Delores Harvey

Why this persona fits the audience

People analytics manager at a Bristol scale-up who runs quarterly employee-listening studies, interviews managers, and sorts free-text survey comments with HR and internal comms. Often works with one analyst and a designer, combining spreadsheets, slides, and a transcript service.

• Age: 37
• Location: Bristol, UK
• Occupation: People Analytics Manager
• Income: £80k
• Education: BA in psychology, CIPD
• Company size: Approx. 250 employees
• Years in role: 4

“The real value isn't just in the numbers, but in understanding the 'why' behind them to build a better place to work.”

Delores Harvey, 37, has carved out a niche as a People Analytics Manager at a dynamic Bristol-based scale-up, a role she's held for four years. Her academic background in psychology, coupled with her CIPD qualification, provides a strong foundation for her work. She lives in Clifton with her partner, finding a balance between a demanding career and a fulfilling personal life. Her professional journey began in more general HR roles, but she quickly gravitated towards the power of data to understand and improve employee experiences. This led her to specialize in people analytics, where she thrives on uncovering insights from complex datasets. Her current role involves a significant amount of qualitative data analysis, particularly from the quarterly employee-listening studies she spearheads. This includes meticulously sorting through hundreds of free-text survey comments, a task she undertakes in close collaboration with the HR and internal communications teams. She also dedicates time to interviewing managers across departments, seeking to understand the nuances of team dynamics and leadership effectiveness. Delores is known for her methodical approach, her commitment to fairness and clarity in her reporting, and her ability to remain calm under pressure. She works closely with a small team, including one dedicated analyst and a graphic designer, relying on a combination of spreadsheets, presentation software, and a transcript service to manage her workflow. She recently championed a shift towards more integrated reporting, ensuring that qualitative feedback is visually represented alongside quantitative metrics, a decision that has been well-received for its clarity. Delores is driven by a desire to make evidence-based insights accessible and actionable, believing that a deeper understanding of the workforce is key to sustainable business growth and employee well-being. Her income of £80k reflects her expertise and the increasing strategic importance of her function within the company. She views her work not just as a job, but as a means to foster a more equitable and productive workplace culture.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Delores's typical weekday begins around 7:00 AM with a quick check of urgent emails and a short yoga session. After a strong coffee, she commutes to the office, often listening to a podcast. Her morning is usually dedicated to focused analytical work, perhaps refining the analysis of open-text comments from the latest employee survey or building a dashboard. After lunch, she might have a meeting with HR or internal comms to discuss upcoming communication strategies based on survey findings, or an interview with a department manager. The afternoon often involves collaborating with her analyst on data preparation or with the designer on report visuals. She aims to leave by 6:00 PM, but late-day requests can sometimes extend her hours. Evenings are for winding down, cooking, and perhaps reading.

Lifestyle

Delores lives in a comfortable two-bedroom flat in Clifton with her partner, a software developer. Their routine is fairly structured, with early mornings often involving a quick yoga session before work. Weekends are a mix of socialising with a small group of close friends, exploring Bristol's independent coffee shops, and catching up on reading. She's mindful of her health, preferring home-cooked meals and regular exercise. Financially, she's responsible, saving consistently for future goals and avoiding unnecessary debt, though she enjoys occasional splurges on quality experiences or books.

Work life

As a People Analytics Manager at a rapidly growing tech scale-up, Delores's days are a blend of deep analytical work and collaborative problem-solving. She juggles managing the quarterly employee-listening studies, which involves designing surveys, analysing sentiment from open-text responses, and presenting findings. A significant portion of her time is spent interviewing managers to understand team dynamics and challenges. She works closely with a dedicated analyst and a graphic designer to translate complex data into digestible slides and reports. The pressure is on to provide actionable insights that genuinely improve the employee experience and inform strategic HR decisions, often against tight deadlines.

Relationships

Delores has a close relationship with her partner, who provides a supportive sounding board for work challenges. Her parents live in Dorset and they speak weekly. She has a small, tight-knit circle of friends from university and work, with whom she shares personal and professional updates. Her direct manager, the Head of People, is a key influencer in her work, valuing her data-driven approach.

How they decide

Delores is a methodical and research-oriented decision-maker. She values evidence, seeks out data from multiple sources, and prefers to weigh pros and cons carefully. She consults with trusted colleagues and her manager when significant decisions are involved, but ultimately relies on her own analysis and judgment. She is not impulsive and tends to avoid making snap judgments.

How they sound

Speaks clearly and at a moderate pace, with a slightly formal but approachable tone. Avoids jargon when speaking to non-analysts, preferring clear, concise language. Uses phrases like 'from a data perspective', 'it appears that', and 'the trend suggests'. Her accent is standard Southern English, with no strong regionalisms.