As part of our Investors in People series, we caught up with Lynne Reeves, who is the Business Unit Leader at Motion Software, one of our portfolio companies. Her journey is a brilliant example of growth, resilience, and embracing new challenges.
In this feature, Lynne takes us through her career so far, what she loves about her role, and her plans for the future.
Can you take us through journey with the group so far?
I actually started out at Gladstone Software as a Training Consultant. Back then, it was just a job – I was busy moving house, getting married, and having a baby! Everything changed in 2010 when Gladstone was acquired by Jonas Software. That was the moment I became part of the group, and my career started to take shape.
In 2011, I moved into a Project Manager role, which worked better with a young family as it meant less travel. From there, I became Project Management Team Leader, then Operations Manager, and eventually Head of Operations. After 18 years at Gladstone, I was ready for a new challenge and joined Motion Software in 2022. I’m now the Managing Director.
I always say I’m the sandwich filling between Motion and Vesta. I act as the bridge – keeping Motion in the loop on what’s going on across the group and making sure Vesta understands where Motion is headed and what we’re trying to achieve.
When I look back, I’m honestly proud of how far I’ve come – it’s been quite the journey!
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Definitely building the culture. Since joining Motion, one of my favourite aspects of the role has been creating an environment where people feel comfortable, open, and willing to challenge me and each other. We’ve built trust and instilled a great sense of what being part of Vesta is actually about.
A particular memory that stands out is a team day we had at an outdoor activity centre – it poured with rain the whole time and we got absolutely soaked! But it was brilliant. One of those days that really brought everything together and encapsulated just why the culture is so important.
And what’s been the most challenging part?
Distance! I’m based in Lancashire and Motion is in Aberdeen, so face-to-face time is limited. But that just makes the time we do have together even more important. I think we’ve done a great job despite that – the team’s energy and our eNPS score says a lot!
What’s it like leading a company as part of the group?
I love that I’m never on my own. Motion isn’t a huge company, so there’s only so much collective experience in-house. But being part of the group means I can call on people like Pete Rhodes at Hellenic Systems or Alex Head at Uniware (to name but a few). There’s always someone you can learn or borrow best practices from.
Right now, we’re reviewing our pricing strategy and working with a company that has already supported several other businesses in the group. They really understand how we operate, which is just one of the many perks of being part of something bigger.
Have there been any standout learning and development opportunities for you?
Absolutely. I went to the Jonas Software University (now Jonas Grows) in 2015 and it was a real eye-opener. Even back then, when we were a smaller group, it showed just how global we were. I met people then who I’ll be seeing again at this year’s event in Toronto – ten years later!
In 2019, I was selected for the Jonas Leadership Program and became one of just ten global MVPs. That year of development was fantastic – monthly sessions on everything from team culture to forecasting. It was led by Richard Clancy and Darrell Boxall, and getting that kind of face time with leaders like them was invaluable. The program really pushed us, helped us realise our potential, and gave us the belief that we could keep growing. It felt a bit like being put on a rollercoaster – but in the best way!
What are your goals for the rest of 2025 and beyond?
I’m always learning and I try to encourage my team to do the same. Sales is a bit of a newer area for me, and since my role involves a lot of sales leadership, I’ve been diving into training to better understand how to coach and support a sales team.
We’ve also recently welcomed a new Sales Manager, which is exciting. It’s the next phase of growth for Motion – we’re exploring new industries, heading to trade shows, and keeping an eye out for new opportunities. The journey continues!
