We’re back with another Employee Spotlight! This month we’re joined by our Operations Executive – Rebecca Burke. Rebecca is an essential member of our team and has been supporting our sales and support teams since November 2021!
Read on to find out more about Becky – including her love of art and comic-making, talking to librarians from all around the world and working at a pioneering company.
Can you tell us a bit about what you do at Lean Library?
Hello reader! So, I work in Operations; I help Sales, Implementation and our Lean Library customers with any questions or assistance I can offer! I like to imagine that I oversee things (a bit like a divine deity – but not that egotistical) and make sure they are all connecting together right and working smoothly.
What is your favourite thing about working at Lean Library?
Talking and meeting librarians from all over the globe! The dedication they have to their students is inspiring and motivating. Plus, I love how everyone in the Lean Library team feels like their opinion matters, meaning ideas on new features, improvements, and processes are always welcome and sincerely considered – it makes me feel like I am valued whilst also works to get my creative juices flowing.
What is your favourite Lean Library value and how have you seen it put into action?
Pioneering! Firstly, because it sounds adventurous and, secondly, because it means we are all encouraged to push ourselves and work together to continually develop and grow the product to help more and more librarians and students on their own pioneering research journeys. I see this routinely in updates from our Product team, as they surprise me every time with their new ideas and how this will help save time for students.
What’s the best day you’ve ever had at work? Is there a particular project or milestone you are proud of?
I enjoy when we all get together in the London office – usually once a month – for a team social activity. It is nice seeing colleagues face-to-face and catching up over a cup of tea.
Also, I was super proud of myself when I was mostly just sitting in on an Implementation call but, in the end, I was the one who helped the librarian solve her problem!
What three things are always on your desk?
Definitely a plant, a cup of hot English Breakfast tea with copious quantities of oat milk inside, and post-it notes for quick ideas or reminders…
What’s the best book you’ve read recently and why?
Lanny by Max Porter! I was only a few pages in when I realised this was going to be one of my favourite books of all time. Without giving anything away… it has an element of the mystical, a strange and creative boy, and a mystery.
Is there a quote or mantra that you live by? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard?
A quote from the book Sin by Josephine Hart, that I bought at a second-hand bookshop in New York on a school trip: “We are here to add to the sum of human goodness. To prove the thing exists. And however futile each individual act of courage or generosity, self-sacrifice or grace – it still proves the thing exists.”
It’s your day off. What do you have planned?
OK – so; early morning run on Hampstead Heath, some kind of avocado-and-carb-based brunch, reading in the sunshine (hopefully) or if it’s raining then cuddled at my desk making art. Afternoon – probably a nice walk (maybe back at the Heath – I do love that place), some yoga, and then I would want to spend the evening chilling with friends (either boardgames or dinner or Netflix).
If you didn’t work at Lean Library or in your current role, what would you want to do?
I would love to make art and comic-making my full-time career, but for now it is just a hobby to squeeze in around the edges!
Look out for more team stories in next month’s Get to Know Lean Library post.