Beyond Boundaries: A success story
Civil servant Kate Terry shares how the Beyond Boundaries development programme helped her overcome imposter syndrome and secure a senior role.

Kate Terry
Kate Terry, 41, gained the confidence to secure a secondment to a senior role at the West Midlands Combined Authority after completing Beyond Boundaries, a 12-month Civil Service development programme designed to help staff progress their careers.
Based in the West Midlands, where she lives with her husband (also a civil servant) and their two rescue cats, Kate joined the Civil Service three years ago after working in professional services and higher education. Despite her experience, she felt she needed support to progress within the organisation.
Overcoming personal barriers
바카라 사이트My Mom only ever worked part-time in an office and my Dad was a stonemason. No one in my family has kind of got these sort of early manager, middle manager roles,바카라 사이트 says Kate. 바카라 사이트Especially given I바카라 사이트m from the Midlands, and I바카라 사이트ve got an accent바카라 사이트 when you come across people that speak very posh, they use words I don바카라 사이트t understand, I바카라 사이트ve always just kind of shied away from it.바카라 사이트
Learning from senior leaders
Beyond Boundaries helps civil servants from junior to middle management grades develop their leadership potential through coaching, networking and practical projects. For Kate, the programme바카라 사이트s coaching sessions and conversations with senior leaders were transformative.
Through direct engagement with Deputy Directors, Kate discovered that senior leaders also face their own challenges: 바카라 사이트They바카라 사이트re vulnerable, and they바카라 사이트re not perfect, they바카라 사이트re not on this pedestal. They make mistakes.바카라 사이트
Growing confidence
The programme continues to influence how Kate approaches her current role. 바카라 사이트I바카라 사이트ve come into this role, and there바카라 사이트s a lot of stuff I don바카라 사이트t understand, and there바카라 사이트s a lot of stuff I need help with. And actually, I바카라 사이트ve been a lot more vocal in standing up for myself바카라 사이트 Before, I would have just been quietly suffering in silence.바카라 사이트
Most significantly, Kate credits Beyond Boundaries for giving her the confidence to pursue her current position: 바카라 사이트I never would have gone for this role, this external secondment, had I not done Beyond Boundaries. Without a doubt, there is no way I would have even entertained the idea.바카라 사이트
Building lasting networks
The programme바카라 사이트s impact extends beyond the workplace. Kate바카라 사이트s cohort continues to meet every few months, maintaining valuable connections and supporting each other바카라 사이트s development.
Her advice to potential applicants? 바카라 사이트It바카라 사이트s the stuff that you won바카라 사이트t expect to learn about yourself that makes it so special.바카라 사이트
Keep an eye out for details on how to apply for Beyond Boundaries in Summer 2025.