In this second instalment of our Electra Values series, Beth Milne (Managing Director of Electra Learning Europe) explores what Passion really means at Electra and why it is the driving force behind how we learn, support clients and show up for one another.
Passion is a word that appears in many value statements, but at Electra it has a very real, everyday meaning. If you know Skerry Read, Electra’s founder, you’ll know passion is the very core of the business and always has been. It shapes how and who we hire, how we design learning, how we support clients, and how we show up for one another. For me, Passion is not just about intensity, it’s a sustained, meaningful connection to something that continues even when it’s difficult or inconvenient.
It is about caring enough to do things properly, staying curious, and wanting the work to have a genuine impact.
In the first blog of this series, I wrote about teamwork and how collaboration underpins everything we do. Passion sits right alongside it. If Teamwork gives us the structure, Passion gives us the drive to keep improving.
Passion starts with people, not processes
One of the things I enjoy most about leading this team is seeing how different backgrounds and experiences shape the way people work. No one has the same story, and that variety is one of our strengths.
My colleagues have arrived in learning and development through all sorts of routes, some creative, some technical, and some who discovered it along the way (myself included). What we share is a commitment to making learning clear, accessible, and genuinely useful.
I see this in the way people naturally draw on their own experiences, the bridge-builders connecting people, the organisers, the idea generators, the reality checkers and the quiet ones that don’t say much but when they do say something, it’s seriously worth listening to. When I see these skills and experiences work together to deliver projects, simplify complex challenges and develop new ways to make information resonate, it’s like watching a beautifully orchestrated performance. These influences show up quietly in the work, but they make a noticeable difference.
For me, growing up as the youngest of four was an early lesson in just how different people can be – even within the same household. It taught me to listen carefully, read between the lines, and understand multiple perspectives, especially when navigating the occasional sibling disagreement!
Those experiences have shaped how I work with both clients and colleagues today. They’ve also reinforced a simple idea: passion is often rooted in the experiences we bring with us.
Passion is the drive to make learning better, every time
One thing that stands out across the team is the belief that each project should be better than the last. This is not something we mandate, is simply how people here work.
Designers regularly share work with one another to gather feedback and spark new ideas. A second pair of eyes helps maintain quality, but it also encourages continuous improvement. I see the same mindset in our change and training consultants, who focus on building confidence, not just delivering content.
Some of the most meaningful work at Electra happens quietly. It is the small decisions people make throughout the day, the moments where someone chooses to stay curious, to help a colleague, or to take a little more time to get something right. These are not big gestures, but they shape the experience our clients and learners have. They also shape the culture we work in. When people consistently show care in the details, it creates an environment where others feel encouraged to do the same.
How Passion Shapes Real Client Experiences
To show what passion looks like in real terms, it helps to think about the kind of project we see often. A client comes to us wanting to modernise the way their teams work together. They have new tools, new expectations, and a clear vision, but the reality on the ground feels very different. Confidence is low, people are unsure where to start, and the change feels bigger than the support in place.
In situations like this, passion shows up long before any formal change management or training begins. Our team spends time getting to know how people actually work, not how the process map says they work. They sit with teams, watch how tasks unfold, and listen to what is getting in the way. It is in these early conversations that the real needs become clear.
From there, the approach becomes very practical. Instead of delivering a standard programme, the team builds something that fits the organisation’s rhythm. Short sessions that focus on real tasks. Space for people to ask questions they might not raise in a larger group. Resources that are easy to return to when the day gets busy. And importantly, ongoing support rather than a one‑off intervention.
What stands out in these projects is not a single moment, but the steady shift that happens when people feel genuinely supported. Teams start to communicate more easily. Individuals gain confidence with the tools they rely on. Leaders begin to see the benefits of change rather than the disruption.
This is passion in practice. It is not about doing more for the sake of it. It is about taking the time to understand what will make a difference and committing to follow it through. For me, the most important indicator of passion is the trust our clients place in us and the consistency of the work our team produces. When people know they can rely on you, it is usually because Passion and Quality are working together in the background.
From Passion to Quality
In the next blog, I will be talking about our value of Quality, a topic that is closely connected to everything I have shared here. Quality does not happen by accident. It comes from people who care about doing things well and who are willing to keep learning and refining. That is why Passion matters so much. It sets the tone for the work we deliver and the expectations we hold for ourselves. When Passion and Quality come together, the outcome is something we can stand behind with confidence.