Stepping into management should feel like the natural next step… right?
But for many data professionals, becoming a manager feels less like “levelling up” and more like learning an entirely new job from scratch.
In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Gemma Trailor, Analytics Manager at B&Q, to unpack the biggest shifts that happen when moving from analyst to manager—and why so many new managers feel unprepared for the reality of the role.
Together, they explore:
- Why management is a completely different skillset
- How to build credibility when managing former peers
- The challenge of prioritisation, stakeholder pressure, and saying no
- Why your value is no longer measured by output alone
- How to lead with confidence—even when you’re doubting yourself
This conversation is honest, practical, and full of the lessons people usually learn the hard way.
If you’re aiming for your first management role—or you’ve recently stepped into one and are thinking “why does this feel so hard?”—this episode is for you.
