Chloe Dillon is a Work Winning professional specialising in bids and proposals, with 15 years’ experience working in Consulting, Legal and Construction firms in the UK and Middle East.
Chloe currently leads a team at PwC in London, focussing on Government & Health Industry Consulting bids. Chloe is also an active advocate for flexible working and gender diversity at senior positions in the Work Winning industry.
With such a track record of success, we couldn’t resist putting her ‘in the spotlight’ to find out more…
- Greatest achievement in business?
Getting to a stage in my career where other people seek me out for advice. I am always humbled by this and it gives me a sense of purpose when I know I can help others. And of course, being asked to do this interview!
- Greatest defeat in business?
I can’t give you specifics, but it was probably the best pursuit from start to finish that I have ever been part of. One of those where the whole team is 100% engaged, invested and aligned to the same purpose. We had time, we had the relationships and we had the knowledge. All the stars were aligned. Nothing more could have been done, but we lost to an underhand competitor. It’s those ones that make you reconsider your whole profession.
- Greatest achievement personally?
I couldn’t speak till I was six and went to a special school with one-to-one help. When I started to speak and went to mainstream school I was pretty much dismissed at the bottom of everything academically and given up on. When I meet people from primary or early secondary school years and tell them what I do and see the astonishment on their faces, it makes me realise I’m living my greatest achievement every day.
- Biggest pet peeve?
Lateness. Without a doubt. I actually don’t understand it.
- Guilty pleasure?
Driving really fast.
- Describe yourself in 3 words.
Outgoing, chatty and honest.
- If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would it be and why?
Does it need to be a human?! My dog. He is so happy all the time, gets to eat, sleep and run around the garden to his heart’s content all day every day. Sounds pretty perfect to me.
- Worst thing anyone has ever said to you?
Wow there are so many! You become fairly resilient in this profession. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, I have been dismissed from a room by a wave of a hand. That was pretty bad.
- Best thing anyone ever said to you?
“During the last 20+years of my career, I have never been this happy in a role and that’s because of you”.
- What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Worry less about what people think of you, be kind and it will show through.
- Who do you most admire? (no cheese, no family)
I don’t have a specific person. I look up to powerful female leaders. Women who stick their heads above the cloud and are passionate about what they believe in, even if it makes them unpopular. I always tend to really like people that others find super difficult and annoying.
- What profession would you like to attempt other than yours?
Professional golfer, loads of money and being outside all the time.
- What profession would you least like to attempt other than yours?
Working on an IT helpdesk. People only ring you when they are angry, stressed and have a problem. No one ever speaks to someone in IT when they are in a good mood.
- What questions are you asking yourself lately?
How can we digitalise and reinvent the Pursuit process? What technology can we use and how do we sell this to our clients? How do I reward my team further?
- What’s one thing you would like to do better?
Relax and switch off. I find this incredibly hard, but I am also aware that when I do manage to do it, I have a much better perspective on things afterwards.
- What types of hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
Anything outside, activity related. I used to be a keen golfer but a family put an end to that. I have just started doing my local Parkrun with my 11-year-old son which I am loving.
- What advice would you give to others?
“We aren’t doctors, if it doesn’t happen, no one is going to die”. I have told this to countless people over the years and often have to remind myself as well. This links to my point about keeping things in perspective.
This article was written by Chloe Dillon.
