university, challenged
By Toni Kent
#careerspodcast #lifestories #careerstories
university, challengedSep 06, 2021
Lez Graham MA - Award-Winner, Author and Canine Behaviour Consultant
How do you go from leaving school being told "there's nothing we can do for you" to becoming a leader in your field, someone who creates their own unique methodology that instructors now teach to create a trusted relationship between owner and pet gun dog?
Lez Graham's story is as interesting as it is inspiring. Despite leaving school without GCSE's, her career to date has included riding instructor, coder, project leader on Y2K for one of the world's largest financial institutions, kinesiologist specialising in human, equine and canine treatment, Founder of the Kinesiology Association of New Zealand, fire walk instructor, dog behaviourist and author. PHEW!
Hers is a story of following your passions, reframing set backs and earning accreditations and qualifications while working. Oh, and of giving back to others every step of the way. You'll notice throughout our conversation how in each instance Lez's own personal development isn't something she keeps to herself - she has a lifelong commitment to helping others.
Currently studying for a doctorate, Lez goes to show that learning most certainly doesn't take place just in the classroom and that what's said to you when you're a pupil at secondary school doesn't dictate what you're destined to be.
You can discover more about Lez's work here:
www.professionalcanineacademy.co.uk
and find her on social media here:
https://www.facebook.com/lez.graham/
https://www.instagram.com/lezgraham/
https://www.youtube.com/user/leztfl
from money mindset to managing director aged 21 - Conor Cotton
If you had three university offers on the table, what would you do?
For Conor Cotton, it crystallised a decision to make his mark on the world of work. From an initial motivation of making money, Conor soon realised that by surrounding himself with people he could learn from, he could accelerate both his professional and personal growth beyond chasing bigger pay checks.
With business books by his bedside and having crafted a clear vision, Conor became the Managing Director of Not Going To Uni - a company with a long track record in successfully finding work for non-graduates - aged just 21.
Over the space of just 15 months, Conor has added new service lines, achieved record-breaking growth and helped make sure that Not Going To Uni is the first port of call for businesses, young people and media outlets when it comes to non-graduate careers.
In this episode Conor shares what 'fuels his fire', what you'll learn working at a start-up that you'll never learn in school, and how just a couple of strategic decisions can have a truly transformative impact.
And it's not all strictly business! We also talk being a PE tech, home ownership in your 20's and the possibility of owning Leeds FC :)
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Learn more about Not Going To Uni
Young people seeking a non-graduate career: www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Organisations that want to expand their talent pool: www.ngtugroup.co.uk
Connect with Conor: https://linktr.ee/ConorCotton
coding, caring and cloud solution architecture - Akua Apeagyei
Akua Apeagyei is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft on a degree apprenticeship programme. She's also a young carer, an award-winner and the founder of Anomalys Foundation - an Instagram community she has created to bring more young people into STEM.
In this episode, Akua talks about the source of her resilience, the importance of spotting opportunities and why education doesn't just take place in the classroom. There's also a gap year that is nothing like what most people would expect, picking up the programming language Python in a day and the magic of mentoring.
Throughout the conversation, Akua mentions organisations that helped her in her journey so far which you can find out more about below:
Stemettes: https://stemettes.org/
Codebar: Homepage | codebar.io
Makers Academy: Change Your Life - Become a Software Developer at Makers
You can learn more about Akua's work here: Anomalys Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/anomalys_foundation/
And if you want to help Akua develop an app that will help people with hearing impairments, you can find her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akua-apeagyei-95b42aa8/
embracing opportunity and making it in Italy with Leanne Barrie
Can you imagine passing your UK driving test aged 18 and a month later you're behind the wheel on the roads of Chianti?
How about if your first job after earning your BTEC was nannying for an Italian family in Tuscany and you didn't speak the language? Terrifying right? Not for Leanne Barrie.
Leanne's story is one of being expected to leave home at 18, receiving sound advice from her dad that opportunity was not on her Hastings doorstep, and how the family she first started working for adopted her as one of their own - from directing her language studies to providing her with opportunities to run their holiday cottages which kick-started a love for tourism.
In our conversation, Leanne describes how leaving the UK meant she was able to fully push her own boundaries and enjoy not one, but three distinct career arcs which today sees her working in Marketing and Communications for KPMG in Verona.
Leanne challenges the idea that you need a degree to establish yourself in another country and offers clear examples and expert advice on how to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. If you're interested in starting again, switching careers or want to know what it takes to go from childcare via tourism to marketing and events for a global organisation, this episode is for you.
comms, coaching and chemistry with Karen Moyse
How do you secure a career in communications that takes you all the way to being offered Chief Exec if you didn't go to uni?
And how do you tell Sir Martin Sorrell that you want something other than the top job?!
In this wide-ranging conversation, Time to Think Coach Karen Moyes describes in hilarious detail her educational exploits including failing the 11 plus and being sent to an all-girls school; how being 18 and determined to prove people wrong is an incredible asset and why you should never be afraid to ask for what you want.
The second half of the interview is required listening for anyone who wants to know how to get on in business as Karen demystifies the 'Game of Work'; highlights the value of being thoughtful and purposeful about your career and explains why you should never, ever piss off the post room!
If you're interested in the possibilities that exist in the world of communications today, wonder what it's like to grow up with a dad that won a scholarship to Oxford as the son of a bricklayer and a milkmaid, or are curious to know more about why chemistry is vital in the world of coaching, this episode is for you.
To find out more about Karen and her work, visit: www.linkedin.com/in/karenmoyse
bonus episode - peers
How much did your friends influence your decisions at school? In this bonus episode I talk about raving in a disused psychiatric hospital, why grafting was our number one priority and how university just wasn't discussed amongst my friendship group.
personal courage, cochlear implants and a career in tech with James Simms
What is the impact on your educational and career choices when you are born profoundly deaf?
In this episode, James Simms explains how his experiences of growing up with cochlear implants and being the first profoundly deaf individual to attend his secondary school led to him having to stand up – and stand out – to access opportunities that people who are born with hearing take for granted.
Alongside insights into how it felt to study A-levels and go through the interview process during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, James highlights how applying for an apprenticeship enabled him to go straight from school into one of the world’s largest technology companies.
Today, James is in his second year of a cross-functional apprenticeship at Cisco and is already contributing to developing improvements in web conferencing software and helping to make meetings more inclusive for those who are deaf or hearing-impaired.
His story so far is one of personal courage and how forging your own path can help create greater understanding and opportunities for others. It will change how you think about online meetings too!
living your values - beauty, recruitment and life at LinkedIn with Katie Moon
How do you go from working on a make-up counter to being responsible for Customer Success at LinkedIn?
For Katie Moon it was a story of hard graft, asking smart questions and surviving the initial low pay, long hours culture of recruitment in London in her early 20s. And while Katie enjoyed excitement and success, she wasn't able to see the value she had to offer until a family emergency made her pause.
After her dad received a terminal cancer diagnosis, Katie took time out during which she was able to refocus and reprioritise. She joined a small organisation on the South Coast where she worked with genuine individuals that valued life outside of work then following her Dad’s death she joined what would be her last role in the recruitment industry where she met her first true mentor who not only got the best out of her, but helped Katie to see the best in herself.
In this episode, Katie talks candidly about being wrapped up in the whirlwind of 'work hard, play hard' and the power that comes from identifying and living your values.
If you've ever doubted your abilities, felt out of place, or wondered what it takes to transform your trajectory, this episode is for you.
#recruitment #beauty #careerstories #careerinspiration #linkedin #lifestories
bonus episode - first job
Want to know what me and my friends called each other at our first job? Scrubbers!! Yes, we were all cleaners at the AA before we had even left school. In this five minute episode I talk buffing machines, being responsible and why one gold earring doesn't make you George Michael....
#careers #firstjob #clearner
a quest, The Queen and KPMG with David McIntosh
Would you know what to say if you found yourself on a Zoom call with Her Majesty the Queen in your early 20s? David McIntosh did.
As Scotland's first ever Management Consulting apprentice at KPMG, and the Co-Chair of the firm's UK Social Mobility network, David's life story so far makes for powerful listening. So much so, he was chosen to speak with Her Majesty as part of the firm's 150th anniversary celebrations.
In our conversation, David explains how growing up in receipt of free school meals and with uniform and holidays provided by veteran's charities empowered him to 'flip his DNA' and embark on a quest to become an accountant.
He also shares how the work of the Social Mobility Foundation opened up access to opportunities that may otherwise not have been visible or available to him and the impact this had in setting his trajectory towards management consulting aligned with public service.
We talk poverty, using humour to deflect attention and how counting coppers as a child can be a clue to a future career. There's also lots to take away on the value of being unconventional and the power of having a North Star.
If you enjoy this episode, you’ll love David’s podcast – The Development by David. You can check it out here: https://anchor.fm/developmentbydavid
#socialmobility #workingclassvoices #managementconsulting #careerpodcast
bonus episode - education
Wondering what spurs me on to produce this podcast? Well, this is a good place to start :)
Here's five minutes on what happened when I discovered my dad had terminal cancer during my first year of GCSE's, why I realised working in a fruit and veg shop wasn't going to be the start of a beautiful career and what happened once I'd sat my A-levels.
#childhoodbereavement #education #careers
financial services and a five-year philosophy with Nigel Chambers
Nigel Chambers is Chief of Staff at the global foreign exchange services organisation XE. In this episode he talks about his early life on a council estate and how going to the pub with less money than his friends steered him away from college but into an even better opportunity - that of a paid traineeship at TSB Trust Company.
Despite being a straight-A student who was also good at sport, Nigel didn't experience pressure from his parents or school to go to university but he was instilled with an impressive work ethic and a world view that nothing was beyond his reach. After establishing himself within the financial services industry, he took a two-year sabbatical before returning and hitting the accelerate button with an incredible five year philosophy that - if you only take one thing away from this episode - will provide you with a brilliant technique for your own career planning.
Touching on topics that include social mobility, elitism, peer influences and what it means to break the 'six-figure salary' barrier, Nigel provides valuable insights and personal anecdotes on what it takes to build an interesting, enjoyable, successful financial services career.
#financialservices #careerpodcast #careerstories #careerinsights #chiefofstaff
from shop floor to building a successful fashion brand with Nayna McIntosh
What does it take to go from being a 'Saturday Girl' at M&S to establishing a successful women's fashion brand?
To answer that question, I'm joined by Nayna McIntosh, CEO and Founder of womenswear label Hope Fashion.
From recounting her parents' reactions when she failed to achieve the A-level results needed to go to university, to feeling like her gender and race meant she didn't fit on the management team of one of the UK's biggest high street stores, Nayna shares her experiences of going from the shop floor to shaking up how fashion is positioned to women over 50.
There's great advice on what to look out for when embarking on a retail career, insights into why Next organising its collections by colour was quite so revolutionary and the approach she took when it came to securing the all-important funding.
Nayna also shares some history behind the brand, explains why falling out with big characters is nothing to be afraid of and highlights why putting the customer first is a strategic priority - not a throwaway sentence.
If you've ever wondered where a retail career could take you or want to hear about the possibilities of a post-corporate career, this episode is for you. To learn more about the brand, check out https://hopefashion.co.uk/
#retailcareers #fashioncareers #careerpodcast #careeradvice
it's got to be possible - right? with Shaun Frohlich
In this very special episode, business founder and non-executive director Shaun Frohlich shares a wealth of stories and insights into what has taken him from a "square-bashing school" that he couldn't wait to get away from to a position where today he's helped dozens of business leaders to successfully increase and realise the value in their organisations.
From his earliest beginnings of being adopted by highly academic parents (and his father's experiences as an escapee German Jew), Shaun tells a truly compelling story of embracing possibilities and playing to your strengths.
Shaun shares an incredible array of teaching moments which include being the butt of the practical joke played on new kitchen staff; realising the boss is on the fiddle; learning what it means when a company "goes bust", deciding where to work based on what's in the car park and negotiating with HR when you've already got thirty years' experience of running organisations that turn over millions.
We also talk about how dyslexia impacted Shaun's schooling, why he ran away from a lovely home to find his own way and how his view on education and the world of work informed his hopes for his children.
This is a wide-ranging and uplifting conversation, full of laughter and honesty. I really hope you enjoy the listen.
*If you look from the bottom up, this episode is definitely for you :)
#entrepreneur #lifestories #careerstories #careerpodcast
entrepreneurialism and intention with Kris Britton
What is it that makes a successful entrepreneur? For Kris Britton it's all about intention. From organising a show-stopping event to raise money for charity at secondary school (attracting so much attention his parents had to secure a credit card machine) to creating a beauty business that supplied to major tv news outlets aged just 18, Kris has always set self-limiting beliefs to one side. Today, as co-founder and director of marketing agency, KAYBE, Kris translates his passion into serious results that inspire others. In this interview, we discuss how Kris's early experiences influence his hiring practices, why intentional short steps make for great career moves and the power of helping people realise they have the answers to their own questions. We also talk about balance, giving back with a school for start ups and The Samaritans and why you need to know the phrase 'Brain, Buddy, Boss'. To find out more about KAYBE, head to https://homeof.kaybe.co.uk/ #entrepreneurlife #careerpodcast #careerstories #entrepreneurship
daring to disrupt and Digital Gum with Louize Clarke
When Louize Clarke changed the spelling of her name aged 12, it was clear that she was destined for a life of disruption. In this episode, Louize shares how setting out on a path of learning through experience led to her challenging the way recruitment gets done, taking on Tech Nation on the behalf of Thames Valley start-ups and creating a dedicated space where people from all walks of life build the digital skills capital they need to succeed. We also talk about what it takes to run a business with your partner and still stay sane, whether our own experiences of education shape what we want for our children and how bringing public and private sector organisations together can be like setting up a conversation between a cat and a dog! If you’re based in the Thames Valley and would like to build your own digital skills capital, you can find out more about what Louize’s skills hub, The Curious Lounge, has to offer here: https://www.thecuriouslounge.co.uk/learn #disruption #careerstories #careerspodcast #lifestories
Pizza Express, Pride and partner marketing with Jack Blogg
This episode with Jack Blogg offers an engaging, upbeat and interesting insight into what it takes to go from being a shift manager at Pizza Express to creating a career in technology marketing. Jack talks about coming out at 13, second year struggles at college and how hospitality feels like family. We discuss that moment when you realise how much you need to earn to rent your own place and the sense of dread that comes with making the switch from education to being out in the 'big wide world'. Today, Jack heads up Partner Marketing for the UK&I at one of the world’s largest software companies. It's a role that not only gives him incredible opportunity and responsibility, but also allows him to make a truly positive impact for his LGBTQ colleagues as part of their Pride ‘Power of Difference’ programme and community. You can read about why it's so important to him here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-pride-makes-me-proud-work-vmware-jack-blogg/ If you like this episode, please share it - I'd love to hear your feedback. #pride #careerstories #careerspodcast #lifestories #marketingcareers
from childcare professional to founding an award-winning charity with Sarah Burns MBE
How do you go from starting your professional life as a nursery nurse to founding an award-winning charity that's helped close to one thousand women enter the workforce? As the daughter of parents who held academia in extremely high regard, Sarah Burns MBE wasn't sure where life would take her after having to re-sit her exams. Sarah talks openly about how it feels to be pre-judged on the basis of your siblings' performance, the impact of moving countries during the last two years of her studies and the power of transferable skills in helping her make the switch from childcare to a career in software before truly making her mark in the charity sector. Sarah was awarded an MBE in 2019 for her services to charity and in 2021 Smart Works Reading was awarded the highest accolade a charity can receive: the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. If you are, or know someone who would benefit from the services that Smart Works Reading has to offer head to: https://reading.smartworks.org.uk/ If you live outside of the Thames Valley, you can find your nearest Smart Works centre at www.smartworks.org.uk #careerpodcast #careerstories #charitycareers
finding happiness in the housing sector with Nina Egge'Daborn
What does it take to carve a successful career in housing? How about combining that with running your own business?
Nina Egge'Daborn is an Aftercare Specialist at VIVID, a leading provider of affordable homes and housing-related services in the south of England. She also runs her own business in partnership with her husband.
In our very first episode Nina shares her experiences of education in the UK and USA, describes her first steps on the career ladder as an 'Office Under Manager' at a solicitors and explains how her experiences have shaped the career choices of her children.
Nina offers insights on the opportunities that exist within the UK housing sector for young, bright people and those who are seeking a return to work after taking a career break. Nina also speaks candidly about the experience of her dad dying during the first year of her GCSEs and how running a business with her husband has added yet another string to her already extremely busy bow.
Intro
Welcome to university, challenged. A podcast that challenges the notion that in order to have a successful, interesting, rewarding career, you have to go to university.
This 60 second intro covers what the show's about and what you can expect.
Got a story you'd like to tell? Connect with me on LinkedIn.