Sainsbury's
Argos
Nectar
Sainsbury's Bank
Habitat
​Senior Product Owner
Clare Ijoma
There's something really tangible about this role, you can walk into a supermarket or convenience store and see the project you've been working on in practice. In IT everything is so real, there's a direct correlation between what you do and how it affects the business and that's just fascinating to me."

A little bit about..

Clare has been with Sainsbury’s 3 years. She started her career as a business analyst 20 years ago, and has been in retail for the majority of that time.

My Story

“A lot of companies out there have great values, but Sainsbury’s is one of the few where it’s actually part of the fabric of the organisation. It’s not just something that’s talked about, it’s used as a way to drive the business forward.

“I love being in an environment that’s constantly evolving, I spent years working for big digital companies and when I first moved into retail it was a big shock, the pace is so much faster here but that’s what keeps it so exciting.

“It’s a large organisation that doesn’t feel large, there’s thousands of people working here, but I’m yet to come across someone that’s not approachable or isn’t valued for the part they play and who they are. Being a manager, I really like to champion and lead diversity in my team and I’m aware I’m different to what people usually expect in D&T. I’m not a technician, I pride myself in not being technical but rather a technical interpreter, helping people to understand how technology can support them in making a real difference.

“The best bit about my role is the fact that you get to see a project from start to finish, but then it doesn’t just end when the system is ready to go – there’s a constant evolution of applications and capability to improve the way the business works. There’s something really tangible about this role, you can walk into a supermarket or convenience store and see the project you’ve been working on in practice. In IT everything is so real, there’s a direct correlation between what you do and how it affects the business and that’s just fascinating to me.”