2025: A Year of Growth, Resilience and New Beginnings

As 2025 draws to a close, I won’t pretend it has been an easy year. In many ways, it has been one of the most challenging years I’ve faced, both personally and professionally.

Yet, at the start of the year, I made a clear decision: to make 2025 a year of growth.

Looking back now, I am proud to say that despite the many setbacks, uncertainties and emotional moments along the way, I stayed committed to that intention.

A Year Defined by Growth

Throughout 2025, I focused heavily on my academic, professional and personal development. Some of the key milestones this year included:

Completing two Master’s modules towards my MSc in Technology Management with The Open University, achieving a Pass with Merit in both
Completing a short course in Generative AI, strengthening my understanding of emerging technologies and their real-world applications
Achieving a Team Leading qualification, further developing my leadership capability and workplace communication skills
Beginning my Master’s dissertation, marking the final stage of my postgraduate journey

None of these achievements came easily, but each one represents consistent effort and long-term commitment to self-improvement.

Challenges That Shaped the Year

Growth is rarely comfortable and 2025 certainly tested my resilience.

One of the biggest professional challenges was navigating a difficult job market while actively working to transition into a career focused on Project Management. There were many applications, almost as many rejections and moments of uncertainty. However, the process was not wasted effort. It helped strengthen my resilience, sharpen my focus and push me to continue building relevant skills and experience. Encouragingly, this persistence also led to progress into the final stages of several applications later in the year, with some invitations to final stages in January 2026 to look forward to!

On a deeply personal level, I also experienced the loss of my beloved dog, River, after 11 years together. This happened at one of the most intense academic periods of the year, just as I was completing major assignments. Managing grief alongside study and professional commitments was incredibly difficult, but it reinforced an important lesson: sometimes resilience simply means continuing to show up, even when things feel overwhelming.

Making an Impact Beyond Personal Growth with BCS Pride

2025 wasn’t just about personal and professional development, it was also a year of giving back. I had the privilege of continuing my volunteer work with BCS Pride Specialist Group, serving as Treasurer and helping to connect people with opportunities to learn and grow in technology.

This year, our collective efforts made a tangible impact:

Over 1,500 people gained access to AI training and learning opportunities through initiatives we helped organise.
We hosted a highly successful December event, the RepresentAI & BCS Pride Christmas Special. This was also the first event I was able to physically attend and I met some wonderful people and fellow professionals as a result.
This event featured interesting TEDx-style talks on AI ethics, privacy, IP and practical guidance on building successful AI products, followed by networking and a fun Christmas quiz!

Volunteering with BCS Pride reminded me that growth isn’t only personal, growth is all about creating opportunities, sharing knowledge and supporting others in their journeys. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to help foster inclusion, diversity and connection in the tech community. I am really excited to continue this work into 2026.

Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future

Reflecting on River’s journey as a rescue dog had a lasting impact on me. He represented loyalty, growth and companionship through many chapters of my life.

Later in the year, I made the decision to open my home again and adopted Skye, a rescue Border Collie from Ireland, just like River. While she has had a difficult start to life, I’m looking forward to helping her grow into a confident and happy dog. In many ways, this felt like a meaningful way to honour the past while embracing a new chapter.

Lessons from a Non-Linear Year

If 2025 has taught me anything, it is that progress is rarely linear.

There were moments of:

Uncertainty
Rejection
Grief
Fatigue
Self-reflection

But there were also many moments of:

Academic success
Personal development
Renewed direction
Quiet resilience
Long-term clarity

Not every step forward was visible, but each challenge I faced helped contribute towards my personal growth in ways that will carry forward into the future.

Looking Ahead: 2026 as a Year of Achievement

While 2025 was a year of growth, I see 2026 as a year of achievement.

There are several major milestones coming up:

Completing my final MSc studies in April and graduating, marking the culmination of years of sustained study and dedication
Continuing to progress in my transition into a Project Professional role, applying the knowledge and skills I have developed throughout my academic journey
Supporting Skye’s development through training, patience and consistency as she grows into adulthood

These goals feel both ambitious and meaningful, grounded in the experiences and lessons of the past year.

Closing Reflections

2025 has reminded me that progress is not always straightforward and success is not always loud or immediate. Sometimes it looks like perseverance during difficult periods, quiet discipline and the willingness to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.

I set out for this to be a year of growth, and despite every challenge along the way, that is exactly what it became!

Here is to resilience, continued learning and stepping into 2026 with purpose, determination and optimism.

Happy New Year and I hope 2026 is a positive and fulfilling year for you too!