Melissa Davidson Named As A Top 30 Under 30
It gives us enormous pleasure to announce that Accu’s own Melissa Davidson has been recognised as one of West Yorkshire’s Top 30 Under 30!
The Top 30 Under 30 programme shines a light on individuals from a wide range of disciplines and industries, highlighting the talent and excellence they bring to their roles and the impact they deliver. It’s a prestigious award that recognises the talent, hard work and leadership potential of the region’s most promising young professionals, showcasing them as the leaders of the future.
Already acclaimed by her colleagues and the customers she helps, Melissa’s journey with Accu shows just how much she has accomplished and makes for an inspiring story in and of itself. Through her fearless commitment to building relationships, understanding the needs and challenges of our industry and representing Accu at its best, she’s proven to be evermore deserving of the accolade.
As a recipient of the Top 30 Under 30 award, she’ll be part of a year-long development programme that will nurture her leadership talents and give her access to new skills, opportunities and facets to her career and reputation.
As you can imagine, TeamAccu are all huge fans of Melissa. So while this award comes as no surprise to us, we know it’s a great opportunity for other people to get to know her. With that in mind, we’ve given her the chance to speak now and share some of the (folk)lore behind her journey and her plans for the future.
Professional Questions:
Q: What's your name, position at Accu and what do you do?
A: I’m Melissa Davidson, Lead Customer Development Specialist at Accu. I work with customers to understand their projects, find the right solutions and help turn opportunities into successful orders.
Q: If you had to describe your work in one sentence to friends, what would you say?
A: I make friends with customers, quote their projects and celebrate when they say, 'Let's do it!’
Q: How did you end up working at an engineering component supplier?
A: Long story short: by complete chance! The life of a showgirl wasn’t for me, so I was looking for an "office job" after deciding I'd had enough of mucking out stables and fancied a new challenge whilst waiting to join the police. I joined the company in an admin role eight years ago, discovered I loved the industry and what started as a stopgap turned into a proper love story.
Q: What does a day's work look like for you?
A: No two days are ever the same. They all start as a blank space, but there’s no knowing where they might end up, which is one of the things I love most about my job. My day is usually a mix of speaking with customers about their projects, working out the best solutions for their requirements, preparing quotes, chasing opportunities, winning orders and working closely with suppliers and colleagues to make sure everything runs smoothly. There's always a new challenge to tackle, which definitely keeps things interesting!
Q: What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on so far at Accu?
A: It has to be our most recent US expansion project. Watching Accu grow into new markets and helping build the foundations for Accu Inc has been incredibly exciting. It’s been a great opportunity to be part of something bigger…
Q: Do you think the work you do has a wider outreach than most people might think?
A: Definitely! Most people don't realise just how many everyday products and industries rely on engineering components. The projects I work on can end up in everything from food production and manufacturing to energy and automation. It's rewarding to know that by helping customers find the right solution, I'm playing a small part in keeping businesses, production lines and essential industries moving, even if most people never see what's behind it.
Q: What are you optimistic about for the future of Accu?
A: I'm really excited about Accu's continued global expansion. We're constantly growing, reaching new customers and finding new opportunities around the world, so it feels like we're only just getting started. Watch this space…
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your Accu career?
A: Without a doubt, navigating the uncertainty of COVID. Like many businesses, we had to adapt quickly to what was an especially cruel summer. Still, despite working through a few midnights, it was incredibly rewarding to help customers working on projects that supported essential industries, including those involved in ventilators and other critical medical equipment. It was a fast-paced and demanding time, but it really showed how important teamwork, adaptability and supporting our customers can be when it matters most.
Q: What is the one skill you think is essential for any new customer development specialist coming into the engineering industry?
A: Patience and a good sense of humour! Every customer is different, so being able to listen, adapt and build great relationships is just as important as knowing the products.
Q: What’s the one thing you couldn’t do your job without?
A: Definitely my colleagues (especially Albert). They make the tough days easier, the good days even better and they're always there to share their knowledge, lend a hand or have a laugh. They really are the secret ingredient behind everything we achieve.
Q: If you had to choose a role model or someone who inspires you, who would it be?
A: Taylor Swift. She's proof that success doesn't mean compromising your values. I admire how she's fought for ownership, equality and staying authentic while building one of the biggest brands in the world. As a woman leading with resilience, confidence and integrity, she shows the impact you can have when you believe in yourself and stand by what matters to you. Sometimes things don’t work out, but you just have to shake it off and keep on trying.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring customer-facing specialists, what would it be?
A: Remember that people buy from people. One of my favourite quotes is, “People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel,” and I think that sums up customer relationships perfectly.
Q: If you could work on any project in the world, past or present, what would it be?
A: I’d love to work on the development of a real-life Iron Man suit (because who wouldn’t?!). When I tell people that, they usually say “you need to calm down”, but to me the mix of engineering, creativity and problem-solving would be amazing. I’d finally have the chance to prove that even the smallest components can help create something legendary.
Q: What’s one innovation or trend from your customers that excites you the most?
A: The biggest thing that excites me is seeing how quickly our customers are innovating and pushing boundaries. From automation and robotics to smarter, more efficient designs, it’s amazing to see the ideas that start as a conversation turn into real-world solutions and physical products and I’m a great lover of seeing designs and prototypes become a reality.
Personal:
Q: How does it feel to be named one of the top 30 under 30 in West Yorkshire?
A: Honestly, it feels incredibly special, beyond my wildest dreams. Eight years ago, I never imagined that starting out in an admin role would lead me here. I took a chance to begin again in a completely new industry, embraced every challenge and have been lucky enough to grow alongside an amazing company and team. Being named one of West Yorkshire’s top 30 under 30 is not just a recognition of what I’ve achieved, but a reminder of the people who have supported me, the opportunities I’ve been given and the journey that has shaped me. I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come and excited for everything still ahead.
Q: What do you think set you apart from other nominees?
A: I think what sets me apart is my journey. I didn’t come from a traditional engineering background, I built my career by being curious, saying yes to opportunities and constantly pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I’ve always believed that great relationships, a willingness to learn and a genuine passion for helping customers succeed can be just as important as technical knowledge. I’ve done things in my own style and others can too.
Q: Has this recognition changed where you want to be in the future?
A: If anything, this recognition has made me even more determined. It’s reminded me that I’m on the right track and has given me even more motivation to keep pushing myself, learning and taking on new challenges. I want to continue growing with Accu, play a part in our global expansion and hopefully inspire others to see that careers don’t always have to follow a traditional progression to be successful.
Quick Fire:
Q: Hex socket or Torx?
A: Torx (they are prettier)
Q: Metric or Imperial?
A: Metric
Q: 3D printing or CNC machining?
A: 3D Printing ( I have multiple of Albert on my desk, including a red one)
Q: Low-tech or high-tech solutions?
A: High Tech!
Q: Tea or Coffee?
A: Coffee…always and iced if we’re being specific
Q: Favourite tool?
A: Spanner because everyone has one on their key ring as a bottle opener ;)
Q: What music did you listen to on your way in today?
A: take a guess ;)
(As a side note, we tortured poets of the marketing department had a little fun writing this by hiding the titles of several Taylor Swift albums and songs in this article. See if you can spot them all.)