reconnect with life outside of work, Veri Connect is actively investing in the long-term well-being of its employees. This not only enhances job satisfaction but also boosts productivity and creativity when employees return, bringing a renewed sense of enthusiasm to their roles.

The decision to grant a sabbatical is a reflection of Veri Connect’s forward-thinking approach. It acknowledges that employees are not just assets but individuals with multifaceted lives. AnnMarie’s leadership sends a powerful message – one that echoes throughout the company, fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and support.

As I embark on my sabbatical, I am grateful for the opportunity to recalibrate, rejuvenate, and return to Veri Connect with a refreshed perspective. In an era where work and life often intertwine, finding a company that prioritises and values work-life balance is a rare gem, and I am proud to be part of the Veri Connect family.

I’ve been lucky enough recently to have had support from 2 local Councils in expanding our Veri business in Northern Ireland. I have no problem in admitting when I need help, but it was with trepidation that I stepped into the mentee role.
Rosemary Morrison, www.directus-ni.co.uk was my Business mentor on Belfast City Council’s Think Do Be and Mary Macrory,  www.omaghenterprise.co.uk on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Kickstart. Both these mentors clearly wanted to help me on my journey. From my first meetings, I could feel that they were interested and invested in my improvement and development, and in getting Veri out into the market.

Is it just talk?

It is so much more! Talking out where you are, what you are planning for and where you need to build the skills to improve, are all vital, however, the right mentor brings so much more to the table.

Building a network

I needed help, particularly in building a network of business contacts in Northern Ireland. My mentors were not only knowledgeable, but also generous. The key for me was that they recognised the value of Veri and could see applications for our software that I hadn’t thought of. Even if your mentor has little experience in your industry, you can rest assured that they will know someone who has. A warm introduction shows that your mentor believes in you, and will vouch for your worth. As a new company this was vital in raising the profile of our cutting edge Veri software.

Personal Development

Your mentor has been there, done that. An experienced mentor will help you grow by learning from their mistakes. A good mentor has walked the walk, and they share that knowledge with you. My conversations with my mentors helped improve my confidence, speaking in a safe place you can voice your ideas and aspirations without fear, and address the ever present “imposter syndrome”. Stress, work life balance, managing work relationships, all of these topics are open for discussion, as they impact on your ability to do your job effectively.

For Free??????

Mentoring can be expensive, and if you aren’t in a position to pay, reach out to your local council and find out about what is available in your area. Currently Veri is being used to implement a number of mentor style programmes as a response to Covid-19. Rebound, Digi Growth and MentorsWork are all available to help business navigate their way through and help them grow.

Even Mentors Hate Paperwork

It’s evident in the mentoring arena, that there is frustration with time spent on paperwork, duplication, communication with funders/managers  – and we all know someone who can help with that! Fioru Software Solutions and Veri to the rescue!
Noleen Neill is our Northern Ireland Business Development Manager

 ”A quality management system is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction.”

At this time of year, we at Veri believe everyone could benefit from checking our “personal” quality system, as well as our business systems. Are you meeting your own requirements and enhancing your own satisfaction?
The month of December can bring stress in many guises. Shopping for presents. The perfect wrapping paper. The cost of Christmas and dealing with high expectations forced on us by social media. It can seem overwhelming and can ruin what should be a lovely festive period.

Can we change things this year?

Can we move away from doing what we’ve always done, and make smarter choices? The answer is of course yes! Changing management is always difficult, but as in business, you’ve got to start at the top! You make the decisions, so ultimately it’s your choice where to place your priorities. 

• Start with a list – The staff at Veri love data! Prioritise your actions, then start to include layers – who can help you? Delegate out the tasks and begin to feel the weight of stress lifting. 
• Learn to say no – Don’t over commit and leave no time to relax and enjoy! Think of it as saying “yes” to yourself.
• Don’t leave it all to the last minute – Tick a task or two off your list every day and it all seems more manageable
• Make a Budget – a realistic one and stick to it!
• Don’t look at what everyone else is doing – Social media is not real life! All those pictures of amazing trees and fabulous decorations are a single second snap shot.. who knows what happened in the next second! (see pics!!)

Make things easier on yourself this year, you’ll feel better and everyone around you will too!

Noleen Neill, Business Development MAnager at Fioru Software Solutions

 

“I am a runner because I run. Not because I run fast, not because I run far. I am a runner because I say I am and no one can tell me I’m not”
John Bingham

I am a runner. I will certainly never win any races, but I have run 5k, 10k and half marathon distances. One of my proudest moments was crossing the finish line in Dublin Marathon last year! I am keen and enjoy how it makes me feel, particularly when running with friends. I like to do what I can to improve and to prepare for my next challenge. Our coach gives us great advice on training, nutrition and recovery, and I endeavour to follow his advice. Alongside that I monitor my progress on my Garmin running watch. It tracks the miles I run using GPS technology, providing me on my app, with a visual of my run, also my speed, distance, heart rate, my cadence, climb, even my sleep!
Even as an amateur in the sport, I can understand the value of this data, collection and appreciate how, almost instantly, the information is delivered and analysed to allow me to see my progress at a glance, and also where I need to work harder and improve.
That gets me to thinking that if it’s important to me, who can barely hit the 10 minute mile, if I were a professional, or striving to be a race winner, how much more important that monitoring and tracking events in real time would be for my success. 
Is this something that also should be at the heart of your business? Are you losing vital information that could be impacting on your performance? Are you getting the information, but too late to remediate and change the outcomes?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then you should be talking to us at Veri. Allow us to show you what we can do to help to digitally capture all that information that is at present on forms and spread sheets, and turn them into intelligent data that will help you create the success that you need! 

“How do you know if someone’s run a marathon? – Don’t worry, they’ll tell you!”