Employee Spotlight: Tom White, Lead Account Manager
Been with Music Health since 07/2021
Tell us about yourself and your journey to Music Health
Hello! I’m Tom. I’m 23. I’ve been working for Music Health since practically day one, and it’s been an absolute joy to watch the business grow and flourish!
Steve and I jumped onto the Music Health train at the same time after previously working together on a variety of projects for a few months, and he’s led the operations while I’ve tried to tackle as much of the process-orientated work in getting the company ready to operate at scale!
Outside of work I am an avid footballer, love my gaming, and get up to all of the tomfooleries that befits a 23-year-old (pun fully intended).
What made me go into account management
Understanding people, interacting with them regularly and providing a solution to their problems is something I have always enjoyed doing in the workplace, so I find my role of Account Manager at Music Health really natural for me.
Despite my age, I love to lead, and coming into the business at such an early time has allowed me to put my best foot forward when it comes to understanding our product fit, educating the team and our customers about Vera, and putting into motion that processes that form the everyday basis of work amongst the company.
What does your regular day at Music Health look like?
Every day always starts with at least 30 minutes of whizzing through and sorting my emails - they never end!
A typical day is either one of two extremes; going into the office and smashing out some project/objective-based work, whereas on other days I’m on site at aged care homes working with nurses and carers to use Vera in practice for those in their care.
If you could take one album, and one thing with you on a deserted island, what would it be?
Very tough question. I listen to music to get to sleep every night, and so the one album that I don’t think I could live without is Woodland by The Paper Kites. Its calm, nature-y tracks are incredible at relaxing me and putting me to sleep instantly, which is essential for survival!
As for the item, it would absolutely have to be an unlimited supply of chocolate. Preferably caramel or hazelnut, but I’m not picky!
What are you most proud of so far while working at Music Health?
Without a doubt, it is the smiles on the faces of the people living with dementia who we serve. Being that person onsite to represent our team means that I get much more exposure to the feel-good moments than most, so I try to capture them and share my learnings as often as possible.
What do you find most challenging about your role?
On a similar train of thought, the days onsite can be immensely challenging. The stresses of care just wipe you out - both physically and emotionally - and I can honestly say it has to be one of the hardest jobs out there.
Aged care workers and those that work with dementia specifically have so much of my respect, as it can often be a thankless job. Thankfully, however, music can bring many little moments of joy to a typical day, and I found I really leaned on music to get myself through these days and to unwind afterwards.
What is your best memory while working at Music Health?
Startup life has its many ups and downs, but I can vividly remember so many of our wins, and the absolutely electrifying endorphin hit when you get a big win, especially if it was hard fought. High-fives and grins amongst the team when we win an award, land a new customer or get some awesome product feedback really makes the days fly by.
It has to be said as well that our team offsites are really special. Morale is always at its highest when we make the journeys to spend a few days in person together discussing how we’re doing, bonding, and making plans for the future. I have to say that our team-made Amazing Race’s (and the beer/s at the finish line) could not be more special!
What is your favourite Music Health ‘practice’?
Radical candour is definitely the team practice that I live through the most. I can’t perform if people can’t be upfront with one another, air any tension and get back to the job at hand, so this is the perfect practice for me.
The one that I am a massive fan of but I have to put a bit more thought into practicing is ‘Innovation’. It’s one that I actually brought to the table, but I think it’s vital to perform this every single day.
When you’re working in a company with such an awesome, innovative idea, it can be easy to mentally check this practice off your list, as we naturally fulfil it so well. But I find that if you really make the effort to practice Innovation 24/7, you find you can manage tasks and problems so much more effectively. In plain terms, I associate this practice with not assuming that something is going to work out just because someone said so - go out there, try it, make your own assessments and conclusions, then go back to the drawing board thinking “what could I do better?”. You’ll find that by working in this way you are always bursting with new ideas and more efficient ways of doing things.
Lastly, what would you say for someone who is thinking about applying to Music Health?
If you’re looking at a job ad and thinking “Wow I love music and helping people, but this role might be a little out of my comfort zone…” - my advice is to just do it!
I came into the company with limited work experience and no degree, yet I find myself consistently performing at a really strong level amongst my peers. We’re looking for the right people for the job, not someone who just ticks the right boxes, so if you are enthusiastic, willing to learn fast and do some good in the world, don’t be a stranger!
