MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

CLAIRE SHOEMAKE

 Head of Strategic Partnerships

Mastercard

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

I’ve always been inspired by great leaders, especially female leaders. I grew up at the tail end of the Margaret Thatcher era and regardless of her policies, to see a woman on the world stage in amongst a sea of men and hold her own, compounded by a mum who always worked, gave me a belief that anything was possible. I have been fortunate to have had some amazing female role models in and outside of work. I’m inspired by any working woman who as we know not only do full-time jobs, but generally carry the cognitive burden too – washing, groceries, logistics, cooking, etc, etc. We’re all superstars!

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

Definitely a combination of both. It’s been a mixture of people seeing and believing in me, being in the right place at the right time, and also being driven to deliver the best for my partners customers and colleagues. I also believe we create our own luck, too. Years ago GE used to use an acronym P.I.E. (Performance, Image & Exposure), which meant that performance was key. If you weren’t performing in your current role, it makes getting the next one much harder. After that was your ‘Image’ , or the perception others had of you and how you achieved, not just what you achieved. Exposure was last, and I felt this was the ‘luck’ part. It’s always stuck with me.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

It’s funny as I never set out to have a “career”, I just did my job. I have been driven more out of curiosity than ambition. Each new role and challenge built upon the last. My focus was always on delivering my best, learning continuously, and building genuine relationships. I believe that when you immerse your whole self in what you do, success often follows as a natural consequence.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

Great question, and it’s easier to tell you which roles haven’t been my favourite! I’ve learned through experience not to chase the promise of big bonuses and a shiny new company car. If the role or culture isn’t right, it doesn’t matter what car you’re driving around in if you’re miserable! I thrive on variety, and the fact that I’ve been at Mastercard eight years speaks to that constant challenge and breadth of role as well as the great people I work with. My time at GE Capital also stand out, as it was heavily influenced by Jack Welch at the time and his world-renowned leadership training programe. I learned a lot about myself, and myself as a leader whilst at GE. But as long as I am surrounded by a collaborative, empowered, learning, ‘can do’ people, I’ll enjoy wherever I am.

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

I have a few that I use, both personally and professionally. They speak to curiosity, fate and resilience. “Every day is a school day” – we are constantly learning, be it about ourselves, the world around us or a new product. “What will be will be”- whatever decision you make at the time is the right decision, it will lead to new paths and new opportunities and it may close others, but that’s ok, as in the end it’s all meant to be as it is. Finally, “it’s hard but not impossible”, as a full-time solo parent and full–time worker this is probably the one I use the most! If I ever feel overwhelmed, I take a huge breath in and out and say out loud this may be hard but it’s not impossible!