London 2012 blog

I joined the Culture, Ceremonies and Education Team back in January as a secondee from the Clore Leadership Programme – a unique two-year opportunity for professional development and leadership training.

The challenge was to learn how to turn a vision into a reality, how to facilitate high-level partnerships and to support a project’s development through what may at first appear to be insurmountable practical obstacles.

However, the challenge soon became negotiating the glistening towers and rabbit warren underground passages that are Canary Wharf.

Spending half my week putting up exhibitions in a converted warehouse in Bethnal Green, it was indeed a culture shock to arrive at work in the heart of the City’s financial district. There's no general public, unusually gusty winds and virtually no rubbish.

The LOCOG offices are nestled on the 23rd floor of one of the most stunning architectural towers in Canary Wharf with outstanding views over East London and beyond.

And there began my next challenge. In this world of floor to ceiling windows everyone suggests you take in the view, but with the atrium only two inches of glass and 23 floors below, you need to learn to trust your colleagues.

Having worked as a freelancer for the last 12 years it has been a great experience to have been so warmly welcomed into a fast-moving and energetic team.

The development of the Cultural projects, massive though they will be in impact and scope, is nurtured by a handful of dedicated staff drawn from across the cultural sector.

This creates a mix of skills unusual for an arts organisation and engenders a willingness to learn from others and embrace ideas.

Although more team-away days and other management good practice initiatives are undertaken to gel the team, there is a sense of camaraderie and shared passion that I have never witnessed in any previous job.

Perhaps it is because the team is working on a time-limited project, perhaps it's the sheer scale of the concept, or perhaps it's knowing that they are contributing to the greatest cultural showcase of the last 100 years.

As for the views, each day I nudge a little closer…. but that could be because they keep a store of chocolate at the end of the row of desks.