Meet Sheryll Ricketts, Littlepay’s Solutions Consultancy Lead – based in the London Office

Sheryll Ricketts looks after the Solutions team which acts as the engine room of our Commercial team. Her team supports all of our commercial activity from a technical perspective.

Give us the highlights of your career journey to Littlepay

Technology has always been my passion. When it came to considering University, the choice was between Computing Science or Medicine. In hindsight, I am certain that humanity will be thankful that I chose technology! After graduating, I fell into transport as a test engineer with a company specialising in closed loop smart card solutions.

Sixteen years later, I am delighted to say it is an industry that I have no intention of leaving. I have had the privilege of working for a variety of companies in the transport world covering technologies such as mobile ticketing, customer support, smart card issuance, revenue inspection, on bus ticketing and now the exciting world of contactless payments in transit. Over the years, I have moved away from software development. I’ve focused on more commercial facing technical roles, which led me to the Solutions Consultancy role I have here at Littlepay. There is a lot to be said for working in a world where you can make an impact on the lives of real people. 

What is the most exciting thing for you about working in fintech? 

The pandemic has accelerated the demand for contactless payments in transit, both from a passenger and a transit agency perspective. Globally, governments and agencies are looking at how to entice passengers back to public transport. These trends are creating an environment that is open to innovation. It is a chance to build upon the solid foundations already showcased with contactless payments in transport in countries like the UK and Singapore. I am excited to see what new value can be offered to all passenger groups through transit payments technology. Watch this space…

What’s your favourite Littlepay memory?

My favourite memory was last Summer. We had to prepare for a very important, in-depth demonstration to win a national project. For weeks we were working together, across various parts of the business. We wanted to ensure we had a slick, thorough and professional demonstration that highlighted our expertise and showcased the maturity of the solution. When the time came to do the demonstration, I was so proud of the team. I watched each member present their area of the solution with a confidence and calmness that made me certain we would succeed. Thankfully, that feeling was right!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?

I love to find ways to try and keep fit. My favourite thing to do for the last couple of years is a class called Blaze. The class is a mix of high intensity strength training, cardio and, my favourite, combat training on a very large punch bag. Sometimes it is exactly what is needed to clear my mind. Helps me de-stress from work before spending time with the family. 

What is one thing that can instantly make your day better?

Any day is made bright when my two girls are around – most of the time at least haha. This is a wonderful benefit of working from home more often. I don’t have to wait until the end of the day to get their hugs, smiles and amazing stories.

What’s your life/career motto?

“She believed she could, so she did”. I am a true believer that we are limited only by ourselves. Positivity is key and, with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

What are the key factors that help you manage a work-life balance? 

My husband – Without him, I wouldn’t be able to do my job. He is the yin to my yang and my right hand man in life. He keeps everything running smoothly when I need to focus on work. Because of him, quality family time is possible when work is done for the day. 

My manager – I am trusted to do my job well and in whatever time I can fit it into. Letting me optimise and balance my work and life priorities. 

Me time – This can often fall to the bottom of the priority list, but I remind myself that it shouldn’t. Taking time for myself, either at the gym or just having a quiet tea in silence before everyone wakes up, helps me reset and re-energise so I can get the most out of work and life. 

Do you think your job positively contributes to your overall happiness?

I thrive in a busy environment where I can work with smart, energetic and enthusiastic people. I love to add value to a team and to feel like we are making a positive impact on the world in some small way. I’m very fortunate to be able to say that my job at Littlepay realises these goals.

Does raising kids teach you any skills that you can use in the workplace?

Yes! Anyone who has kids will tell you that they don’t know what they did with all of the time they had before they had kids. It is all relative of course as I am sure I believed that I had no spare time before kids too, but having little ones that are reliant on you 24/7 really shifts that perspective. I found that my priorities changed. The ability to multitask, be more productive and organised seems to evolve to another level after kids. I think this is out of necessity to make sure I could have as much quality time at home as possible.