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The Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing

The Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing

By powered by Silver Swan Recruitment

Welcome to The Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing, where success knows no bounds, whether you're aboard a yacht, jet-setting on private planes, managing palaces, households, or cozy chalets. Join Philippa and her guests each month as they unravel recruitment tidbits and the secrets to triumph in the world of private staffing.

Whether you're a recruiter, job seeker, or are already working in the realm of UHNWI, this monthly podcast educates and inspires, taking a deep dive into the fascinating opportunities and challenges of the industry 💫
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Currently playing episode

Season 3 | Episode 5: Emma Macdonald on providing luxury lifestyle and elite property management services

The Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private StaffingMar 02, 2022

00:00
36:28
S5 E3 - International Women's Day

S5 E3 - International Women's Day

Today The Recruitment Diaries focuses on International Women’s Day, discussing raising a family and the impact this can have on your career

Philippa gives an insight into her journey and how she has balanced having children whilst running Silver Swan

We also invite Barbara Hepp to the show, a member of our UK House Manager community who has successfully navigated the journey of motherhood whilst working within the private sector 

Wrapping up with a quick fire round with Laura Franzo, a working mum from the Silver Swan team.

Mar 28, 202444:25
S5 E2 - Mastering the Interview

S5 E2 - Mastering the Interview

Interviews. Yuck. Possibly the most daunting part of the hiring process, and one that we don't really get much education on 🤢.

This episode, Philippa is joined by Latricia Friend and Russell Orford as they discuss how to navigate perfecting the résumé and finessing a private staff interview. From how to dress all the way up to post-interview etiquette, this episode has got you covered.

Mar 04, 202455:21
S5 E1 - New Year, New Roles

S5 E1 - New Year, New Roles

We've given our podcast a fresh lick of paint, have invested in a second microphone, and are now officially back for our fifth season (Whew😮‍💨)!

As 2024 kicks off, we wanted to run over the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of using a recruitment agency when looking for your next role or employee. Philippa is joined in the studio by Silver Swan's very own Laura and Chris as they discuss how to get the most out of a recruitment agency... and perhaps how not to.

Feb 02, 202448:55
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.36 - Highlights

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.36 - Highlights

Another season of Life in Private Staffing has come to an end, wrapping up our podcast until the new year!


In this episode, Philippa discusses some exciting changes happening at Silver Swan, and we go back through the fourth season and listen to some of our highlights from a year full of brilliant guests and interesting insights.


We'll be back in 2024 with a new season… and perhaps a new name too 😉

Nov 22, 202346:20
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.35 - Georgina Gallagher

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.35 - Georgina Gallagher

This week, Philippa is chatting with one of our UK House Manager Community members, and past Silver Swan candidate, Georgina Gallagher!

Philippa and Georgina talk about the importance of a good work-life balance, and how this coincides with high demands from UHNW principals. Philippa also asks Georgina about her own route into the private staffing industry, from working in hospitality in her teenage years all the way up to her current role.

Nov 08, 202338:31
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.34 - Helen Mann

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.34 - Helen Mann

Today, Philippa is joined by Helen Mann, all the way from San Fransisco, California. Helen talks about her career journey so far- from studying her master's degree in film journalism to working in all sorts of UHNW roles which have managed to remain relevant to her prior studies, and how she's found trying different roles within the private staffing industry to be beneficial in both personal and career growth.

Philippa and Helen discuss a healthy work-life balance, the often inevitable trial and error that comes with finding the perfect position within the UHNW sector, and the importance of being open to opportunities in order to find a role that you are truly happy with.

Oct 25, 202334:47
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.33 - Jennifer Laurence, Luxury Lifestyle Logistics

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.33 - Jennifer Laurence, Luxury Lifestyle Logistics

We're back!

After a short hiatus, Philippa is back with a new episode of Life in Private Staffing, and this week she's joined by the fabulous Jennifer Laurence. Since interning at a record label at the age of 17, Jennifer has devoted her whole professional career to private service; earning her master's degree in hospitality, spending a decade working as a member of private staff, to opening her own private service consulting practice in 2010.

Jennifer shares her wealth of knowledge on the sector, and expands on the benefits of training and coaching for private staff, whilst touching on the importance of creating an educational safe space for high-end hospitality staff- An insightful and important discussion, and not one to miss!

Oct 18, 202343:01
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.32 – Philippa Smith

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.32 – Philippa Smith

Today is a quick shout out from Silver Swan’s MD, Philippa to let you all know that we are taking a short podcast break whilst some of the team travel to the US. We’ll be back with more guests in a couple of weeks! 


We use this opportunity to give you an update on Silver Swan and what we are up to; Our first workshop with the fabulous Tracey Jones takes place on Monday (7pm BST) which is focused on Active Listening & Effective Questioning – which will be a fantastic session. Get in touch for the link to book your ticket! We also discuss our US tour plans and hope to see as many of our US based clients, candidates and community members as possible.

 

For now though, have a fab couple of weeks and we’ll be back in early October!

Sep 20, 202320:58
Life in Private Staffing | 4.31 – Jean-Francois Chatelain

Life in Private Staffing | 4.31 – Jean-Francois Chatelain

Today I chatted to the fabulous Jean-Francois about the fascinating world of aviation. We have not delved into the world of flying yet on this podcast, so it was such a pleasure to hear Jean-Francois’ story. Starting his career working as a cabin steward with British Airways then led onto a 25-year career with the airline working his way up through to the ranks till he was the man in charge of the entire cabin, responsible for a team of 22 crew. Having done it all with BA, from training to product development to working on the royal flights his time came to a natural end.

 

What was a daunting prospect after such a long career, he used his time after wisely with plenty of training and networking with people who helped him move into his current role which is working in the middle east managing the private travel of VVIP’s. This is a perfect role, combining all his previous skills and experiences whilst still providing new daily challenges.

 

If you are interested in how to shift from commercial airlines to private airlines, come and have a listen!

Sep 13, 202340:19
Life in Private Staffing | 4.30 – Silver Swan USA Special
Sep 06, 202327:05
Life in Private Staffing | 4.29 – Betsy Tavit

Life in Private Staffing | 4.29 – Betsy Tavit

Today we head back over the pond to the US to chat with Betsy who only entered this world a few years ago. During her previous career as a music teacher, she often taught in the homes of UHNW clients and would notice the domestic staff running the property. This soon became a regular observation, so much so that she looked into the world of private service as a career for herself. Her friend already worked in the industry which was a huge help when it came to educating her as to how to transition and what role to play. even introduced her to her first employer. 

 

She started at the bottom as a household assistant doing literally anything that needed doing and then moved up to her current House Manager role. Whilst still reasonably new to the industry, she absolutely loves being there and is a big supporter of our communities and this podcast!

Aug 30, 202342:21
Life in Private Staffing | 4.28 Michele Mirabile

Life in Private Staffing | 4.28 Michele Mirabile

It was an absolute pleasure to have Michele on the show today. He has been a friend of Silver Swan for years and we have been able to help him secure his last couple of positions so I was thrilled when he agreed to come and share his story. 

 

He is one of the most passionate chefs I know who worked his way up through a number of excellent Michelin restaurants before moving into the private sector a few years ago. It is evident that he adores his job and his enthusiasm is infectious. 

 

He has some good tips for others starting out in the industry and is a lovely guy to listen to. Definitely visit his LinkedIn page to see some of his incredible food photos!

 

Aug 23, 202345:21
Life in Private Staffing | 4.27 – Tracey Jones, Mindset Coach UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.27 – Tracey Jones, Mindset Coach UK

We decided to get Tracey back on the show to discuss our upcoming program of 6 different modules all designed to help you develop your skills as a House/Estate Manager. When do you ever take time out for yourself to step away from the everyday and look at everything from above? When have you ever had a safe space to work through challenges you are experiencing in your role?

 

These sessions are just for that – for you to come and spend time working in yourself. With modules varying from conflict management to breaking habits to active listening and effective questioning, you really will be equipping yourselves to go away and improve your performance.

 

Limited spaces, first come first served - £40 a session. Click the link to book your place in as many of the sessions as you like.

Aug 16, 202335:04
Life in Private Staffing | 4.26 – Tim Hughes, House Manager Ireland

Life in Private Staffing | 4.26 – Tim Hughes, House Manager Ireland


Tim was one of our original members of our House Manager UK community and so am glad we managed to talk him into coming onto the podcast to tell his story. Yet again, I found another new route into the industry which I have not seen before as Tim was a game keeper for a long time before he transitioned across to the domestic side of things. He was always impressed with the staff who ran the interior of the estate and so decided to embark on a formal Butler course with The British Butler Institute which helped him secure his first role as a Butler/House Manager. Over the last few years he has slowly but surely worked his way up through a couple of different positions to his current role of House Manager based in Ireland. 

 

His experience is mainly in formal households, which we haven’t had on the show for a while which was interesting to discuss – especially the fact that his household has an in-house dry cleaner, not something you see every day!

Aug 09, 202339:34
Life in Private Staffing | 4.25 – Joanie Veage, House Manager Texas US

Life in Private Staffing | 4.25 – Joanie Veage, House Manager Texas US

Today’s conversation with Joanie was fascinating as she is (one of the only!) proud advocates of a hybrid role, providing it’s the right type of hybrid and with the right family. Having had a long career working in the music industry, working backstage with A-listers managing all their catering she came into the private sector already well versed in working with UHNW demanding clients. She openly admits it took her along time and a lot of patience to actually break into the industry, but she finally did and hasn’t looked back. All of her roles have been a hybrid involving cooking, house management and service – which has always worked very well for her. 

 

Coincidentally she has also recently been to The International Butler Academy in the Netherlands (just like some of our previous guests) and absolutely loved her time there and would highly recommend to others.

Aug 02, 202342:44
Life in Private Staffing | 4.24 – Charlotte Pratt, House Manager UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.24 – Charlotte Pratt, House Manager UK

It is a happy coincidence that Charlotte’s story is a similar one to that of Melanie, our guest last week. She also secured her first role as a House Manager fairly recently having worked a variety of different roles over her career to date. Her role involves a lot of cooking, which is fairly unusual for a house manager but when working on the beautiful but small island of the Isle of Wight, these more all rounded roles are more popular as the homes are generally much more relaxed.

 

Her role is definitely different to a typical London based house manager role but it’s good for people to know that roles of this nature exist as this may be a more suitable working environment for you.

Jul 26, 202331:45
Life in Private Staffing | 4.23– Melanie Foulkes, House Manager UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.23– Melanie Foulkes, House Manager UK

Melanie is a valued member of our UK House Manager community and joins us today to talk about her fairly recent transition into the private industry. It’s just as inspiring chatting to guests who have entered this world more recently as can actually be more relevant to those listeners looking to secure their first role themselves also. Mel discusses how all her previous experiences have come together and made her a competent house manager and what she has learned since starting her role.

 

Her story just goes to show that it’s never too late to find a job you love!

Jul 19, 202340:42
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 22 - Mid Season Best Bits

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 22 - Mid Season Best Bits

The year is flying by so we thought we'd look back at some of the best bits of the 21 episodes we have already released!


From discussing trends with Silver Swans in-house expert recruitment consultants to Estate managers, House Manages and many more industry professionals.


Listen to Life in Private Staffings Best Bits now!

Jul 12, 202348:08
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 21 – Chris Milu, MCM Estate Services & Consulting 

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 21 – Chris Milu, MCM Estate Services & Consulting 

Chris is a long-time friend of Silver Swan having been one of our first people to kick off our Florida Estate Manager community and he was our first US brand ambassador also! He is well known in the industry as he makes a conscious effort to network and support others in the industry wherever possible. His story something different yet again, finding his way into the industry by initially working as a caretaker and building trust with the family that way first before they asked him to take over the Estate Manager role when he became available.  

  

He has gained a lot of experience over the years and set up his own Estate Management Consultancy firm which he runs with his wife, son plus a handful of other on the ground staff. Their services can range from stocking the fridge before the family arrive, to overseeing renovations and remodelling, to staffing (partnering with us of course!) to emergency response planning and everything in between. This service is so useful if the property is a secondary residence and doesn’t need a full time estate manager or to support a busy estate manager when extra projects crop up.  

  

We love Chris and so feel really fortunate to have managed to grab him to jump on an episode!  

-- 

His supplier shoutout is – Laticia Friend, Luxury Lifestyle Manager and Co-Host of the fabulous 5-star Service Clubhouse – also a highly experienced Estate Manager. Who also happens to be a friend of Silver Swan’s too! Her support to Chris has been great, she seems to have positively impacted many lives as I only hear amazing things about the fabulous lady 😊 

Jul 05, 202337:43
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 20 – Cathrene Tar 

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 20 – Cathrene Tar 

We head back out to the UAE in today’s episode and have a fabulous chat with Cat, whose life has been so fascinating with a completely different route into the private sector. From being born in Africa and studying in the US, she then spends 10+ years living in China and being fully immersed in the Chinese culture setting up her own business supporting many individuals with a huge range of different things. This PA support she realised she did very well and decided to invest in an MBA Butler Academy in the Netherlands where she learnt the true art of service. 


This shaped not only her career but her as an individual and was one of the best things she has ever done. Her training took her career over to the Seychelles and now onto UAE where she works as a House Manager and absolutely adores what she does. It is so refreshing to speak to someone so positive and grateful for what she does – and is a good reminder to us all the appreciate what we have and where we work! 

Jun 28, 202343:03
Life in Private Staffing | 4.19 – Michael O’Riordan, Silver Swan Saudi Arabia

Life in Private Staffing | 4.19 – Michael O’Riordan, Silver Swan Saudi Arabia

Today, we bring the conversation back in-house by talking to Michael who is our Middle East specialist and has been passionately placing hospitality professionals with various VIP clients across Saudi Arabia for the last 5 years. His passion for living and working in KSA has only grown over the years as the country has developed. We compare how things have drastically changed in Saudi when he visited earlier this year, compared to his last visit before Covid. 

 

The opportunities are immense and candidates who go and work over there for a 1-year contract, invariably stay for years longer. The work is great, the clients are truly respectful, and the lifestyle is just not what you would imagine. You’ll be part of a thriving Western ex-pat community and will make friends for life. 

 

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Jun 21, 202334:27
Life in Private Staffing | 4.18 – Sutherland Dyke, Estate Manager Los Angeles

Life in Private Staffing | 4.18 – Sutherland Dyke, Estate Manager Los Angeles

Sutherland has had an inspiring career following a successful transition out of the military. Over the last 10 years, he has worked for a number of families, managing their entire estates and often additional homes elsewhere. The skills gained in the military regularly lend themselves extremely well to the private sector, as proved by Sutherland and he proves that you don’t necessarily need to work your way up or have a huge amount of relevant qualifications to succeed in this world.

 

He started Swell Property Management upon realising that many clients don’t need a full-time estate manager, especially for those homes that are not their primary residence. Swell now supports a range of estates on a consultancy basis, ensuring they are all well looked after. A great service for anyone looking for that extra layer of support. 

 

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Jun 14, 202342:28
Life in Private Staffing | 4.17 – Martyn Hanley, Global Estate Manager – Cotswolds

Life in Private Staffing | 4.17 – Martyn Hanley, Global Estate Manager – Cotswolds

Following last week’s episode, Martyn also comes from years of living in the mountains working in the much-loved French ski resorts. When he randomly was working as a HGV mechanic, decided to help a friend by accompanying a school on a ski trip which happen to have a huge impact on the rest of his career – as having loved his time in a ski resort he promptly secured work for the following season. Fast forward 10 years and many ski seasons in the Alps, he spends time in the South of France before returning to the UK and choosing to work full time in the private sector.

 

He has managed his job hunting well and secured fantastic positions which he has both enjoyed but which have also helped him move up the ranks to his current role as a Global Estate Manager for a high-profile UHNW businessman. A role in which he is thriving in and can see himself doing for many many years to come.

Jun 07, 202337:13
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 16 – Monika Seller, House Manager – London

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 16 – Monika Seller, House Manager – London

Today we talk to someone I have known for years, ever since my ski industry days! Coming from the luxury chalet industry also, Monika discusses the incredibly eclectic career she has had since embarking on her very first ski season – from a remote Norwegian ski lodge to a crazy summer on the F1 circuit, to a private villa which led to her house manager role here in the UK. I love people who have ended up where they have by complete accident, but who have acquired in a great combination of skills along the way making them fantastic private service professionals! 

 

Monika was made for storytelling so this was such a fun chat. Tune in if you want to hear something about everything! 

May 31, 202344:16
Life in Private Staffing | 4.15 – Vince Currie, Chief of Staff – London/Colorado

Life in Private Staffing | 4.15 – Vince Currie, Chief of Staff – London/Colorado

We love talking to clients of ours and having recently worked with Vince in the placement of 2 new members of staff within his Principals’ household we felt he’d be a great person to give his insights into how best to secure a role in the private sector. We discuss how people can impress him at the interview stage which may help those interviewing at the minute. His journey into the sector is fascinating transitioning from amateur boxing back in South Africa, moving into event security, into private security and most recently into a Chief of Staff role.

 

Many people move through the service side into these senior private sector roles so it’s good to see that there are other routes to the top!

May 24, 202330:57
Life in Private Staffing | 4.14 – Ayden Ju, Estate Manager – Los Angeles

Life in Private Staffing | 4.14 – Ayden Ju, Estate Manager – Los Angeles

Today, Ayden came to visit us in our London office and was an absolute pleasure to be able to chat with him in person. His story is incredibly inspiring being the youngest Estate Manager we’ve ever had on our podcast. His story proves you sometimes need to be in the right place at the right time and that helping out a friend can completely change the course of your life!

 

Working as an Estate Manager in Los Angeles, he has had a fast-learning curve in the industry and has some great advice for others on a similar journey.

May 17, 202330:54
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 13 – Rachel Vanderweele, House Manager – Dubai

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4 Episode 13 – Rachel Vanderweele, House Manager – Dubai

Today we have a lovely conversation with Rachel who is a British citizen but who hasn’t lived in the UK for more than 15 years! She spent more than 10 years working onboard yachts, travelling the world and being fortunate enough to work in some beautiful locations. We discuss her yachting career where she quickly progressed up to Chief Stew working on very large boats, mainly working on private vessels directly for the family. She has loved these roles and only moved into a land-based role when the owner of her last boat asked for her to go to his home in Dubai to troubleshoot a few issues…..for just a couple of weeks, where she has stayed for the last couple of years!  

 

She is a big believer in taking your life into your own hands and if you don’t know something, you go away and find out. She has self-funded and self-organised a huge number of courses over the years which played a pivotal role in the pace at which her career has escalated. She proves that the more you put into life, the more you get out! 

 

May 10, 202337:07
Life in Private Staffing | 4.12 – Kandy Franklin, Private Estate Consulting – Los Angeles

Life in Private Staffing | 4.12 – Kandy Franklin, Private Estate Consulting – Los Angeles

Kandy has an entire career’s worth of experience under her belt having started her journey working in European hotels before moving into the private sector many years ago. She is a hands-on service-orientated Estate Manager who has most recently pivoted to offer her services on a consultancy basis across her hometown of Los Angeles but also across the UK and Europe (she is lucky enough to hold a US, UK and EU passport). Her services range from multi-property management on a contract basis, overseeing construction projects, manuals and procedures, hiring and onboarding, training, improving service standards, vendor vetting and event management – and everything in between.

 

She can travel and so would be very useful to help cover Estate Manager periods of absence, to turn a poorly run home around or to set up a brand-new home.

May 03, 202333:37
Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.11 – Tracey Jones, Mindset Coach – UK

Life in Private Staffing | Season 4.11 – Tracey Jones, Mindset Coach – UK

Today we have the fascinating Tracey on the show discussing how she works with Estate Managers globally to unlock their potential through mindset management. Her experience ranges from working with the military to politicians to athletes to UHNW and then more recently onto private service professionals themselves. We discuss the challenges senior members of staff experience on a day-to-day basis and some of her techniques to really help support individuals who deal with often intense pressure and difficult situations. 

 

Together, we are going to host workshops for our House/Estate Manager communities to ensure our members have the best level of support to keep them in the healthiest mental state possible whilst providing a safe space to talk through certain situations that they need support in resolving. This will be a level of support they would not have received before and so we’re excited to see the benefits this will bring to our community members.

 

If you have seen the TV show Billions…..then think of Wendy!

Apr 26, 202356:35
Life in Private Staffing | 4.10 – Ella Peters, Superyacht Nanny
Apr 19, 202341:18
Life in Private Staffing | 4.9 – Hannah Kennedy-Haynes, House Manager Dubai

Life in Private Staffing | 4.9 – Hannah Kennedy-Haynes, House Manager Dubai

Today we head out to the UAE to chat with Hannah, a House Manager who has been in the industry for the last 10 years. I love talking to candidates who have made the decision to relocate and work somewhere which has such a different culture and temperature (!) to see why they decided to move and what the benefits of taking such a big step have been. We discuss the highs of working in the private sector and why she has stayed in the industry for so long. We also chat through the challenges she faces in her role, especially in a UAE household which brings numerous challenges of its own. 

 

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Apr 12, 202336:07
Life in Private Staffing | 4.8 – Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems USA

Life in Private Staffing | 4.8 – Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems USA

Our fabulous sponsor, Kelly Dixon from Estate Management Systems joins us today to discuss different areas of estate management. Having been a guest on the podcast before where we delved deep into her career history, today we focused more on some of the issues estate managers face on a day-to-day basis offering advice along the way.

 

Since leaving the world of estate management, Kelly has spent 3 years obsessing about supporting other estate managers through her company Estate Management Systems. Starting with her bespoke house management tool to her bite-sized training modules to her new podcast, Dear Billionaire, she is constantly trying to support and improve the industry. We tackle some common issues experienced when managing a large private home from overworked staff and how you can ensure your team doesn’t burnout, to discussing training and the importance of cross-training and even why estate managers should be paid more money!

 

Lots of really valuable advice today which we hope you enjoy.

Apr 05, 202341:10
Life in Private Staffing | 4.7 – Jonathan Wilford, Private Gardener UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.7 – Jonathan Wilford, Private Gardener UK

We invite our very first gardener to the show today! Being an area that I know very little about, I was excited to learn more about the life of a private gardener and how you get into managing the large amounts of land and gardens for UHNW individuals. We discuss the importance of experience over qualifications and that exaggerating your skill set at an interview is not advisable! 

 

Jonathan has always had live-in positions for his entire career within the private sector which causes huge problems when you are in between jobs or unemployed for a period of time. He has some fantastic advice for others who also have a live-in position in how to help protect themselves should the worst happen, and you find yourself out of work – which also means out of accommodation! Unemployment is stressful enough but when you have nowhere to live at the same time, it’s essential you do all you can to help yourself in that situation. 

 

Hopefully, you find some of these tips useful.

Mar 29, 202339:13
Life in Private Staffing | 4.6 Dwight Pilgrim-Nero, Silver Swan US Training Partner

Life in Private Staffing | 4.6 Dwight Pilgrim-Nero, Silver Swan US Training Partner

We have recently partnered with 2 highly experienced trainers of private household and yacht staff and today we are talking with our US based trainer Dwight. As a member of our Florida community, he has been part of the Silver Swan family for a while but with his extensive training experience gained from 5* world renowned hotels and more recently within the private sector we felt he was the perfect person to provide Silver Swan training services across the US.

 

Today we delve into Dwight’s career to date to find out how he has got to where he has and what some of his obstacles on the way were. We then chat all things training – why it is important, why so many people fail when training is lacking, and we discuss his particular approach to his training programs. 

 

If you are interested in talking further with Dwight regarding coming to your household to train you/your team then please get in touch. 

 

Mar 22, 202332:55
Life in Private Staffing - 4.5 Charlotte Philip-Smith, Silver Swan Europe

Life in Private Staffing - 4.5 Charlotte Philip-Smith, Silver Swan Europe

Today we bring the conversation back in-house by chatting all things Europe with Charlotte who has been managing our EU clients for the last year or so. The division was predominantly chalet and villa clients when she took over and it soon became a very busy private household desk with a large mummer of fantastic permanent positions on her books.

We discuss the huge changes that we have seen in the European market as a result of covid and since Brexit. The inability of British candidates being able to legally work in EU ski resorts has completely changed the landscape of ski seasons, which has been sad to see. However, it has created some fantastic opportunities for EU passport holders and has driven up salaries at the same time. We discuss how couples can secure work together, the challenges a lot of people face securing their first role plus how chefs transition from restaurants to private work.

Hopefully this is a useful episode to those working in Europe or hoping to secure work in the future

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Mar 15, 202336:29
Life in Private Staffing | 4.4 Jim Henslee, Estate Manager USA

Life in Private Staffing | 4.4 Jim Henslee, Estate Manager USA

Today we invite Jim to the show to discuss his 20-year career working as an Estate Manager in the USA. His roles have spread across Dallas, New York and Florida which is where he now calls home. He has an interesting story as he made the choice to switch careers and move into the private industry later in life and has already had a successful career working in public relations. It’s interesting to hear about his challenges working with UHNW clients and also why he loves this industry so much.

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Mar 08, 202338:39
Life in Private Staffing | 4.3 Jessica Parkin, Silver Swan USA

Life in Private Staffing | 4.3 Jessica Parkin, Silver Swan USA

Today, we bring the conversation back in-house, this time discussing all things USA. Jessica is our USA specialist and is currently managing a large number of US based clients across LA, New York and Florida. There are aspects of the private industry which differ between the US and the UK and Europe and so it’s important that we delve into these different markets separately.

A number of dilemmas were sent in from some of our US listeners which we spend the episode discussing, ranging from information of our fabulous communities – of which we now have 3 and we’re looking to launch 3 more soon! We then discuss the dreaded term ‘hybrid roles’, where did the term come from, why it now seems to be a common thing and what we can do about it.

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Mar 01, 202330:59
 Life in Private Staffing | 4.2 Phoebe Maddrell, House Manager UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.2 Phoebe Maddrell, House Manager UK

Today, we invite a long-time friend of Silver Swans to the show. Phoebe has been involved with our UK House Manager community since the start and has attended almost all of our events. She is a seasoned House Manager having started are career working onboard superyachts. She was able to transition reasonably smoothly into a land-based PA and House Manager position in Australia and has been working back in the UK ever since. She shares her experiences and offers great tips to others looking to start their career in this industry.

Phoebe is about to embark on her own exciting venture, offering a consultancy service to UHNW families who may not need a full-time House Manager or maybe who have a full team but who are stretched and who need to outsource project work or tasks to support their House Manager. Having done it all before, with her creative flair, she is well-positioned to be that extra pair of hands.

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Feb 22, 202334:06
Life in Private Staffing | 4.1 Laura Reeves, Silver Swan UK

Life in Private Staffing | 4.1 Laura Reeves, Silver Swan UK

Silver Swan returns for our 4th season! This season we plan to invite a number of different guests to share their stories of working in the private sector and alongside these episodes we will be releasing Silver Swan episodes where I will be talking to different members of my team about the market in general and discussing different dilemmas which are sent in by our fabulous listeners. If you have an issue at work or a situation which you don’t know how best to handle, then email it in to us and I will discuss it with my team.

Today, I chat with our UK private household specialist Laura and we discuss how to get into the private sector, what the difference is here in the UK between a House Manager and an Estate Manager. We also discuss recruitment as a career and what her highs and lows are of recruiting for UHNW individuals.

Supported by our sponsor Kelly Dixon, Estate Management Systems and her fabulous new podcast called Dear Billionaire. Use discount code LIFE 25 for any of her products or services on her website.

Feb 15, 202339:42
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Best Bits

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Best Bits

As 2022 draws to an end we have taken the opportunity to pull out our personal highlights of Season 3. Over the last 22 episodes, we have had an array of guests from all over the globe, sharing their stories, their highs and lows and their most challenging client request. I don’t think our guests realise just how inspiring their stories are to others in the industry and especially to those listeners who are trying to get into the private sector. Learning how other people have carved their career really helps others plan their own route through the industry.

I personally have loved every minute of hosting this podcast. As the Founder & MD, I don’t often get the opportunity to talk to candidates on a day-to-day basis and it’s invaluable to me, as an agency owner, to have a true understanding of the current marketplace. As an agency, we are obsessed with adding value to the private sector and hearing from people within the industry first-hand enables us to ensure our service offering and various initiatives are what people actually need!

I would like to thank everyone who has listened to the podcast over the last 3 years along with everyone who has given me their time to come and be a guest and share their story. This podcast would be nothing without you!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from us all at Silver Swan xx

Dec 15, 202231:42
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 episode 22 – Mathieu Barbe

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 episode 22 – Mathieu Barbe

Silver Swan is excited to launch our training services in partnership with Mathieu Barbe at Service Excellence Training. We have onboarded the highly experienced Mathieu as our in-house trainer here at Silver Swan and we now offer on-site bespoke training for all our clients worldwide. We are huge believers in the power of training and hiring good people is not enough if you want a highly effective team, it is essential that there is an effective onboarding and training program in place also.

Today we delve into Mathieu’s extensive career working with UNHW clients worldwide from cruise ships to super yachts to private residences and large events. There isn’t much he hasn’t done and his transition into training has enabled him to train some fantastic teams in some incredible locations. If you have a newly hired team then they will all be great individually but they won’t work cohesively without any kind of training to bring everyone’s experiences together to form a standardised level of service. Equally, if you have a well-established team, don’t underestimate the importance of regular upskilling of your staff. We recommend annual training for well-established teams to keep things fresh, enhance skills and keep staff engaged and developing.

Silver Swan can now offer tailored training programs depending on your needs.

Nov 30, 202239:21
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 episode 21 - Jarryd Chapman

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 episode 21 - Jarryd Chapman

Today we talk with Jarryd who is a member of our Palace Manager community in the UAE. He is embarking on a very exciting new challenge where he and his wife will be managing a very large VIP residence in Dubai. 


Jarryd started his journey in the private staffing sector after spending 5 years working at an incredibly luxurious and gloriously beautiful safari resort in South Africa. They ran a very impressive portfolio of lodges alongside a large team whilst working closely with many UHNWs who were visiting on holiday. 


This prompted them to make the move into private staffing where they took on a domestic couple position for a client in India. They’ve done such an incredible job they are now working for the same family but in Dubai. 


We are looking forward to hearing more about his journey and learning about any future employment opportunities he’s going to have moving forward for those looking for work. 


Thank you to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems who has launched a new service called Private Service Support Team (PSST). They provide all the systems, tools, and support for the private service industry. From online systems, do-it-yourself training modules, and now, her recently launched membership platform to support the private service professional. 

Use discount code LIFEINPRIVATESTAFFING25 to receive a 25% discount.

Nov 09, 202253:55
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 20 – Lisa Murray, The Atlas Club

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 20 – Lisa Murray, The Atlas Club

Silver Swan has recently launched a concierge company to offer not only dedicated service to our UHNW clients but to offer support to our fabulous House/Estate Manager communities. These roles are already challenging without the last-minute or often crazy requests of the Principals – you are no longer alone! Instead of feeling that you need to find a way to make the impossible happen, just email concierge@silverswanrecruitment.com and we’ll help.

Powered by the incredible, global team at The Atlas Club, the service is truly 24/7 with no request being too big or too small. Today we invite Lisa, one of the co-founders of The Atlas Club to come and discuss how the company came about and what their service offering includes. Lisa alongside her equally fabulous business partner Ciara, has been providing a lifestyle management service to many UHNW individuals and families worldwide for the last 10+ years.

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

Oct 26, 202231:08
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 19 – Hannes Hennche
Oct 12, 202242:32
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 18 – Thomas Kaufmann
Sep 28, 202242:21
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 17 – Weber Tysvaer

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 17 – Weber Tysvaer

Today we’re talking to the fabulous Weber who has been working in the US in the private sector for a huge chunk of his career. With a background in interior design, he learnt all about the world of the UHNW clients and built a strong network over the years of designing. It was from here where he pivoted his career into the full management of his clients’ personal lives. He has worked for a number of reputable people over the years, managing small teams to large teams, managing small estates to large estates. He is a member of our Florida estate manager community and so is well and truly now part of our Silver Swan family!

Apologies in advance for the poor sound quality of this episode.

Sep 14, 202240:18
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 16 – Alec Mikels
Aug 17, 202244:31
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 15 – Sam Monastyrskyj
Aug 03, 202244:01
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 14 - Sarah Armstrong

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 14 - Sarah Armstrong

Our guest today is part of our fabulous Florida estate manager community based over in Palm Beach and today she talks to Philippa about her fairly recent entry to the private sector where she was able to take her high levels of service experience from the commercial sector and step straight into house management. She is incredibly passionate about her work and wishes she discovered the private sector years ago! However she proves its never too late to pursue a new career path and whilst she is on a steep learning curve she is loving every minute.

Jul 20, 202248:20
Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 13 - Vinícius França

Life in Private Staffing | Season 3 Episode 13 - Vinícius França

Today Philippa speaks with a highly experienced private butler who is proving how taking that decision to relocate for a role in Saudi Arabia was one of the best things he has done. He secured his first role 3 years ago via Silver Swan in a VIP property in Riyadh and he has never left the beautiful country since! He is now part of the team to open a brand-new boutique luxury resort in the highly talked about and stunning Al Ula.

We discuss his journey into the sector and how he managed to get to such a senior service role along with what it takes to succeed in Saudi and how to manage the climate!

Jul 06, 202239:45