How winning a Digital Health award boosted my career

As the Digital Health Impact List launches, Jodian Barrett shares how entering a Digital Health award for young leaders has boosted her career as a chief nursing information officer (CNIO).

Jodian Barrett, deputy CNIO at Northwest London Virtual Hospital, says she is “quite a quiet person”, adding “If you’d met me a few years ago I was a lot quieter”.

Winning the Digital Health ‘35 under 35’ award in 2022, gave her the confidence to be herself and not filter who she is when meeting new people.

“When I have something to say, I say it,” Barrett says.

A paediatric nurse by background, Barrett is also children’s CNIO at West London Children’s Healthcare, part of Imperial College Healthcare and Chelsea and Westminster paediatric services.

Today, in her dual role, she leans increasingly towards the “tech side” of digital leadership. She enjoys acting as a “bridge” between clinical and technology staff, and it was as a clinical champion working with IT colleagues that she took her first steps towards a career in digital.

Winning the Digital Health award gave Barrett the confidence to be herself

Barrett was 33 years old, and working at Imperial, as digital lead nurse information exchange, when she applied for the Digital Health 35 under 35 award list in 2022. Her motivation was simple: a place at Digital Health Summer Schools – where she could meet other aspiring digital leaders – was part of the prize.

“I wanted to go to Digital Health Summer Schools, but I didn’t have the funds for it, so I was looking at what bursaries were available to help,” Barrett says.

Winning has been “brilliant” for her career and she felt the benefits as soon as she met the other members of the winning cohort at Summer Schools, who had already been introduced via a WhatsApp group.

“We were all together – you didn’t feel like you were by yourself. The WhatsApp group has become such a big support group, even now we all still use it to share information about jobs and learning.”

Barrett says that the winners’ support network has brought her into contact with a wide range of people in different roles, some of them in industry. This broadening of her horizons has been valuable for her development.

“It’s nice because you’re not just stuck with one way of thinking. You get everybody’s opinions and views and that gives you a richer knowledge base to use.

“You’ve also got a place to ask what might be classed as ‘stupid’ questions. It’s a safe place.

“Usually, someone is going to come back to you and say, ‘here’s the information you’re looking for’.”

The award has proven itself to be an “ice breaker” with people she doesn’t know – something she first realised at a digital conference, when a member of Digital Health Networks Chief Clinical Information Officers Advisory Panel introduced her to a colleague as “part of the 35 under 35” cohort.

“It hadn’t registered with me to introduce myself as being part of that, but she did it for me. That was quite nice,” Barrett says.

The award encouraged me to do public speaking, put myself forward for participating in panels and share my journey

She is now a member of the Digital Health Networks CNIO Advisory Panel.

The award gave her a public profile as a future digital leader, which has encouraged her to pursue opportunities that would otherwise not have come her way, she says.

“The 35 under 35 award encouraged me to do public speaking, to put myself forward for participating in panels and share my journey both with others in the group but also more widely.

“It provided me with a safe network of colleagues where we share opportunities both professionally and personally.”

She also welcomes the public profile the award has provided because of the encouragement it gives to other young digital leaders, especially women of colour.

“I’ve been in spaces where I’ve been made to feel conscious of the colour of my skin” Barrett explains.

Barrett welcomes the encouragement her award gives to other young women of colour working in digital health

She feels “lucky” to now be in a position where a person “who looks like me” can say: “Actually, if she can do it, I can do it”.

Winning the award and attending Summer Schools prompted Bennett to take career developments steps that prepared her for current senior role, which she took on in June 2023.

“Attending Summer Schools gave me the confidence to go ahead and apply for my apprenticeship which resulted in my masters equivalent qualification in leadership and management.”

Barrett says she would always advise anyone thinking of applying for a digital leadership award to go for it. There is so much to be gained – and nothing to lose.

“I don’t think I had any qualms about applying. If you get a ‘yes’, that’s great. But if you get a ‘no’ that’s the worst you’re going to get! You can always apply again next year” she says.

The Digital Health Impact List 2026 launches today. Click here to find out more and nominate yourself or someone you admire for the list.