Celebrating our members and sharing their incredible stories for our community
About Claire
Claire Phillips is the founder of Nexuvo Limited UK, a consultancy supporting manufacturing and supply chain organisations to solve operational challenges and drive sustainable performance.
Claire built her career in the energy sector within a Fortune 500 multinational, progressing from a mechanical engineering apprenticeship to senior executive roles, including UK Country Director where she led the organisation’s energy transition strategy.
Drawing on experience in strategic delivery, global quality leadership and operational P&L ownership, Claire brings a blend of technical grounding and board level insight to organisations pursuing transformation and growth.
Alongside her consultancy work, she serves as the Institute of Directors (IoD) Regional Chair for Fife & Tayside and sits on the Board of Montrose Port Authority. She is also a committed advocate for STEM education and mentorship, championing inclusive pathways into technical and leadership careers.
Claire, tell us what’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
A simple quote has stayed with me since childhood: “There is no such word as can’t.” It instilled in me the belief that anything is achievable.
Throughout my career, I have worked in heavily male dominated environments. In my early years, I often felt the need to work harder to prove myself, which pushed me to build deep technical expertise, strengthen my resilience, and establish credibility through the quality of my work.
As my career progressed, the meaning of that childhood quote evolved into something far more empowering: Focus on doing your best work; the rest will follow.
Instead of working harder trying to prove something, I learned to work with clarity of purpose, high standards and confidence in my own capability. It shifted the emphasis from external validity to internal focus…showing up consistently, leading with integrity and letting my impact speak for itself.
That mindset has served me far better than any pressure to outperform. It keeps me centred, authentic, and focused on delivering meaningful results, regardless of the environment around me.
What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in your career?
A major challenge I’ve overcome was transitioning from a secure corporate role into founding my own consultancy, Nexuvo. After years leading large teams within a global organisation, stepping into entrepreneurship meant leaving behind corporate systems, established structures, and familiar support networks.
I had to redefine my identity from corporate leader to independent advisor, build a business from the ground up, and trust fully in the value of my own expertise. It was a significant shift however a rewarding one. It strengthened my confidence, sharpened my strategic perspective and gave me the freedom to work with organisations in a more focused, impactful way.
Founding Nexuvo pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also opened the door to a new chapter of purpose led work aligned with the transformation and operational excellence I’m passionate about.
What’s a skill you’re currently developing?
I’m currently deepening my technical insight into the renewable energy sector by undertaking an upskilling course in Wind Energy at Robert Gordon University (RGU). While the aerodynamics and windspeed calculations are pushing me outside my usual comfort zone, I’m enjoying the challenge and the opportunity to broaden my knowledge.
Much of my career has centred on operational leadership, energy transition strategy, and governance, so staying connected to the technologies shaping our industry is essential. The pace of change across the energy and maritime sectors is unprecedented, and this learning helps me bring forward looking, relevant insight to the organisations I support, while staying curious, informed, and prepared for the next chapter of our evolving energy landscape.
What would people be surprised to learn about your professional journey?
A core part of my professional journey and something that has guided me throughout every role is my strong instinct for understanding people.
Even though my background is in a technical and operational environment, I’ve always had a natural ability to read situations, pick up on what teams need, and understand the dynamics behind decisions.
As businesses face rapid transformation, being able to understand people how they work, what motivates them, and what they need to succeed is often what turns a strategy into something genuinely effective.
This ability has shaped how I lead and how I support organisations. It’s helped me build trust quickly, navigate challenging environments, and guide teams through uncertainty and change.
Above all I’m a people person, my first advice to others is understand the value of your network and build your tribe.
It’s also become a central part of the way I work today, whether in consultancy or in board roles.
That people focused mindset is what I bring into every conversation, every decision, and every organisation I support.
What does “success” look like to you right now?
Right now, success for me is about developing the next generation of leaders. I’m energised by models like the SSEN shadow board approach, where emerging talent is given real strategic exposure and the space to influence real decisions.
Creating those opportunities and supporting people through mentoring and guidance feels more meaningful than any single project or milestone.
I’m also increasingly focused on how to evolve in an AI driven world. As technology becomes more accessible, the real differentiators will no longer be technical capability alone. I’m exploring ideas that help me think differently about how we navigate complexity, adapt quickly, and make decisions with both intelligence and empathy.
Success, for me, is seeing people grow into their potential; being confident, capable, and ready to lead in a world that looks very different to the one I started in.
Supporting that journey, whether through governance roles, mentoring, or creating space for new perspectives, is where I feel I can make the biggest impact right now.
Quick fire
Tea or coffee? Double espresso before anything!
Early bird or night owl? 5:55am alarm – Having a dog for years plays a part
A book, podcast or show you’d recommend? Book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Is one of my favourites that I can keep reading again. When we pursue the work we are meant to do, we grow into the fullest version of ourselves. That lens has shaped how I think about my own career and the responsibility to help emerging leaders grow into theirs.
If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing? Interior design – it was my lockdown hobby and sharing on Instagram… can you imagine having the time now?!?
A place you love to visit? Singapore
