Phil Mirner

What led you to work for PETA?

Like a lot of people, I discovered early on that higher education wasn’t for me and I wanted to get out into the world of work instead. 

Learning, for me, didn’t continue until later in my career when I realised how important it was, which is one of the inspirations for me doing the job I currently do and working at PETA. 

I started at PETA 8 years ago as a Training Consultant after moving away from the public sector. I was looking forward to the challenges of working in the private sector again and being able to invest my energy and skills in an organisation that aligned to my own values and beliefs.

I applied my skills and experience to my role and soon built long-lasting relationships with a range of individuals and organisations that I still maintain to this day.

What is your role at PETA and what drives you to do what you do?

After starting out with PETA as a Training Consultant, I was provided with the opportunity to take on the management role within the department, which I leapt at. I knew I had the passion and people skills to support the team around me and to drive the department forward.

I am currently the Manager of the Management and Business Training Department, which delivers a range of commercial and government-funded learning and development solutions.

I'm driven by knowing that our team makes a huge difference in supporting businesses in the local community. We transform careers and help individuals take that step into a Leadership position, and it's a hugely rewarding thing to be involved in.

What knowledge/experience do you draw upon for your role?

Having been lucky enough to run several small businesses in the early part of my career I was able to get a grounding on key business principles and processes.

These skills allowed me to shift my career, presenting me with the opportunity to work as a Business Link Advisor. This role involved going out to organisations and offering impartial advice and guidance on a range of business-critical topics, such as business planning and strategy, marketing, sales and training and allowed me to use my own knowledge and experience to help others, something which I continue to draw upon and do to this day.

How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required?

I try and approach every day with a smile and a sense of fun, but also try to ensure that my day is structured and managed in a way that allows me to get the most from it.  However, being a manager of people usually means that my day does not go the way that I originally plan it.

I think of all the qualifications that I hold, my level 7 in coaching and mentoring, is the one that I utilise the most.  The skills from that enable me to support my staff in a more collaborative manner, supporting their own development within their roles.

I strongly believe that people management is one of the hardest skills that you will ever have to master.  It requires you to be a boss, coach, mentor, friend, psychiatrist and on occasion, my staff would probably tell you a bit of a monster. However, the rewards that it brings are truly fantastic and it makes your day so varied.  

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My family.  I have been blessed with a caring and loving wife and two extremely funny and wonderful girls. They can make me laugh and keep me on my toes while at the same time they teach something new every single day.  It is very cliched, but no day is the same with them around. Beyond my family, I have three passions. The first is Formula One, the second is movies and going to the cinema, and the third is reading.

What are your personal values, and what is important to you?

Hard work, determination, fairness and honesty.  I am fully committed to PETA and ensuring that we support all our customers to the best of our ability, offering them a first-class customer experience and service. 

I believe in being fair and honest with my staff and trying to offer them support and guidance where required.  I never believe I have all the answers, but I do believe that a good leader surrounds themselves with strong individuals that do have the right answers.  I believe in people.