Meet Lucy Johnson, Defence Delivery Lead
Lucy, a TechWomen100 2023 individual winner, talks about her career journey from graduating in modern languages and working in hotel management to joining the world of tech. For Lucy, diversity is not a buzzword – it’s the key that opens a world of possibilities for her clients.
What I do
From cyber security project and programme management within central government to a recent move as a delivery lead across the defence sector, I’ve been at 6point6 for four years managing highly sensitive and large-scale digital transformation programmes. I am responsible for ensuring everything runs like clockwork, helping projects stay on time and stick to agreed budgets. The added complexity of working on central government and defence projects is that you’re often dealing with intricate systems, stringent requirements and strict regulatory standards, which makes my job challenging but highly rewarding.
There is so much variety and no two projects or programmes are the same. Since joining 6point6, I’ve worked with large teams leading on revolutionary data, AI and cyber security projects and overseen complex transformation programmes. The one common denominator is how we’re enabling better outcomes for people – both service providers and service users. An additional part of my current role is building a system-wide approach to scale how we track budgets, report on financial risks in real time and manage project reporting across all our defence clients. It’s a tough challenge to crack but one that is also very intellectually stimulating!
No one should exclude themselves from a career in tech because they didn’t choose an obvious route. All I needed was the right organisation to see my potential and believe in what I could do with effective guidance and mentorship.
A day in my working life
My day-to-day role involves being part of large and complex projects managing the successful delivery of mission-critical and national infrastructure programmes, so no two days are ever the same. Due to the confidential nature of my work, it’s difficult to get into the specifics of what I do on an everyday basis but I find it highly rewarding to be able to make a positive impact by helping the country become more secure.
Defence is one of the few sectors that deals with unprecedented threats, an ever-changing environment and sophisticated communication networks. In turn, this tests the boundaries of how we deliver for our clients – but that’s where innovation happens. This sector is also the last bastion of a truly male-dominated environment, amplified only by the existing gender gap within tech. This is a challenge I’ve made my mission to tackle because I think innovation is best developed when you have an inclusive and diverse workforce and teams working with a shared purpose.
6point6 has given me the confidence and much-needed space to champion something I deeply care about. I am a member of 6point6’s Women in Tech Action Group, where we work together to build momentum for change and create meaningful social value. For example, we have raised funds for Women’s Aid, launched a bespoke mentoring programme and developed the Women Excelling in Data network. I’ve also joined our newly-formed Gender Diversity Action Group, which brings together colleagues from across the business to mobilise a data-driven and evidence-led approach to attracting and supporting more women into 6point6. Outside of work, I’ve recently been accepted as a UN Women UK delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women, an annual conference run by the UN focusing on promoting women’s rights and shaping global standards on gender equality.
Career highlights
Being a modern languages graduate and working in hospitality seems like a world away from where I am today. But learning languages, working in hotel management and travelling around the world (including living in five different countries) gave me a solid and practical grounding for what I currently do. I’d always been interested in tech but didn’t think my modern languages degree or career in hotel management would allow me to pursue one. Luckily my first step in tech was with a company leading the way in getting women into the industry.
Being a delivery lead has tested my problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, as well as enhanced my communication style and approach. My confidence in stakeholder engagement has also grown, enabling me to build strong relationships and deliver the best outcomes to make positive change happen. For example, in a previous role, I successfully project managed and worked on the creation of a guide on threat intelligence, created and shared by the Home Office across government departments. It has now been shared far and wide as best practice – including by the National Cyber Security Centre, the UK’s technical authority for cyber security.
You might think that not having a tech background or a relevant degree will immediately disqualify you, but I am living proof that you can make that jump into tech. Look out for companies and organisations who want to recruit out of the box and don’t be put off by not having a tech background. Go for it!
Diversity is vital for fortifying the defence industry. It’s not just about taking a moral or ethical standpoint; it’s about creating more rounded teams and helping to design better protective measures.
Delivery is one the best jobs in the world because…
You’re working in a dynamic environment. It’s exciting to navigate constant change and uncertainty, and you learn to thrive in truly unprecedented situations. As a delivery lead working in the defence sector, the challenges you face are constantly evolving, requiring adaptability and flexibility in project or programme delivery. You must enjoy teamwork as every day brings opportunities to collaborate across multiple departments from different organisations. It’s the perfect role if you’re interested in finessing your communication style or wanting to develop new processes and improve existing ways of working. You also need to be a great collaborator – it’s the essential skill that will see you co-create products and services with various specialists, such as security architects and analysts, data scientists and software developers, and carefully manage time-sensitive projects that make a positive difference on a national scale.
