Ian's Journey at Dell Technologies: A Decade of Leadership, Innovation and Global Impact

Ian F. | Director, Talent Acquisition | London, United Kingdom

Originally Published: December 13th, 2023

When did you join Dell Technologies? Could you share your career progression within the company?

My Dell journey began in November 2012 with an unexpected mysterious voice on the other end of the line asking if I would be open to a short-term contract. Despite having a couple of permanent job offers, I felt extremely drawn to Dell's charm. What started as a three-month "gig" turned into a long-term love affair.

My initial position was connected to one of Dell's company acquisitions at that time, and it was my role to ensure there was a smooth transition of any recruitment responsibilities from their RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) team to our in-house team. The success of this project not only won me a few brownie points, but also an invitation for an extended stay—an opportunity I enthusiastically embraced!

Compared to some of our larger competitors at that time, Dell would constantly punch above its own weight and win. This made it a great sell to any candidates we were targeting for the business. I loved this winning attitude and fighting spirit; nothing would prevent us from achieving our goals and it perfectly aligned with my own (some would describe as annoying) competitive streak.

An opportunity arose to manage the team I was in, and with the encouragement and support of both my family and awesome leader at that time, I was offered the role of team manager. It marked a pivotal moment in my Dell career, and I felt like my role had hit warp speed. Guiding the EMEA Search Team through Dell's dynamic changes, acquisitions and mergers has been nothing short of exhilarating. Looking back, it's been an incredibly rewarding adventure with its occasional challenges and many moments of pure joy.

How has the organisation inspired you to make an impact?

Dell's call to action to make a positive impact deeply resonates with me. Whether it's advancing sustainability, cultivating greater inclusion, or transforming lives, Dell's strategic imperative to make the world a better place aligns with my personal values. Inspired by Dell, I've integrated eco-conscious practices into my daily life and engaged in volunteer work to uplift others.

As an organisation, we have the scale to make a positive and substantial difference, but the responsibility also lies with us individually. I am blown away by how many people always come together here for a common goal and with the desire to leave a legacy of making the world a better place than we found it. We can accomplish incredible things; I find this a very easy thing to get behind.

What type of impact does your role in Dell’s Interfaith Employee Resource Group (ERG) have on business? Although I didn’t fully know what to expect when I signed up, being a part of Dell's Interfaith ERG has been an unexpected and thoroughly rewarding and delightful part of my role. ERGs are not just about inclusivity– they're about building strong communities and providing avenues for your own personal and professional growth. I'm a firm advocate for team members joining ERGs aligned with their interests. As a global co-lead for an Interfaith pillar, I've made personal connections across the globe, creating deep friendships that I wouldn't have ordinarily had in course of doing my "day job." ERGs are not a corporate token tick box, they're pathways to even greater levels of business performance, meeting incredible people and making meaningful bonds.

Why should people join the Dell Technologies team?

Why Dell? My goodness, how long have you got? It's not just about our exciting career paths, diversity & inclusivity, and work-life balance—although we've got all this in spades. For me, it's about our leadership, vision, values, and constant evolution, where innovation meets purpose, coupled with our unique culture. We're not just a company; we're a community of incredible people with an entrepreneurial spirit that is encoded into all our DNA. I've been in the IT recruitment sector for most of my career, and I have never worked anywhere like Dell. There's honestly no other place I'd rather be.

To learn more about life at Dell, visit Our Stories.