Emerging Leader Programme + Q&A with Fraser MacPherson

Our Emerging Leaders have completed half of the 12-month programme! This session focussed on the Employee Lifecycle and was planned around the Group's People and Culture People Plan with four key themes; Attract, Engage, Develop and Transform.

Developed by our Organisational Development Manager, Ashley Baxter, the session started with Simon Sinek's "Start with why" and the importance of having a mission statement, vision and core values. The Emerging Leaders then looked at the role of employer brand and being an employer of choice when attracting new talent into the business. This was followed by understanding, recognising and being able to challenge unconscious bias, as well as looking at Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it relates to engagement and motivation. The session was wrapped up by considering the different types of development, giving positive and negative feedback, and looking at how to handle courageous conversations.

Christine Cochrane, People & Culture Director, opened and closed the session as a guest speaker. Throughout the session, the Emerging Leaders were also joined Lynne Anderson, People & Culture Business Partner. Lynne is currently transitioning into a Learning & Development Partner Role and will support our Emerging Leaders to complete the programme.

Session Feedback

Really enjoyed the discussion about unconscious bias.

Content was interesting and good exercises to get people working in teams.

Made you think of your own social media uses and what's show to others.

Best session so far. Very interactive throughout.

Unconscious bias really opened my eyes.

Q&A With Emerging Leader, Fraser MacPherson

Q1. What is your name?

Fraser MacPherson

Q2. Tell us about you… what’s your work history to date?

Having left Inverness Royal Academy in 2013, I was still very unsure which path I was looking to take next. Having done a couple of different jobs in my first year, I then joined RJ McLeod in May 2014 where I was taken on as a Chain Boy. In February 2015, I accepted a promotion to become an Engineer while working towards my degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

During my time at RJ McLeod, I worked on various projects including Stronelairg Wind Farm and Inverness West Link 2. After over 6 years with the company, I made the move to Global Infrastructure in January 2021.

In my first year at Global, I worked on the Ness Castle Development. I am now currently working on a road upgrade project leading into the new Tornagrain village.

Q3. Who or what inspired you to peruse the career you have today?

To be completely honest, the pathway into construction all came from me chancing my luck, in asking whether there were any available positions on a project local to where I grew up. From there, opportunities were given to me to work alongside different people in various roles. The full site management team on that project can take huge credit for me choosing to pursue Civil Engineering.

In terms of moving to Global Infrastructure, there were individuals within the business I compared my career path to. One of the appealing factors I had about making the move was it was clear they had people who were once in my position and have worked hard to do well for themselves within the company. This is something I have ambition to follow.

Q4. Can you provide details of a professional accomplishment in the group that you are proud of?

In my 18 months in the group so far, my biggest accomplishment is achieving my place on the Emerging Leaders course. Through the application process, I’d be lying if there weren’t times I had feelings of imposter syndrome. Every session has been beneficial and there are already things from the course I now use in my job and my personal life. I feel extremely proud to have been given this opportunity alongside some seriously talented individuals.

Q5. What inspires you, and do you have any personal goals that you are hoping to achieve?

I am most inspired by people. Growing up on a farm surrounded by people who engrained a hard-working mindset into you from a young age. My grandfather still works on the farm at the age of 88. There wasn’t a choice in the matter, everyone had to muck in and help. At the time it was just normal for us, but now looking back I can appreciate that it set us in good stead for future life. I make no secret of it; this is something I am now looking to instil into my two sons.

My friends from school are now at a stage of their lives where they have finished their qualifications or apprenticeships and are now starting to settle down and do very well for themselves in their chosen career. This is something I take great pride in seeing.

I often listen to podcasts (such as, The High Performance Podcast and The Diary Of A CEO) based on people who have been successful in life and obsess over how their mind works and how they got to where they are.

As far as personal goals go, I am very much of the opinion that the sky is the limit. In recent years, my focus has completely changed now that I have my own wee family. I have always been driven but now I find I am comparing myself to successful people and asking “why not me?”.

Q6. What motivates and energises you at work?

I am motivated by the various challenges which come up on a day-to-day basis. On a project, things are constantly changing and moving forward and with this comes constant problem solving and instant decision making – I feel this is a strength of mine and something I really enjoy about the job.

I feel I am energised and motivated as long as I am developing and learning. Part of my role on the current project is to produce 3D models for the machine control for the excavators on site. This is something I have been wanting to have knowledge on for a number of years, so I am highly motivated in knowing every aspect of producing these.

Since joining Global Infrastructure, I have had a number of trainee and student engineers working alongside me. When you have someone with you who is keen to learn, it is a good feeling being able to help them on their journey by passing on your knowledge and past experiences.

Q7. Which Core Value means the most to you and why?

The core value which stands out to me is “Demonstrate Integrity and Respect”. As an engineer, it is vital that the people you are working with on a project have confidence in what you are telling them. This is linked to traits associated with integrity. Unfortunately, mistakes happen but it is about how you react to them which can make or break the relationship you have with others. Taking responsibility and accountability rather than trying to point the blame is what separates a successful and unsuccessful engineer.

Words which are linked to having integrity – being dependable, being reliable, being open, being trustworthy – are all descriptions I strive to be both professionally and personally.

Linked with having integrity, I believe that respect is earned. No matter where you sit within a business, you are no better than another individual. It’s a common phrase but treat people how you’d want to be treated - a simple “good morning” can go a long way.