WICT Next Generation Leader Spotlight Blog One - Virgin Media O2 Edition
The voices shaping what comes next
Across media, technology and telecommunications, leadership is being quietly redefined. Less about hierarchy, more about presence; less about authority, more about influence. Today’s leaders move with agility and empathy, ambition and intent - and above all, a sense of authenticity that can’t be manufactured.
This shift is visible far beyond telecoms. In media, figures such as Chloe Malle at Vogue reflect a broader evolution towards culturally aware, digitally native leadership - where credibility is built through perspective, not position.
The WICT UK & Ireland - Next Generation Leader Spotlight is a profile series celebrating women at the start of their careers who are already helping to shape the future of telecoms. Featuring emerging leaders from across the industry, it highlights fresh thinking, evolving approaches to leadership, and the ambition quietly reshaping the sector.
Think 30 Under 30 - but with fewer fintech founders, more fibre rollouts, and the people quietly shaping the future of the telco industry.
More than a celebration, the series is a platform. One that amplifies women influencing what comes next, increases visibility across the industry, and champions a new generation of leaders shaping a more connected future.
This edition turns the spotlight on three rising leaders at Virgin Media O2, whose journeys - from graduate schemes to bold career pivots - reflect the breadth and texture of modern telco talent.
The Rising Leaders
Ashleigh Kolodziej – Service Transition Specialist & Apprentice Alumni
After 13 years in special educational needs and becoming a parent, Ashleigh made a bold pivot into telco through Virgin Media O2’s apprenticeship programme, prioritising flexibility alongside ambition. A career changer by design, she brings curiosity, confidence and a deeply people-centred approach to her role.
Cerys Hughes – People Partner & Graduate Scheme Alumni
Cerys has built her career at Virgin Media O2 through pace, change and breadth. Starting as an intern and progressing through the Business Graduate Scheme, she moved across marketing, commercial and delivery before stepping into People & Transformation, now translating strategy into meaningful, people-led impact.
Camila Mcgrath Borjas – Finance Graduate
Camilia joined Virgin Media O2 two years ago after studying Economics with a year in industry. Drawn to the fast-paced commercial finance environment, she’s since developed her skills across the business and is currently on rotation as a Finance Business Partner in Commercial Finance.
In Conversation
Today’s rising leaders aren’t waiting for titles - they’re building influence early. Through adaptability, curiosity and people-first thinking, the next generation is already reshaping how leadership shows up in telco.
We spoke to three rising leaders at Virgin Media O2 to understand what’s shaping their journeys so far.
What early experience or turning point has most accelerated your growth so far?
Cerys: Completing different rotations on the Business Graduate Scheme accelerated my growth more than anything else. Moving roles every six months meant constant adaptation with new teams, stakeholders and ways of working, all during a period of significant change. It strengthened my agility, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and opened doors to opportunities I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise.
Ashleigh: Building relationships across the organisation has been the biggest accelerator for me. Conversations with colleagues and listening to the advice they’ve shared, has shaped my direction and expanded what I thought was possible. Coming into a new industry, I chose to “feel the fear and do it anyway”. That mindset led to opportunities I never expected, from hosting events to interviewing Sir Richard Branson and discussing apprenticeship policy with Kemi Badenoch, each one building confidence and momentum.
Camilla: Stepping outside of my comfort zone. As cliche as it sounds, saying yes and actively seeking out opportunities to develop my weaker areas has been a real turning point for me. Doing this has helped me expand my network and build confidence, which has significantly accelerated my growth so far.
Who inspires you and how have they shaped your ambitions?
Ashleigh: My children inspire me most. As a woman with ADHD and of mixed heritage, I want them to see themselves reflected in leadership and believe that anything is possible. They’re the reason I keep pushing myself, stepping outside my comfort zone and continuing to learn - so they grow up knowing they can create their own path.
Camilla: My mentor at work has been a huge source of inspiration for me. She is a brilliant leader who leads by example and someone I really look up to. Through her support, she has helped me reshape my thinking and build my confidence, guiding me on how to progress my career and develop my skills while staying true to myself.
Cerys: A university lecturer had a lasting impact on how I think about careers and leadership. Her path wasn’t linear - she built experience across marketing before moving into education. She championed sideways moves and breadth over speed. That perspective shaped me, reinforcing that adaptability, continuous learning and meaningful impact matter more than job titles.
How do you approach leadership at this stage of your career, and what qualities will define the next generation of leaders?
Camilla: At this stage of my career, I approach leadership by taking every opportunity to lead or take ownership of my work. One of the qualities I value most in leaders is the ability to balance delivering results with supporting people, while staying true to themselves. I also believe it’s important to recognise that leadership looks different for everyone, and there isn’t a single set of qualities that defines a good leader.
Cerys: I don’t see leadership as something defined by title - it’s a mindset. Even without formal line management responsibility, I focus on influencing outcomes, building trust and taking ownership. Leadership shows up in how you align people, create shared accountability and adapt your communication across audiences. As AI and automation grow, the human side of leadership with empathy, coaching and wellbeing, will matter even more.
Ashleigh: Leadership, for me, is about everyday impact. It’s helping colleagues find clarity, creating space for ideas and lifting the quality of thinking around you. The next generation of leaders will need strong soft skills - empathy, curiosity and connection. In a fast-moving industry, those who create space for learning and experimentation will stand out.
What connects these rising leaders isn’t a single career path it’s their momentum. Through curiosity and adaptability, they’re already influencing the industry from within.
As telecoms continues to evolve, it’s voices like these grounded, ambitious and unafraid to do things differently that will help define what comes next.
What we hope to achieve by sharing these profiles is greater visibility for the talent already shaping telco today, and inspiration for those who may not yet realise just how much influence they already have.
Georgia & Eve – WICT UK & Ireland Next Generation Co – Chairs