A year after taking on the CEO role at Bristol-based WestSpring IT, Emma Carter has been reflecting on the lessons she has learned while leading a growing business through a period of change, investment and development.
The reflection comes shortly after WestSpring IT was named in the IT Channel Oxygen Fast-Growth 50 for 2026.
For Emma, the last 12 months have reinforced some simple but important truths about leadership, growth and building a business for the long term.
Lesson one: You don’t need all the answers
One of the biggest surprises for Emma has been how much leadership comes down to judgement.
“People often imagine leadership is about having the answer. It really isn’t,” Emma said.
“More often, it’s about making the best call you can with the information in front of you, owning it and being prepared to change course if needed.”
Lesson two: Growth needs strong foundations
WestSpring IT has grown significantly over the past year, but Emma believes growth only matters if the foundations are strong.
“Growth is great, but only if you can do it without losing your grip on quality and consistency,” she said. “We’ve improved structure, sharpened accountability, invested in the right people and looked closely at how we operate so that we can continue to grow without losing the standards that matter.”
Lesson three: People make the difference
“What I’m most proud of is seeing the business feel stronger, clearer and more joined up,” Emma said. “It’s watching people step up, teams settle and improvements stop being ideas and start becoming the way we actually work.”
Lesson four: Leadership changes as you grow
“Earlier in my career I could default to solving, fixing and driving everything forward at pace,” Emma said.
“There’s still a place for that, but leading at this level has required a different balance. I’ve had to get better at stepping back, looking at the bigger picture and making decisions based not just on urgency but on long-term impact.”
Lesson five: The work is never finished
“Good people still need support and direction. Growth is only positive if the foundations are there to support it,” Emma said.
“I’ve learned that resilience in leadership isn’t about pretending everything is easy. It’s about staying steady when things are difficult.”
Looking ahead, Emma believes businesses need practical support as technology, cyber security and resilience become increasingly important.
“What excites me about the next 12 months is that we’re building from a much stronger place,” she said.
“Clients are dealing with more complexity and higher expectations. They need people who know what they’re doing, communicate properly and help them make sensible decisions.
“We’ve made a lot of progress over the last year, but there’s still plenty more to do. We’re continuing to invest in our people, strengthen our cyber and strategic capabilities, and build the long-term partnerships that help our clients succeed.”
Based in Aztec West, Bristol, WestSpring IT provides strategic managed IT solutions to businesses across the UK. Their clients include Halo Leisure, Circadian Trust, Method Consulting and Precision Resource Group. For more information visit https://westspring-it.co.uk/