Favourite Positions: Recent Episodes
Alex
Favourite Positions is a platform which exists to inspire and support you in making both your work and life more joyful. With expertly crafted advice for individuals and organisations in the form of free 1:1 advice, written insights, videos to podcasts, we've got the advice you're looking for in the formats you enjoy the most.
What we spend our time doing is one of the most powerful ways we can express who we are and what we care about. Let’s get you into a position you’re proud to say is your favourite.
Series 01 - 04 of the Favourite Position podcast are out in full now, you can find them on all podcast streaming platforms.
Series 01 and 03 are all about individuals who have found what they love to do, how they got into the position they're in and what advice they'd give others interested in their line of work.
Series 02 and 04 shares insights from experts on engaged teams, talking about what they put in place that really works when it comes to creating positive work place cultures.
In this final episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex brings together the biggest lessons from the entire series.
Across the previous nine episodes, Alex spoke to founders, researchers, coaches, creatives and business leaders about what it really takes to build a fulfilling and credible career in a world of constant change.
At the end of every conversation, each guest was asked the same question:
"If you could add one rule to the Modern Career Playbook, something that would help people build a more fulfilling and credible career today, what would it be?"
This episode brings every answer together in one place. Alongside each guest's rule, Alex reflects on the practical lessons, the common themes that emerged across the series and how listeners can apply them in their own careers.
In this episode, you'll hear from:
Isabelle Panton
Leah Meredith
Dr Hayley Dawson
Teri Thomas
Alice Benham
Anne-Sophie Fluri
James Pates
Charlotte Davies
Jemima Carr-Jone
Key takeaways:
- Build a career around your own values, not someone else's timeline.
- The relationships you build at work matter more than you think.
- Doing great work isn't enough if nobody knows about it.
- You don't have to feel 100% ready before taking action.
- Trust, curiosity and resilience are becoming some of the most valuable career skills.
- Technology will continue to evolve, but human skills will remain your greatest advantage.
- The best careers are rarely planned perfectly. They're built through action, experimentation and continuous learning.
Follow Favourite Positions:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you've enjoyed this series, I'd love it if you could follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who's building their career. And if one rule from this playbook has stayed with you, I'd love to hear which one.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with James Pates about career pivots, AI, automation and how technology can help people and businesses work more effectively.
James is a software developer, automation specialist and founder of Solve Studio, where he builds internal tools, systems and automations for startups and SMEs. Before moving into tech, James worked in fashion and menswear buying, giving him a first-hand understanding of what it means to change direction, learn new skills and rebuild confidence in a completely different industry.
This is a practical and honest conversation about what AI can actually do, where automation is most useful, why not everything should be automated and how people in non-technical roles can start using AI in a thoughtful and valuable way.
In this episode, Alex and James discuss:
- James’s early career in fashion and menswear buying
- what it felt like to pivot from fashion into tech
- how James taught himself to code and used AI to learn faster
- the reality of starting a business after redundancy
- why transferable skills are not always obvious at first
- how James found his first clients through focused outreach
- the types of problems early-stage businesses often need help solving
- why the best automations usually start with repetitive, manual tasks
- what businesses should avoid automating too early
- the role of trust, warmth and human connection in customer communication
- how AI can give teams more time for higher-value work
- where non-technical people can start if they want to use AI more confidently
- why good writing and good prompting are closely connected
- how to use AI to improve processes, briefs, planning and decision-making
- what makes an AI tool genuinely useful rather than just impressive
- the launch of the Favourite Positions AI Career Coach
- why human-centred skills are becoming even more important as technology changes work
Key takeaways:
- AI is most useful when it solves a real problem, not when it is used for novelty.
- The best place to start is often one repetitive task, manual process or recurring admin headache.
- Not every interaction should be automated, especially when trust and relationships matter.
- You do not need to be deeply technical to start using AI well.
- Strong writing, clear thinking and good questions make AI outputs much better.
- Technology can help people prepare, practise and build confidence, but it works best when it supports human judgement.
- As AI becomes more embedded in work, communication, relationships and critical thinking will matter more than ever.
Connect with James:
- James’s website
- Book an Automation Audit
Mentioned in this episode:
- Favourite Positions AI Career Coach
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who is curious about AI, thinking about a career pivot or looking for more practical ways to use technology at work.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Jemima Carr-Jones about creative careers, personal branding, social media and what it really takes to build visibility around your work.
Jemima is a creative strategist, photographer and founder of Loved Studios, helping brands and people grow through content, storytelling and personal branding. Alongside her role as Head of Content at The Cirkel, she works with luxury, fashion and start-up businesses in London and globally, helping them create online identities that connect with modern audiences.
This is an open and energising conversation about saying yes before you feel ready, learning by doing, building confidence through action and using social media to create opportunities that would not have existed otherwise.
In this episode, Alex and Jemima discuss:
- how Jemima found her way into creative work
- why she chose not to follow a traditional marketing route
- how she got her first role in Steven Bartlett’s team
- what she learnt from working in a high-performance creative environment
- the difference between self-improvement and self-trust
- why action matters more than overthinking
- how Loved Studios started and why love sits at the centre of her work
- what brands misunderstand about social media
- how The Cirkel built a following through fashion news and cultural commentary
- why personal branding is not performance, but clarity
- how to start building your personal brand from where you are
- why social media can open unexpected personal and professional doors
- how to build resilience when putting yourself online
- why confidence sometimes means acting before you fully feel it
Key takeaways:
- You do not need to wait until you feel ready to start.
- Personal branding is not about performing online, it is about getting clear on who you are and what you stand for.
- Social media works best when it feels human, useful and connected to culture.
- The most interesting careers are often built through experimentation, not perfect planning.
- Confidence grows when you keep putting yourself in rooms, roles and situations that stretch you.
- Consistency, curiosity and action can create opportunities you could never have planned for.
Connect with Jemima:
- Loved Studios
- The Cirkel
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone building something creative, putting themselves out there or learning to back themselves before they feel fully ready.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Charlotte Davies about the changing reality of early careers, the future of work and what it actually takes to build a career in today’s increasingly competitive and unpredictable job market.
Charlotte leads Global Consumer Communications Programmes at LinkedIn and is also a LinkedIn Career Expert, advising professionals on career transitions, personal branding and how to use LinkedIn to unlock opportunity.
Together, Alex and Charlotte unpack insights from LinkedIn’s 2026 Grad Guide and discuss why traditional career paths are becoming less linear, why networks matter more than ever and how young people are increasingly creating opportunities for themselves through side projects, portfolios and practical experience.
This is a practical and reassuring conversation about adaptability, visibility, AI, confidence and building a career that feels future-relevant in a rapidly changing world of work.
In this episode, Alex and Charlotte discuss:
- why success and credibility look very different to previous generations
- how careers are becoming more fluid and less tied to traditional ladders
- why networks and visibility now matter so much in early careers
- the growing importance of showing proof of skills, not just listing them on a CV
- how Gen Z are creating opportunities through side hustles, projects and portfolios
- why comparison culture can make career uncertainty feel even harder
- the role AI is beginning to play in productivity, communication and career development
- why adaptability and resilience are becoming essential workplace skills
- how to approach networking if you find it intimidating or overwhelming
- why curiosity and continuous learning matter more than having everything figured out
Key statistics from LinkedIn’s 2026 Grad Guide:
- 32% of Gen Z say not having the right network is the biggest barrier to landing an entry-level role
- 26% are creating opportunities through side hustles, businesses or personal projects
- 16% are building apps, websites or portfolios to showcase their skills
- 24% are taking roles outside their field to gain practical, in-demand experience
- 66% of young office workers are considering a switch into skilled trades
Key takeaways:
- Careers are becoming less linear and more skills-based.
- Networks are increasingly important in helping people access opportunity.
- Showing evidence of what you can do matters just as much as qualifications.
- AI is most powerful when used alongside human judgement, creativity and communication skills.
- Networking does not need to be performative to be valuable.
- Staying curious and adaptable is becoming one of the most important career advantages.
Connect with Charlotte:
Resources mentioned:
- LinkedIn’s 2026 Grad Guide
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone navigating their next career step or trying to make sense of the future of work.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Alice Benham about strategy, messy action and what it really takes to turn a big vision into daily action.
Alice is a business strategist, speaker, entrepreneur, founder of On Paper and host of the chart-topping podcast Starting The Conversation. She started her business at 17 and has spent the last decade helping entrepreneurs get clear on where they want to go, what needs to change and how to build businesses that support their lives as well as their ambitions.
This is an honest and practical conversation about confidence, burnout, goal setting, slow growth and why building something meaningful often requires you to take action before you feel fully ready.
In this episode, Alex and Alice discuss:
- how Alice started her business at 17 and found confidence through action
- why naive optimism can be a powerful starting point
- how Alice’s definition of success, credibility and confidence has changed over time
- the early burnout that reshaped how she thinks about sustainable growth
- why saying yes to everything is not always the best route to opportunity
- how to know when to say no, even when something looks exciting
- the difference between vision and goals
- why quarterly goals can help turn big ideas into practical action
- the importance of visible goals, imperfect implementation and bounce back rate
- why people often give up in the gap between taking action and seeing results
- how identity, structure and small wins can support meaningful change
- why ambitious people often overestimate what they can achieve in the short term
- how to define success by looking honestly at what is not working
- why external milestones do not always create internal fulfilment
- the importance of sharing both the highs and lows of business
- why messy action is often the most important first step
Key takeaways:
- Confidence often comes through action, not before it.
- A vision is the destination, but goals are the practical steps that help you move towards it.
- Growth is easier to sustain when your plans are aligned with your actual capacity.
- Consistency matters, but your ability to bounce back matters too.
- The gap between taking new action and seeing results is often the hardest part of change.
- Success needs to feel good on the inside, not just look good from the outside.
- Messy action can create the momentum, clarity and confidence you are waiting for.
Connect with Alice:
- Website
- YouTube
- ON IT
- Starting The Conversation podcast
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who has a big idea, is navigating a period of growth or needs a reminder that they do not need to feel fully ready before taking the next step.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Anne-Sophie Fluri about focus, resilience, performance and what it really takes to build a career that feels both ambitious and sustainable.
Anne-Sophie is a neuroscientist who brings together 12 years of experience across academia and industry to help individuals and teams better understand how the brain works, and how that knowledge can be used to improve the way we work. Through talks, workshops and consulting, she translates neuroscience into practical tools that help people feel more focused, supported and mentally fit.
This is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about career pivots, self-trust, overcommitting, productivity, ambition and the importance of building a working life that does not come at the expense of your wellbeing.
In this episode, Alex and Anne-Sophie discuss:
- how Anne-Sophie’s definition of success has changed over time
- career pivots, failed ideas and learning to trust yourself through change
- why doing lots of different things can still be part of finding the right path
- the neuroscience behind focus, performance and resilience
- why idle time matters more than most people realise
- how to handle overthinking, rumination and emotional distraction at work
- practical ways to create more space between meetings and tasks
- the difference between being busy and actually moving forward
- what helps people stay connected to their bigger goals
- why integrity matters when building a lasting and sustainable career
Key takeaways:
- Being constantly busy is not the same as making meaningful progress.
- Some of the most important parts of performance happen in quieter moments.
- Idle time can help the brain process information, integrate ideas and improve focus.
- Sustainable ambition requires self-awareness, boundaries and a clearer sense of what actually matters.
- Building a career with integrity may not always be the fastest route, but it can create more trust, peace and long-term fulfilment.
Connect with Anne-Sophie:
- Newsletter
- Website
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Instagram
- LinkedIn
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’s figuring out how to grow in their career, lead people more effectively, or simply feel more confident at work.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Teri Thomas about personal brand, visibility and what it really takes to build a credible, fulfilling and future-relevant career today.
Teri is the founder of Beyond & Co, a business specialising in growth through people-led marketing. She works with leaders and founders to help them use their voice, perspective and presence more intentionally, not as a form of self-promotion, but as a way to build trust, create value and drive growth.
This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about how careers evolve, why doing good work is not always enough on its own, and how clarity, visibility and authentic communication can shape progression, leadership and opportunity.
In this episode, Alex and Teri discuss:
- how Teri’s definition of success, confidence and credibility has changed over time
- why talented people are often under-leveraging themselves
- why doing good work alone is not always enough for progression
- what personal brand really means and why it is often misunderstood
- how to think about authentic visibility without falling into performative self-promotion
- the relationship between personal brand, leadership and growth
- employee-generated content and why businesses are paying more attention to it
- how AI is changing the way people communicate, create and show up at work
- why leaders need to protect their own voice and thinking in an AI-shaped world
- where to start if you know you have more to offer but struggle to articulate your value
Key takeaways:
- Personal brand is not about self-promotion. It is about clarity, trust and value.
- Doing strong work matters, but people also need to understand the value you bring.
- Visibility is most powerful when it feels aligned, intentional and authentic.
- AI can be a useful tool, but it should not replace your perspective, judgment or voice.
- Careers often progress faster when people learn to articulate their value clearly and consistently.
Connect with Teri:
- Beyond & Co
- Teri's Instagram
- Beyond & Co's Instagram
Mentioned in this episode:
- The Squiggly Career Book
- Hattie Crisell, In Writing Podcast
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Instagram
- LinkedIn
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’s figuring out how to grow in their career, lead people more effectively, or simply feel more confident at work.
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Dr Hayley Dawson about why being good at your job is not always enough on its own, and why the human side of work matters more than ever.
Hayley is the founder of Let’s Talk Human Skills, creator of Human Skill School, and host of Let’s Talk. Her work focuses on helping people communicate more clearly, collaborate more effectively and build stronger working relationships, so they can feel more confident and make a greater impact at work.
This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about communication, collaboration, confidence and career development. Hayley puts into words something many people feel but do not always know how to name - that the way we handle people, relationships and difficult moments at work shapes far more than we realise.
In this episode, Alex and Hayley discuss:
- why technical ability alone is not always enough for career progression
- what human skills actually are and why they matter
- the difference between technical, operational, human and human-machine interaction skills
- why durable skills like communication and relationship-building matter even more in an AI-shaped world
- how to become more confident in meetings, emails and difficult conversations
- the role of managers in helping people build stronger human skills
- the value of feedback in the moment
- why small actions and “micro moves” can transform working relationships
- why work friends matter, not just professionally, but personally too
Key takeaways:
- Being technically strong is important, but it is often human skills that shape trust, visibility and progression.
- Communication, relationship-building and collaboration are durable skills that will remain valuable even as work changes.
- Small day-to-day actions can have a huge impact on how relationships at work develop.
- Managers can play a big role by giving feedback in the moment rather than waiting for formal reviews.
- Building friendships at work can make working life more meaningful, supportive and fulfilling.
Connect with Hayley:
- Let’s Talk Human Skills
- Human Skill School
- Newsletter
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’s figuring out how to grow in their career, lead people more effectively, or simply feel more confident at work.
In the second episode of the Rezilien × Favourite Positions live debate series, Lily Kyriacou and Alex Young bring together leaders working across operations, digital engineering and transformation to explore a question that sits at the heart of modern execution:
What breaks change first: human behaviour or organisational complexity?
As organisations operate in what Lily describes as a state of rolling turbulence, where technological shifts, new operating models, changing investor expectations and restructures are all happening at once, strategies can look strong on paper while outcomes still fall short. So what is actually breaking in the process, and why?
This live debate explores the tension between change fatigue, uncertainty and resistance on one side, and organisational complexity, structures, incentives and layers on the other.
The conversation asks whether change breaks because people do, or whether organisations are still creating conditions that make successful change harder than it needs to be.
Joined by Matt Deadman, Chloe Holt and Ella Blakstad, Lily and Alex unpack how culture, leadership behaviour, communication, accountability and clarity all shape whether change lands well or begins to wobble. The discussion also explores what AI is exposing in organisations, why ambiguity is becoming the norm for leaders and how value creation at work is beginning to shift.
Guests
Matt Deadman - COO EMEA at Naviam
Chloe Holt - Chief Client Officer at Godel Technologies Europe
Ella Blakstad - Senior Manager at Accenture
Hosts
Lily Kyriacou - Founder of Rezilien
Alex Young - Host of Favourite Positions
About the series
The Rezilien × Favourite Positions live debate series brings together credible leaders and specialists to explore what it really takes for people and organisations to perform through constant change.
Across each conversation, the series examines the tensions shaping modern work, from adaptability, burnout and leadership to execution risk, organisational design and the human realities of AI-driven transformation.
Rezilien was founded by Lily Kyriacou to turn execution from a vague art into a hard science. After 10+ years wrestling with the same execution failures while driving growth and transformation, she built what she wishes she’d had on sleepless nights.
A decision‑support tool that shows CEOs whether their operating model can really deliver the growth strategy, helps them design and stress‑test treatment plans grounded in hard evidence and ROI, and tracks whether those changes are actually working.
At its core, Rezilien is about stripping out bias, instinct, and the loudest voice in the room from critical execution decisions, so change is led by evidence rather than opinion.
Favourite Positions is a podcast and platform founded by Alex Young, focused on honest, practical conversations about careers, leadership and the future of work.
Together, this series is designed to create more useful, open and commercially relevant conversations about what it really takes to lead people well in a world of perpetual change.
Follow Rezilien on LinkedIn and Instagram and connect with Lily here.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram and connect with Alex here.
Referenced materials
- MIT Sloan - When humans and AI work best together - and when each is better alone
- MIT Sloan - New MIT Sloan research suggests AI more likely to complement, not replace, human workers
- Harvard Business Review - What Everyone Gets Wrong About Change Management
- McKinsey - The human side of generative AI: Creating a path to productivity
- PwC - How culture can create value during M&A integration
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Leah Meredith about building a creative career, staying true to your values and creating work that feels both commercial and personal.
Leah is the founder and creative director of Haus of Hyde and chief brand officer at Faves. In this conversation, she shares her journey from teaching into creative entrepreneurship, what she has learned about building brands and businesses with intention, and why modern careers often look far less linear than people expect.
This is an honest and insightful conversation about creativity, self-belief, commercial growth and the importance of protecting what makes your work feel like yours.
In this episode, Alex and Leah discuss:
- Leah’s journey from teaching into creative business ownership
- building Haus of Hyde and Faves
- what it means to have a multi-dimensional career
- why modern careers are often non-linear
- balancing creativity with commercial thinking
- the pressures facing people in creative industries today
- comparison, confidence and building work that feels true to you
- how to grow without diluting your values
Key takeaways:
- Careers do not need to follow a traditional or linear path to be credible.
- Creativity and commerciality do not need to be in conflict.
- Growth is most sustainable when it is rooted in clear values.
- Comparison can be deeply distracting, especially in creative work.
- The most compelling work usually comes from staying close to your own perspective and strengths.
Connect with Leah:
- Haus of Hyde
- Faves
- Faves newsletter
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone figuring out their own next step, and follow along for the rest of the series.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
In the first episode of the Rezilien × Favourite Positions live debate series, Lily Kyriacou and Alex Young bring together leaders working across AI, transformation, people and organisational change to explore a question sitting at the centre of modern work:
Is human adaptability nearing its limit, or are organisations failing to create the conditions in which it can thrive?
As change continues to accelerate through AI adoption, restructures, new ways of working and rising performance pressure, many organisations are still seeing execution strain, burnout, confusion and misalignment. So what is actually going wrong?
This live debate explores whether the real issue is human resistance, or whether many organisations are still trying to manage modern change with outdated structures, weak communication, poor change discipline and rigid ideas of what work should look like.
Joined by David Fearne, Rebecca Tovey and Fintan Canavan, Lily and Alex unpack what happens when transformation becomes constant rather than occasional, and why adaptability may be less about asking more of people and more about redesigning work, leadership and accountability around the reality of perpetual change.
A few of the strongest ideas from the conversation include the importance of a growth-first mindset, the need to make change everyone’s accountability, the risk of treating AI like a simple software rollout and the idea that organisations may be reaching the limits of managing change in the same way they always have.
Guests
David Fearne - Vice President of AI at NTT DATA
Rebecca Tovey - Group Director, People, Transformation and Change at Amdaris
Fintan Canavan - Associate Director at Protiviti UK
Hosts
Lily Kyriacou - Founder of Rezilien
Alex Young - Host of Favourite Positions
About the series
The Rezilien × Favourite Positions live debate series brings together credible leaders and specialists to explore what it really takes for people and organisations to perform through constant change.
Across each conversation, the series examines the tensions shaping modern work, from adaptability, burnout and leadership to execution risk, organisational design and the human realities of AI-driven transformation.
Rezilien was founded by Lily Kyriacou to turn execution from a vague art into a hard science. After 10+ years wrestling with the same execution failures while driving growth and transformation, she built what she wishes she’d had on sleepless nights. A decision‑support tool that shows CEOs whether their operating model can really deliver the growth strategy, helps them design and stress‑test treatment plans grounded in hard evidence and ROI, and tracks whether those changes are actually working.
At its core, Rezilien is about stripping out bias, instinct, and the loudest voice in the room from critical execution decisions, so change is led by evidence rather than opinion.
Favourite Positions is a podcast and platform founded by Alex Young, focused on honest, practical conversations about careers, leadership and the future of work.
Together, this series is designed to create more useful, open and commercially relevant conversations about what it really takes to lead people well in a world of perpetual change.
Follow Rezilien on LinkedIn and Instagram and connect with Lily here.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram and connect with Alex here.
Referenced materials
- McKinsey - Why managing culture is critical for value creation in M&A
- PwC - How culture can create value during M&A integration
- Harvard Business Review - A Guide to Building a Unified Culture After a Merger or Acquisition
- MIT Sloan - When humans and AI work best together - and when each is better alone
- MIT Sloan - New MIT Sloan research suggests AI more likely to complement, not replace, human workers
In this episode of The Modern Career Playbook, Alex speaks with Izzy about what it really takes to build a credible and fulfilling career in today’s world of work.
This is an honest, practical conversation about progression, self-promotion and learning how to communicate your value clearly. Izzy shares sharp and genuinely useful reflections on why careers are rarely linear, why progression should never be treated as a last-minute conversation and why backing yourself matters more than many people realise.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to advocate for yourself, ask for more, or navigate the twists and turns of a modern career, this episode is full of reminders that are both grounding and actionable.
In this episode, Alex and Izzy discuss:
- why self-promotion matters
- how to communicate your value more clearly
- why progression should be an ongoing conversation
- the importance of backing yourself
- why careers are rarely linear
- how pivots, courage, consistency and timing shape career growth
Key takeaways:
- Self-promotion is not something to feel awkward about. It is an important part of career progression.
- Progression should be discussed consistently, not only when a promotion is on the table.
- Strong careers are often shaped by pivots rather than perfect plans.
- Courage, consistency and timing all play a huge role in how careers develop.
Connect with Izzy:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Website
Follow Favourite Positions:
- Website
About the series:
The Modern Career Playbook is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’d enjoy it too and follow along for the rest of the series.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
The Position Papers (3/3) | Favourite Positions Podcast
What if the most valuable lessons from business school aren’t the frameworks you learn, but the assumptions they quietly dismantle?
In this final episode of The Position Papers mini-series, Alexandra Young reflects on five core MBA subjects — finance, macroeconomics, marketing, innovation and strategy — and the perspective shifts each one created in her day-to-day leadership. Rather than theory, this episode explores how concepts like opportunity cost, behavioural decision-making, external forces and organisational readiness change how we diagnose problems, make commitments and lead change at work.
Across five short stories, this episode reframes common career instincts — saying yes, pushing ideas, attributing outcomes, staying in motion — and offers practical ways to think more strategically in complex environments.
In this episode
- Opportunity cost and the hidden trade-offs behind every yes
- How external conditions shape performance outcomes
- Why human decisions are rarely rational
- The role of organisational readiness in innovation
- Strategy as focus, commitment and translation into action
Research referenced
- Frederick, Novemsky, Wang, Dhar & Nowlis (2009). Opportunity Cost Neglect. Journal of Consumer Research.
- Shows people make poorer decisions when opportunity costs are not made explicit.
- Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow.
- Foundational research demonstrating systematic biases and non-rational decision-making.
- Thaler, R. & Sunstein, C. (2008). Nudge.
- Evidence that defaults and choice architecture strongly influence behaviour.
- BCG (2024). Most Innovative Companies Report.
- Found 83% of firms rank innovation as a priority, but only 3% are ready to deliver.
- Case literature on organisational readiness and timing (e.g., technology adoption cycles).
- Shows innovation success depends on environmental and organisational conditions.
About The Position Papers
The Position Papers is a three-part Favourite Positions mini-series on business school, confidence and growth, recorded during Alex’s MBA alongside full-time leadership. Each episode explores how ambition, identity and modern work intersect in practice.
Connect
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it!
You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn and follow Favourite Positions on Instagram for future episodes and resources.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
The Position Papers (2/3) | Favourite Positions Podcast
Confidence is often framed as a personality trait – something you either have or you don’t. But what if confidence is actually contextual, shaped by environment, familiarity and perceived expectations?
In this second episode of The Position Papers mini-series, Alexandra Young reflects on how business school reshaped her understanding of confidence. Drawing on psychological research and her experience of being in a high-achieving MBA cohort, she explores why self-doubt often increases in stretch environments, why visible confidence can be misleading, and how participation – not certainty – is what actually builds confidence over time.
This episode reframes confidence as something situational and learnable rather than fixed, and offers practical ways to participate more fully in rooms that matter.
In this episode
- Why confidence is situational rather than a fixed trait
- How high-achieving environments amplify self-doubt
- The gap between performed confidence and internal experience
- The psychological “spotlight effect” in group settings
- Why action builds confidence more reliably than preparation
- Rethinking presence beyond volume or airtime
Key reframes discussed
- Confidence is familiarity with an environment, not personality
- Visible confidence often masks private uncertainty
- Readiness rarely precedes participation
- Silence increases pressure while contribution reduces it
- Presence does not require constant speaking
Key questions from the episode
- Where do you currently feel most confident – and why?
- Is there a room you’ve been avoiding until you feel ready?
- What would you do if discomfort meant learning, not misfit?
Research referenced
- Korn Ferry (2024). Global Imposter Syndrome Study.
- Found 71% of CEOs report experiencing imposter syndrome symptoms, with prevalence increasing at senior levels.
- Gilovich, Medvec & Savitsky (2000). The Spotlight Effect in Social Judgment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
- Demonstrates that people significantly overestimate how much others notice their behaviour and mistakes.
- Google Trends / global search data (2024).
- Reported ~75% increase in searches for “imposter syndrome,” indicating rising public concern and self-doubt discourse.
About The Position Papers
The Position Papers is a three-part Favourite Positions mini-series on business school, confidence and growth, recorded during Alex’s MBA alongside full-time leadership. Each episode explores the intersection of ambition, identity and modern work.
Connect
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it!
You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn and follow Favourite Positions on Instagram for future episodes and resources.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
The Position Papers (1/3) | Favourite Positions Podcast
Burnout is usually framed as doing too much of what you don’t care about. But what happens when the exhaustion comes from things you genuinely love?
In this opening episode of The Position Papers mini-series, Alexandra Young explores a quieter, more complex form of burnout – the kind that exists alongside high engagement, ambition and growth. Drawing on research and her experience of balancing an MBA with a full-time leadership role, she reframes burnout as a design and misalignment problem rather than a personal failure.
This episode explores why highly invested people are often most at risk, how competing commitments create hidden strain, and what actually helps when stepping back isn’t realistic or desirable.
In this episode
- Why burnout and engagement can exist at the same time
- The difference between working hard and cognitively carrying work
- How pace misalignment between individuals and systems creates friction
- The hidden guilt of caring about multiple things at once
- Why traditional burnout advice often misses ambitious, invested people
- Burnout as a design problem rather than a workload problem
Five shifts discussed
- Defining what “good enough” looks like in the current season
- Naming trade-offs out loud instead of carrying them privately
- Designing recovery before depletion
- Being explicit about how you work best
- Recognising early personal warning signs
Key questions from the episode
- Is your current pace chosen or accumulated?
- What trade-off are you carrying silently?
- If you redesigned your week around how you actually work best, what would change?
Research referenced
- DHR Global (2024). Workforce Trends Report.
- Found 82% of workers report burnout while 88% report high engagement, highlighting that burnout and engagement can coexist.
- Lang, J. J. et al. (2023). Are algorithmically controlled gig workers deeply burned out? BMC Psychology.
- Demonstrates that burnout and work engagement can be positively correlated.
- World Health Organisation. ICD-11 Burnout Definition.
- Defines burnout as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
- Primeast (2025). The Manager’s Guide to Spotting Employee Burnout.
- Practitioner research on how burnout can coexist with high responsibility and investment at work.
- DHR Global (2024). Generational burnout findings.
- Shows Gen Z and millennials report the highest burnout rates across the workforce.
About The Position Papers
The Position Papers is a three-part Favourite Positions mini-series on business school, confidence and growth, recorded during Alex’s MBA alongside full-time leadership. Each episode explores the intersection of ambition, identity and modern work.
Connect
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it!
You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn and follow Favourite Positions on Instagram for future episodes and resources.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
Nearly 80% of professionals across Europe say they feel unprepared to find a job in 2026. At the same time, almost half are planning to look for a new role this year.
In this short, standalone episode of Favourite Positions, Alex Young is joined by LinkedIn Career Expert Charlotte Davies to unpack what’s driving that uncertainty – and what people can do about it.
Charlotte shares insights from LinkedIn’s latest research, alongside practical advice on how professionals can build confidence, develop relevant skills and use their networks more intentionally in an increasingly AI-driven and competitive job market.
This is a quick, grounding listen for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to focus their energy right now.
What we cover
- Why so many people feel unprepared for the job market in 2026
- The two most common mistakes people make when things feel uncertain
- How to build confidence with AI without feeling overwhelmed
- Why squiggly, non-linear careers are becoming the norm
- What Gen Z is doing differently when it comes to skills and values
- Simple ways to use LinkedIn more intentionally and effectively
- One mindset shift that helps people feel more resilient about their careers
Helpful links mentioned in the episode
- LinkedIn Job Search Guide
- Job Match – understand how your skills align with roles
- AI-powered job search – search for jobs in your own words
- Resume Feedback (Premium) – tailored feedback for specific roles
- Cover Letter Feature (Premium) – draft personalised cover letters
If this episode resonated, stay tuned – more short, practical conversations are coming soon.
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this special solo episode of Work in Progress, Alex takes a step back to reflect on the biggest lessons learned so far from the series. Instead of interviewing a guest, this episode brings together the key themes that have emerged from conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs and career shapers about how work is changing and what it takes to thrive today.
From the rise of AI and shifting career paths to the importance of personal brand and self-care, Alex shares insights, stories and practical advice to help you future-proof your career.
💡 Takeaways
- Work is changing faster than ever – AI isn’t replacing jobs, it’s reshaping them
- Dream jobs aren’t found, they’re built through curiosity, experimentation and values
- Personal brand is career insurance – even one thoughtful post a month builds credibility
- Sharing your learning journey makes you memorable and trusted, not just your wins
- CVs, cover letters and interviews still matter, but they need to work harder than ever
- Thriving at work comes down to clarity, connection and visibility once you’re in the role
- Success without self-care doesn’t last – boundaries, routines and rest are strategic
- The most future-proof skills remain human: creativity, empathy, adaptability
🕒 Chapters
- Why this episode is different and what it covers
- The biggest shifts in work: remote, balance, and AI
- Discovering and pursuing your dream job in a non-linear world
- Building a personal brand that works for you (including Grace’s example)
- How to strengthen your CV, cover letter and interview performance
- Thriving once you’ve landed the role: clarity, connection and visibility
- Balancing work with self-care to prevent burnout
- Closing reflections on the series and what’s coming next
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Olly Haddock – solicitor, innovation specialist at Weightmans and founder of The Careers Edit – about redefining success, building careers that feel authentic and why networking desperately needs a rebrand.
Alongside his legal practice, Olly helps lead innovation projects at Weightmans, creating tech-driven solutions to make law more efficient and client-focused. Through The Careers Edit, he’s built a global community of over 50,000 professionals, known for its fresh approach to events that swap stuffy boardrooms for spaces that encourage real conversations and meaningful connections.
We explore why pressure can sometimes be a positive driver, how to pivot when a career path isn’t what you expected, and what the happiest professionals Olly meets have in common. Plus, we dig into the myths of networking, the skills we’ll all need in an AI-driven future, and how younger generations are reshaping the world of work.
💡 Takeaways
- Pressure isn’t always negative – it can push you to achieve your best work
- Networking is really just relationship building – and needs a total rebrand
- The happiest professionals see work as more than tasks; it’s about experiences and relationships
- Employers who empower their people to network externally show real confidence and trust
- Being honest with yourself about what you actually want is key to defining success
- Employee personal branding is becoming as powerful as company branding
- AI will reshape roles – curiosity and self-motivated upskilling will be non-negotiable
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Who is Olly Haddock and how does he introduce himself?
01:23 – The story behind starting The Careers Edit
03:51 – Early career plans and the importance of flexibility
06:54 – Questioning the traditional checklist of success
09:23 – Pressure as a motivator and driver of achievement
11:16 – Why some professionals feel unfulfilled despite appearances
12:15 – Backing instincts: moving into innovation in law
16:34 – What the happiest professionals have in common
18:32 – Co-working, connection, and the value of community
19:41 – Why networking needs a rebrand
22:39 – How careers really progress: word of mouth and relationships
24:42 – Unconventional connections that shaped Olly’s career
26:00 – First steps if your job is draining your energy
28:45 – The rise of portfolio careers, purpose, and flexibility
33:39 – The skills we’ll all need in an AI-driven future
35:27 – How the right people around you shape your career
36:50 – What excites Olly about Gen Z in the workplace
39:02 – Personal branding, hustle culture, and side hustles
40:30 – The widening gap between what people want and what companies offer
43:18 – How employers can support people without massive budgets
45:10 – Rethinking education and career guidance from school onwards
47:28 – Imagining the workplace of the future
48:59 – Olly’s one piece of advice for finding or transforming your dream role
🔗 Follow Olly
The Careers Edit: https://www.thecareersedit.com/
The Careers Edit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareersedit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-haddock-2b316a106/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Emilie Lashmar – brand partner, community builder, and Director of GCUC UK – about the evolving world of work, the role of purpose in retention, and how space design shapes culture.
With over 15 years’ experience in brand, marketing, and events, and nearly a decade shaping coworking and creative spaces, Emilie shares her take on the future of flexibility, the difference between performative and authentic values, and what younger generations are really looking for in a workplace. We explore how employers can create environments that work for the whole person, why embedding values into daily decisions matters more than a glossy culture deck, and the small but powerful ways workplaces can foster connection.
💡 Takeaways
- The future of work is about flexibility – in space, culture, and contracts
- Purpose isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s a driver for retention and trust
- Younger generations are courageous in asking for more – and employers should listen
- Embedding values into daily operations matters more than publishing them on a wall
- Pay transparency attracts the right talent and builds trust
- Space design directly impacts culture, wellbeing, and inclusion
- Unlimited holiday is often overhyped – it can create uncertainty or guilt
- Accessibility (physical, digital, and neurodivergent) needs more attention
- Creating a “whole person” workplace means thinking beyond work to life needs
- Networking works best when it’s generous, authentic, and community-led
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Who is Emilie Lashmar and what does she do?
02:14 – From illustration to coworking and community building
06:16 – Why the future of work excites Emilie
07:20 – Four-day week, pay transparency, and purpose-led business
12:39 – The dangers of resisting change
15:42 – How to spot authentic values vs good marketing
18:24 – Purpose as a retention tool in coworking and creative industries
20:26 – A tangible starting point for becoming values-led
21:44 – Shifting expectations around where and how we work
25:27 – What younger generations really want from work
29:55 – Generational shifts in how we think about work-life balance
30:15 – How space design influences culture and wellbeing
31:47 – Workplace trends: what’s overhyped and what’s under-talked about
33:29 – Is there still a gap between what people want and what companies offer?
34:12 – Emilie’s dream workplace of the future
36:54 – Emilie’s advice for finding or transforming your dream role
🔗 Follow Emilie
Website: https://www.lashmar.co.uk/
Brighton Creatives: https://www.brightoncreatives.com/
GCUC UK: https://uk.gcuc.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-lashmar/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Solomon Mehta-Slade – creator of Mental Fitness workshops for organisations, coach, and co-founder of The Change:Maker Collective – about building inner stability so you can thrive at work and beyond.
Sol explains how his workshops help people build the mental strength and emotional resilience to perform under pressure, recover quickly from setbacks, and collaborate with more ease. He shares how his own mental health challenges led him to reframe wellbeing as “mental fitness” and why self-worth should never be tied to productivity or job titles. We talk about taming and befriending your inner critic, recognising when your sense of value is coming from output, and how community can make change feel less heavy and lonely. Sol also unpacks what employers often get wrong about wellbeing and offers a vision for workplaces where people can bring their whole selves to work.
💡 Takeaways
- Mental fitness is proactive – it’s about strengthening your mindset, not just reacting when things go wrong
- Self-worth is unconditional – it should never depend on your role, output, or recognition
- You can tame your inner critic by noticing it, naming it, and replacing judgement with discernment
- Befriending yourself is as important as silencing negative self-talk
- Micro-moments of presence can reset your mind – you don’t always need long breaks
- Work can give you meaning, but it’s risky to make it your sole source of identity
- Community helps you realise you’re not alone in your challenges
- Employers need to embed wellbeing into culture, not bolt it on as an afterthought
- The best workplaces create space for people to be human, not just productive
- Clarity often comes from action – treat roles and career moves as experiments
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Who is Solomon Mehta-Slade and what does he do?
01:28 – From mindfulness to mental fitness
03:47 – How Sol’s own challenges shaped his work
06:26 – Mental health vs mental fitness
09:30 – The self-worth trap at work
11:14 – Taming and befriending your inner critic
15:15 – The role of work in shaping self-worth
19:10 – Signs your self-worth is tied to productivity
22:21 – Finding micro-moments to reset
24:56 – A practical three-step tool to break negative self-talk
27:02 – Why community and connection matter
29:18 – What employers often get wrong about wellbeing
31:28 – Green flags to look for when job hunting
33:47 – Red flags in workplace culture
36:20 – Designing the ideal workplace for mental fitness
39:09 – Quick-fire: book, myth, daily habit, and best advice
43:24 – Advice for finding or transforming your dream role
🔗 Follow Sol
Website: https://www.thealtacademy.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solomon-mehta-slade/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we speak to Austin Okolo – founder of Gen Z Recruits and a leading voice for Gen Z in the world of work – about turning lived experience into lasting impact.
Austin shares how his entrepreneurial journey began with selling football boots at school and how it evolved into a mission to fix a broken job market. We talk about building confidence from the ground up, creating opportunities where none exist and why visibility and vulnerability are powerful tools for career growth. Austin opens up about the loneliness of leadership, what most people get wrong about Gen Z and why effort still beats everything else.
💡 Takeaways
- Your audience might be you – build what you wish you had
- Confidence comes from repetition, not personality
- Gen Z aren’t lazy – they’re just unwilling to settle for outdated norms
- Recruitment doesn’t have to be transactional – it can be transformational
- Visibility leads to opportunity – show up even when you’re nervous
- Document your journey, don’t wait to be ‘an expert’
- Working in isolation can damage your mental health – community matters
- Personal branding works best when it’s grounded in lived experience
- Employers and employees both need to define their non-negotiables
- The future of work needs to include flexibility and connection
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Who is Austin Okolo and what does he do?
01:43 – From football boots to fashion to founding a business
03:50 – The rise and fall of Clubhouse and building a real-life community
06:16 – Becoming “Mr Gen Z” and launching Gen Z Recruits
08:57 – Why he started a recruitment agency with no corporate background
11:39 – Starting from scratch: mentorship, prep and long-term thinking
13:15 – The real problems Gen Z face in the job market
16:13 – Are Gen Z expectations really that unrealistic?
17:56 – Rethinking traditional work models and expectations
20:43 – Meeting in the middle: flexibility vs reality
22:48 – The hardest part: loneliness as a founder
24:10 – Why we need to build our own communities after school
26:05 – The hidden cost of working from home
28:15 – How Austin got into the media – and why visibility matters
31:04 – Building confidence by doing hard things
33:35 – Personal branding tips for early-career professionals
35:14 – What not to post online (and how to avoid being cringe)
38:13 – Why Austin didn’t post about Coldplay – and how to stay in your lane
41:08 – What’s next for Gen Z Recruits
42:46 – Austin’s signature advice: reverse engineer your dream role
44:31 – Where to find Austin online
🔗 Follow Austin
LinkedIn – Austin Okolo
Instagram – @austinokoloo
TikTok – @austinokoloo
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we speak to Hannah Sosa – founder of Subtle Series and host of the Awfully Quiet podcast – about redefining career progression for quietly ambitious people.
Hannah shares the inspiration behind her unique career platform, how she balances a full-time corporate career with building her own business, and why she believes introspection is an underrated leadership trait. We discuss everything from self-expression to personal branding, from building networks that work for introverts to why sustainable success starts with tuning into yourself.
💡 Takeaways
- Quiet ambition is still ambition – it just looks different
- Clarity is the foundation of confident self-expression
- You don’t need to perform your ambition to be seen
- Personal branding isn’t about being loud – it’s about being remembered
- Progression is easier when you leave breadcrumbs along the way
- Being an advocate for yourself starts with small, consistent wins
- Balance can mean different things in different seasons
- Introspective leadership is a strength, not a limitation
- Asking the right questions builds deeper team connections
- Careers of the future must allow room for personality diversity
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Welcome, Hannah! What she does and why she does it
02:44 – The career path that led to Subtle Series
04:52 – Early iterations and finding her audience
05:38 – Balancing corporate life and building a brand
08:25 – What does it mean to be quietly ambitious?
10:19 – Do quieter people avoid leadership roles?
12:00 – Platforming different paths to success
12:57 – Creating a brand that feels calm yet confident
15:27 – Reimagining career learning experiences
16:39 – The transformation Hannah wants for her audience
18:36 – Why clarity must come before action
21:15 – How to build visibility in your own way
23:08 – Demonstrating value without feeling salesy
26:48 – Don’t wait for your manager to do the work
28:41 – Rethinking the ‘rules’ of workplace success
30:51 – Building a personal brand without performing
34:08 – What the future of work could look like
37:14 – What sustainable success means to Hannah
39:22 – How to manage and empower quieter team members
41:13 – Why we all need regular 1:1s with ourselves
44:00 – Closing reflections
🔗 Follow Hannah
https://www.instagram.com/subtleseries/
https://www.subtleseries.com/
https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpodcast/
https://www.youtube.com/@Hannah-Sosa
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we speak to Joseph Liu – career consultant, speaker and host of Career Relaunch – about what it really takes to pivot your career, build a personal brand that feels authentic and find confidence through action.
Joseph shares the journey from med school dropout to global speaker, brand strategist and coach. He talks about how to build a narrative that supports your next move, why networking is your most powerful tool in a career shift and how your digital first impression speaks volumes. This episode is packed with practical tools and empowering advice for anyone considering a new chapter.
💡 Takeaways
- Personal branding is about clarity, not self-promotion
- Confidence doesn’t come before action – it grows through doing
- Every interaction reinforces or dilutes your personal brand
- Your narrative needs to convince you first – then others
- Consistency across your LinkedIn is more powerful than volume
- Standing tall can change how you feel
- Start networking before you need anything
- Good outreach is tailored outreach
- Hosting mindset = powerful at events
- Your first impression is usually digital – make it count
🔥 Favourite Soundbites
“The first person you need to convince is yourself”
“Everything you do reinforces or dilutes your brand”
“You won’t be worse off for introducing yourself”
“Confidence is a muscle – you build it by doing”
“Most jobs aren’t advertised – networking is the key”
🔗 Resources + Recommendations
- Joseph’s website: josephliu.co
- Joseph’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpliu/
- Career Relaunch podcast: careerrelaunch.net
- Book: ABCs of Networking by Thom Singer
- TED Talk: What’s the Work You Can’t Not Do? by Scott Dinsmore
- Book: Presence by Amy Cuddy
- Platforms: Eventbrite, Cheapskate London
- Writing platforms: Substack and Medium
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we speak to Kaya Allen-Bevan – founder of Youth the Gap and Edge of Difference – about what it really means to build inclusive workplaces, protect your energy and keep showing up with purpose.
Kaya opens up about how her own lived experience fuelled her work in advocacy and DEI. From early activism to launching two mission-driven businesses, she shares the realities of what it takes to do this work – emotionally, financially and professionally. We cover everything from unconscious bias to how to spot green flags in a new role, and how self-awareness is your biggest tool for growth.
💡 Takeaways
- Advocacy is about co-creating, not preaching
- You can care deeply and want to be paid – they’re not mutually exclusive
- Self-education is where most change begins
- Bias won’t go away – but awareness helps us navigate it
- Confidence doesn’t come before action, it comes from it
- Honest feedback loops are essential for workplace inclusion
- If the culture doesn’t support you, you don’t need to stay
- Empowering others starts with knowing your own needs
- Self-care isn't optional in meaningful work – it’s how you keep going
- Safe spaces in the workplace don’t just happen – they’re built intentionally
🔥 Favourite Soundbites
“I started to question a lot.”
“I did it because I was passionate.”
“You can’t control it anyway.”
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Meet Kaya and her mission
01:19 – How Edge of Difference came to life
04:10 – Kaya’s personal entry into activism
06:49 – Passion vs. pay: the advocacy tightrope
09:48 – Building confidence through self-care
13:43 – Bias at work: naming it and navigating it
18:47 – Hierarchies, feedback and honest conversations
20:11 – Culture fit vs. culture add
22:11 – How to build safer spaces for feedback
25:41 – What green flags in culture actually look like
30:18 – Diversity + flexibility: what the future needs
34:07 – Holding on to hope in a complex world
37:58 – How to reflect when something isn’t working
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaiaab/
https://www.instagram.com/kaia.ab/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/youththegapcic/
https://www.instagram.com/youththegap/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/edge-of-difference/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we sit down with Cameron MacRae – Global Director at Bottle Rocket Search – to talk all things work, hiring and how to know if a job is actually right for you.
From front-of-house roles in coworking to global leadership in commercial real estate, Cameron shares a decade’s worth of lessons on what’s changed since Covid, how to protect your energy, and why understanding your own boundaries is the key to landing a role you love – and growing in it.
We also get honest about red flags in interviews (including when a company says “we’re like a family”), burnout from people-pleasing, and the difference between applying for a job and building a career that works for you.
💡 Takeaways
- Culture fit matters – but it’s about values, not vibes
- If a job spec says “we’re like a family” – run
- Front-of-house roles are some of the hardest in the business – and the least flexible
- You don’t need to say yes to everything to prove your worth
- If you’re interviewing, ask why the role exists and what success looks like
- Unlimited annual leave is great – if the culture supports taking it
- Knowing your boundaries is the first step to building a sustainable career
- Recruitment is more like matchmaking than sales – the right recruiter will help you reflect, not just apply
- Being honest (with yourself and others) is the fastest route to career growth
🔥 Favourite Soundbites
“Don’t just apply for a job – know what you don’t want, too.”
“If you can’t explain what success looks like in a role, it’s not the right role.”
“A job interview isn’t a test – it’s a conversation. Ask your questions too.”
“Culture is who you hire – not what’s on the website.”
🕒 Chapters
02:21 – Meet Cameron: from sport science to global director
06:47 – The jump from student housing to coworking
10:06 – Post-Covid work shifts: what’s changed and what hasn’t
15:02 – Front-of-house roles: the underappreciated MVPs
17:22 – Unlimited leave, burnout and balance
23:10 – People pleasing, boundaries and how to say no
27:33 – Interview advice from someone who’s seen it all
31:01 – Red flags, green flags and spotting the truth
35:34 – What success really looks like (and how to ask about it)
42:03 – What company culture actually means
47:44 – Why younger employees struggle to set boundaries
53:12 – When saying yes too often starts to backfire
57:37 – Recruiters: how to use them, and how to know they’re good
01:00:01 – The power of honesty (with yourself and others)
01:01:00 – Cameron’s final advice: define what matters to you
https://bottlerocketsearch.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-macrae-the-office-space-recruiter/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
💬 Summary
In this episode, we chat to Mary, co-founder of AI Potential, about what it really means to work with AI – and how to use it to get ahead, especially if you’re early in your career or part of an underrepresented group in tech.
Mary talks openly about her journey – from building AI tools to teaching people how to use them with confidence. She makes the case for why AI should be a skill you practise, not just a tool you fear, and how soft skills (which women often excel in) are becoming your biggest asset. This one's packed with insight, especially if you're navigating your next move or leading a team in 2025.
💡 Takeaways
- AI isn’t replacing people – it’s levelling up what people can do
- Women are set to thrive if we value soft skills properly
- Re-skilling and up-skilling aren’t optional anymore
- Think of AI like a gym for your brain: you get better by using it
- Bias exists in AI – and if you’re not questioning it, you’re accepting it
- Managers need to learn with their teams, not just delegate tech stuff
- AI can save you hours of admin – if you know what to ask it
- Using AI doesn’t mean switching off your brain – critical thinking is non-negotiable
- AI could be the confidence boost your career’s been waiting for
🔥 Favourite Soundbites
“AI is a skill, not a tool.”
“Always double-check facts from AI.”
“AI can help you unlock your potential – especially when you feel stuck.”
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Who is Mary?
00:37 – The AI takeover: real or hype?
04:24 – Surviving (and thriving in) disruption
07:54 – Confidence in AI: how to build it
11:49 – Women, bias + who’s shaping the tech
15:15 – Future-proofing your skills
19:17 – The hidden bias in hiring tools
22:49 – Getting good at working with AI
26:20 – Managers, this bit’s for you
30:06 – Good news: AI saves you time
34:12 – If you’re job hunting, listen to this
37:15 – Mary’s final advice
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ai-potential/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kemp-ai/
Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.
Episode description:
In this deeply impactful final episode of the Career Unlocked series, Alex sits down with Rose Rowkins, a passionate and experienced Suicide Prevention Trainer. Rose shares her journey from growing up in North West London to becoming a leading advocate for suicide prevention. Throughout the conversation, Rose opens up about her career path, which includes working as a Samaritans volunteer, training prisoners in listening skills, and creating the innovative "Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools" (TAS10) session. Rose also discusses the emotional challenges of her work, the importance of structured training and her commitment to making suicide prevention everyone’s business. Whether you’re interested in mental health, advocacy or simply want to be a better support to those around you, this episode is a must-listen.
Key points discussed:
- Rose’s early life in North West London and how it shaped her love for diverse communities
- Her early career experiences, including volunteering with Samaritans and training in prisons
- The development and impact of the TAS10 session and its importance in suicide prevention
- Insights into the misconceptions and myths around suicide and how to approach sensitive conversations
- Rose’s unique approach to building trust and creating safe spaces in her work
- The challenges and rewards of balancing a demanding career with family life
- The importance of structured training in suicide prevention and Rose’s role in shaping educational programmes
- How personal interests like yoga, singing and travel contribute to Rose’s wellbeing and effectiveness at work
- Practical tools for organisations to integrate wellbeing and suicide prevention into their workplace culture
- Rose’s advice for individuals who are concerned about someone in crisis and how to approach the subject of suicide
Resources and links:
- Connect with Rose: LinkedIn
- Start the Conversation: Website
- Samaritans: Website
- Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools (TAS10): Website
Stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
- Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
- Alex Young on LinkedIn
As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform. We're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this thought-provoking episode of Career Unlocked, Alex sits down with Dean Connell, a creative director with over two decades of experience in the interior design industry and the founder of the innovative design consultancy, I-AM.D.C. Dean shares his journey from growing up in inner-city London to becoming a leading voice in sustainable and circular design. He discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his transition from working at Phones4U to studying interior design at Kingston University and eventually launching his own design consultancy. Dean opens up about his unique philosophy that takes cues from nature to transform traditional workspaces and hospitality environments into sustainable, circular spaces. He also shares his passion for moving beyond 'tick box' sustainability and creating lasting, desirable pieces that transcend functionality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of design, sustainability and the evolving nature of work.
Key points discussed:
- Dean’s early life in inner-city London and his transition from working at Phones4U to studying interior design
- The importance of focusing on specific skills and developing discipline in one’s career
- Dean’s experiences working as a junior designer and the evolution of his career in the interior design industry
- Founding I-AM.D.C and the inspiration behind challenging the 'take, make, waste' mentality in design
- The integration of circular principles into his work and the importance of creating lasting, repairable and adaptable furniture
- Dean’s approach to moving beyond 'tick box' sustainability and fostering a community committed to circular design
- The impact of technology and innovation on the future of workspace design and how AI and VR may influence the industry
- Dean’s views on the importance of community and user-centered design in creating sustainable and functional workspaces
- Insights into Dean’s most rewarding career moments, including working in Japan and developing the Sessions project
- Upcoming projects and initiatives at I-AM.D.C, including collaborations with Patch co-working spaces
Resources and links:
- Connect with Dean Connell: LinkedIn
- I-AM.D.C: Website
- Patch Co-Working Spaces: Website
- Living With Buildings: The Sessions House Project: Website
Stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
- Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
- Alex Young on LinkedIn
As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform. We're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex chats with Molly, Co-Founder of Flexa, to explore her journey from working on a farm during her childhood to creating a groundbreaking platform that redefines flexible working. Molly shares her unique experiences, including a rigorous gap year, her university life at Oxford and her career in investment banking, which ultimately led her to identify a significant gap in the market. Discover the motivation behind Flexa, the challenges Molly faced and how Flexa is changing the future of work for millions. Molly also discusses the impact of flexible working on diversity and inclusion, the importance of employee value propositions and her vision for the future of Flexa. Tune in to gain valuable insights on navigating the evolving landscape of work and fostering a more inclusive, flexible work environment.
Key points discussed:
- Molly's early life and upbringing in London and Somerset
- Her transition from university to investment banking and the intense gap year experiences
- The inspiration and motivation behind starting Flexa
- The challenges faced in the early stages of building Flexa, including the impact of the pandemic
- The role of flexible working in enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion
- The concept of employee value proposition and its significance
- Strategies for companies to introduce flexible working arrangements
- How individuals can identify and negotiate flexible working options
- Staying informed about changes in the future of work
- Future goals for Flexa and the broader vision for the future of work
Resources and links:
- Flexa: Website
- Connect with Molly: LinkedIn
- Recommended study: Nick Bloom’s research on remote and hybrid work
- Articles on flexible working: BBC Worklife, Harvard Business Review
Please stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
- Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram: Favourite Positions Instagram
- Alex Young on LinkedIn: Alex Young LinkedIn
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of Careers Unlocked, Alex chats with Hannah Cox, Director of betternotstop and The Better Business Network. Hannah shares her journey from her challenging childhood in South London to becoming a successful business leader and advocate for sustainability. She opens up about her experiences with bullying, a cancer diagnosis and the loss of family members, all of which shaped her resilience and drive. Discover how Hannah transitioned from running her own club nights at university to founding betternotstop and The Better Business Network, building and supporting a community of organisations around to UK who want to use their business as a force for good. Learn about her ambitious Project Salt Run, where she'll be running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise awareness and funds for those affected by climate change.
Key points discussed:
- Hannah's early life in South London and Hertfordshire
- Impact of bullying and family challenges on her development
- Transition from university to running her own businesses
- Founding betternotstop and The Better Business Network
- Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Importance of sustainability in business and the benefits of B Corp certification
- The concept of collective action in The Better Business Network
- The Better Business Summit and its impact
- Hannah's motivations and preparations for Project Salt Run
- Advice for business leaders on making a positive social and environmental impact
Resources and Links:
Connect with Hannah: LinkedIn
Project Salt Run Instagram: Project Salt Run
betternotstop: Website
Better Business Network: Website
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
B Corp Certification
Carbon Literacy Project
ClientEarth
Mind Over Mountains
Goodfest
Blue Earth Summit
Stay Up to Date with Us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
- Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
- Alex Young on LinkedIn
As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex sits down with Rifa Thorpe-Tracey, a multifaceted professional known for her contributions to the digital and creative industries, as well as her efforts in empowering women through coaching and community initiatives. From her upbringing in South London with a Mauritian background to her journey in the tech world and beyond, Rifa shares how these experiences shaped her path. Discover her insights on using intuition in decision-making, the creation of impactful community events and her vision for empowering women in tech and creative fields. Tune in to gain valuable insights on personal growth, leadership and creating inclusive spaces.
Key points discussed:
- Rifa's childhood and early influences in South London
- Navigating the creative and digital industries with a unique perspective
- The inspiration behind her community initiatives, including 'She Says' and 'Spring Forward Festival'
- The role of intuition in decision-making and professional growth
- Creating inclusive and empowering spaces for women in tech and creative industries
- The journey from digital agency roles to founding 'Refigure'
- Practical advice for women on negotiating salaries and benefits
- The importance of self-investment and continuous personal development
- Rifa's vision for the future of her coaching and community work
Resources and links:
- 'Refigure': Website
- Connect with Rifa Thorpe-Tracey: LinkedIn
- Follow 'Refigure' on Instagram: @refigure
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform; we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex chats with Olamide Majekodunmi, the inspiring founder of 'All Things Money,' to delve into her journey of promoting financial literacy and inclusion among young adults. From her early life in East London to her unexpected transition into entrepreneurship during the pandemic, Ola shares how these experiences have shaped her mission to educate others about personal finance. Discover the motivation behind 'All Things Money,' the challenges Ola faced and the strategies she used to build a thriving community. Ola also discusses her process for creating educational resources, her experience working with major brands and her vision for the future of financial education. Tune in to gain valuable insights on managing finances, building a successful platform and fostering a supportive community.
Key points discussed:
- Ola's early life and upbringing in East London
- Her transition from university to entrepreneurship during the pandemic
- The inspiration and motivation behind starting 'All Things Money'
- The importance of financial literacy and how to improve it
- Practical steps for young adults to achieve financial stability and growth
- The process of creating eBooks, workshops and other educational resources
- Ola's experience with brand partnerships and the criteria for collaboration
- Strategies for negotiating better salaries and benefits
- The impact of live events and workshops on building a community
- Staying informed about changes in the economy and financial markets
- Future goals for 'All Things Money' and fostering financial literacy
Resources and links:
- 'All Things Money': Website
- Connect with Ola: Instagram
- Follow 'All Things Money' on TikTok: All Things Money TikTok
- Listen to the 'All Things Money' podcast: All Things Money Podcast
- Recommended book: "Money: A User's Guide" by Laura Whateley
- Financial comparison websites: Money.co.uk, MoneySuperMarket.com
- News sources for staying updated: BBC News, Money Saving Expert
Please stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:
- Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
- Alex Young on LinkedIn
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode Description:
In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex chats with Mike Turner, co-founder of Bird & Blend, a unique tea company known for its innovative blends and strong community focus. Mike shares his journey from his early days in Manchester and Warwickshire, to his experiences as a ski instructor in Canada and how he and his Co-Founder Krisi built Bird & Blend from the ground up. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of starting a business, the importance of sustainability and the future of the tea industry. Mike's story is a testament to the power of passion, resilience and staying true to your values.
Key points discussed:
- Mike's early life in Manchester and Warwickshire
- The influence of his family and school experiences
- Transition from working various jobs to starting Bird & Blend
- The initial idea and inspiration for Bird & Blend
- Overcoming challenges in the early days of the business
- Importance of sustainability and how it's integrated into Bird & Blend
- The role of community and customer focus in Bird & Blend's success
- The impact of company culture and the journey to becoming a top employer
- Future plans and growth for Bird & Blend
Resources and links:
- Bird & Blend Tea Co.
- Contact for partnerships: info@birdandblendtea.com / meg@birdandblendtea.com
- Follow Bird & Blend on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:
https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex sits down with Stefanie Sword-Williams, the dynamic founder of 'Fuck Being Humble,' to explore her journey of embracing authenticity and self-promotion in the workplace. From her early life experiences growing up across different continents to the challenges she faced in toxic work environments, Stef shares how these shaped her resilient and adaptable nature. Discover the inspiration behind 'Fuck Being Humble,' the impact of its bold name, and the community it has fostered. Stef also delves into her process of writing and publishing her book, navigating the pandemic, and her vision for the future of work. Tune in to gain valuable insights on building a personal brand, the power of self-promotion, and practical advice for those looking to carve their own unique career paths.
Key points discussed:
- Stef's childhood and school experiences in Leeds and the US
- Discovering her authentic self and confidence from a young age
- Transition from university to her first job in marketing and branding
- Challenges faced in a toxic work environment and lessons learned
- The inspiration and motivation behind starting 'Fuck Being Humble'
- The significance of the provocative name and its impact
- Early days of hosting events and building a community
- The importance of authenticity and self-promotion in career growth
- Bootstrapping the business and navigating financial constraints
- Writing and publishing her book 'Fuck Being Humble'
- Stef's perspective on the evolving future of work
- Advice for individuals navigating their careers and the importance of continuous self-promotion
- Embracing flexibility, passion and creativity in career choices
Resources and links:
- Fuck Being Humble
- Connect with Stefanie Sword-Williams on LinkedIn
- Follow Fuck Being Humble on Instagram
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:
https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex sits down with Bud, the founder of BARCO, Boxless and Men of Melanin. Bud shares his journey from growing up in Brighton, navigating challenges in the education system, and pursuing a career in professional basketball to becoming a prominent figure in community activism and business consultancy. Learn about his initiatives aimed at improving inclusivity, sustainability and mental health support for men of colour. Bud's story is a testament to the power of resilience, community and the drive to make a difference.
Key points discussed:
- Bud's early life and upbringing in Brighton
- Experiences and challenges in school
- Transition from school to professional basketball
- The impact of a professional sports career on personal growth
- Transition from basketball to the business world
- Founding and goals of BARCO, Boxless and Men of Melanin
- Insights into the creation and impact of these organisations
- Leadership qualities and advice for fostering inclusive cultures
- Future goals and upcoming initiatives
Resources and links:
- BARCO - Black Anti-Racism Community Organisation
- Boxless Consultancy
- Men of Melanin
- Follow Bud on LinkedIn
Upcoming event:
- Brighton Carnival: Join us for a celebration of Black culture at St. Ann's Well Gardens in Brighton. Enjoy performances, great food and a vibrant parade. Check out the carnival details and mark your calendars for a day of fun and community spirit! More info here
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:
https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Episode description:
In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex sits down with Bailey Greetham-Clark, the founder of Be Great Fitness. Bailey shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a prominent figure in the health and fitness industry. Discover how he turned his struggles into a mission to make fitness accessible to all, especially vulnerable groups. Bailey's story is a testament to the power of resilience, passion and community-driven initiatives.
Key points discussed:
- Bailey's early life and upbringing in challenging circumstances
- The transformative power of running and physical activity
- Transition from running to boxing and early coaching experiences
- Founding Be Great Fitness during the pandemic and its mission
- The impact of inclusivity and accessibility in fitness programs
- The role of social media in growing Be Great Fitness
- Bailey's perspective on community-driven fitness and its future
- Advice for young entrepreneurs and organizations promoting health and wellbeing
- Upcoming projects and national expansion plans for Be Great Fitness
Resources and links:
- Be Great Fitness
- Follow Bailey on Instagram
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:
https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.
Founded in 2022 by curator Eden Maseyk and entrepreneur Luke Davis, Helm Gallery in Brighton is the result of a collective vision; one that aims to provide a never-before seen arts and exhibition space in the heart of the city.
The gorgeous gallery space is made up of two floors. A ground floor consisting of a rotating selection of limited-edition prints and highly sought after original pieces carefully selected and curated by the team. Downstairs is home to the exhibition hall, a vast area that hosts cutting-edge shows, classes and immersive experiences.
Helm places a huge emphasis on ensuring their doors are open to everyone. They are determined to make the art world more inclusive and accessible. They never charge anyone to view the art and their events series focuses on showcasing as many art forms as possible, including music, dance and interactive workshops.
We sat down with Eden and Artist Liaison, India Coles, to discuss why it’s so important to wider society to make art more accessible.
Learn from the experts on the finest contemporary art in the world about the magic of creativity.
Stay up to date with Helm here:
https://helm-gallery.com/
As for us, we’re wrapping up this series on a high as we have a new venture to tell you about
As of 2024, we will be doing LIVE in person ‘What’s Working?’ events. Starting early in the new year, join us as we collectively shape the future of work at our new FREE event series – these 90 minute sessions are packed with expert speakers, an insightful panel discussion and network opportunities.
Engage in panel talks dissecting critical work-related topics from AI to hybrid working, gather actionable insights and contribute to thought-provoking conversations about the future of work.
Join discussions led by top speakers, gain fresh perspectives and discover approaches that can help you to redefine how you view work.
We’ll be sharing the links to our 'What's Working?' events soon so stay tuned if you want to be part of shaping the future work.
Thank you so much for listening to the first of our collaborative podcast series between Favourite Positions and Projects, it’s been such a pleasure to interview all of the inspiring guests we’ve had on over the past few months and we can’t wait to release more episodes next year.
You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:
https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/projectsbtn/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/
Please do reach out and let us know how you’ve found the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes.
Wishing you a wonderful end to the year.
We’re looking forward to exploring what the future holds with you.
In this episode we had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Sam Hornsby, co founder of creative career app ERIC.
ERIC is an award-winning platform connecting the next generation of talent to the creative industries.
Sam and her childhood best friend Mae founded ERIC, which is on a mission to give young people access to career experiences, initiatives & opportunities, whilst also helping creative companies get these opportunities in front of their target audience.
We spoke to Sam about what Gen Z want from the world of work, what companies can be doing to ensure they’re making diverse and inclusive hiring decisions and what exactly the creative industries are.
Thank you for listening, we hope you found this episode insightful and we will be back next week with another so stay tuned - next week will actually be our last in the series, it’s not going to be one to miss!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-hornsby-25a95334/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://www.meet-eric.com/
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eric-creative-career-app/id1593220987
As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN.
You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.
Garrett Keogh is an expert in uncertainty and this episode is exactly what you need to listen to if you’re feeling worried about the future.
As a pioneer in the digital sector, he has worked at a senior level for huge brands, from MTV to AOL, running digital and content departments and leading digital strategy. He’s delivered major campaigns for BBC, ITV, SKY and Red Bull, led social media strategy development for the BBC and helped launch some of its biggest TV brands online.
Garrett talks to us about his career to date, starting out as a journalist, writing about which printers and other new technological devices were worth purchasing, then reviewing websites in magazines (yes, that wa a real job) to eventually running his own agency, building from scratch to a multi-million-pound turnover with clients including TGI Fridays, NBC Universal, Sony, HP, Nike, Sky and more.
We loved hearing from him about his take on how the changes we’re experiencing currently in the world of work are really exciting and how technology can continue to evolve and enable us to live better lives.
Find out more about the Uncertainty Experts here: https://www.uncertaintyexperts.com/
We hope you find this episode insightful and we will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN.
In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking to Jonathan Reid, a podcasting and personal branding specialist who has achieved incredibly impressive things in his career to date, all through self-taught practises. His company, Reidentify helps B2B businesses and their representatives become thought leaders in their industry.
He also runs an organisation called Purpose Led, through which he impacts thousands of driven people on a regular basis through a weekly podcast, speaking engagements at schools, universities and corporates across the UK and he hosts his own events too.
Jonathan is all about impact, positive mindset and leaving the world a better place than how you found it!
He’s a fountain of wisdom and we know you’re going to really enjoy this episode.
For anyone wanting to connect with Jonathan, you can find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-reid-654566172/
Learn more about Reidentify:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/reidentify/
Listen to Purpose Led:
https://www.purposeledclub.com/
We’ll keep you up to date with any events we run with him, too and hope they’re not far in the future.
Thank you for listening. We will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN.
You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.
In this series, we are interviewing a range of inspiring experts across diverse industries, finding out how they got into the positions they’re in and what they think the world needs to look like.
This episode, we’re fortunate enough to be joined by Thom Elliot, who alongside his brother James, founded the incredible pizzeria chain Pizza Pilgrims which as of the time of this recording has 25 sites around the UK.
Thom talks to us about the journey they’ve been through to get Pizza Pilgrims to where it is today, the importance of surrounding yourself with passionate people and how to cultivate the happiest team possible
He also gives us a low down on how to make the best pizza in the world, so it’s not an episode to miss.
Please stay tuned on the Projects website for our interview with Thom which will go live in November.
You can check out Pizza Pilgrim’s story in more detail here: https://www.pizzainthepost.co.uk/pages/who-we-are#:~:text=Pizza%20Pilgrims%20was%20born%20in,famous%20pizzaoli%20in%20the%20world
We will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN
With over 17 years in communications working at London’s top beauty agencies, Jasmine Wicks-Stephens has worked with the industry’s best talent and a plethora of amazing brands from all aspects of beauty.
She launched her own agency Known five years ago. Her team is made up of likeminded go-getters and brand builders including PR pros, designers, social media managers, events specialists, marketing pros and experts in everything else you could possibly need to get your brand, Known. Their clients range from global market leaders to indie start-ups.
In 2020, Jasmine launched a skincare brand, Faace. Working alongside the beauty insiders she has known for over a decade, she created her own brand to fill a gap in the market, giving consumers a new, more direct way to shop for their skin. Faace launched with a capsule collection of Period, Tired and Sweaty Faace masks and the brand is now stocked in retailers across the globe - from Harrods and Lane Crawford to Lookfantastic and Boots ME.
For anyone interested in starting their own company, this is not one to miss.
We spoke to Jasmine about sustainability, community, trust and autonomy, being a female founder and what success looks like. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.
Find out more about Known here: https://www.known-community.com/
Check out Faace here: https://www.wearefaace.com/
Connect with Jasmine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-wicks-stephens-b912641b/?originalSubdomain=uk
We hope you find this episode insightful! We will be back next week with another one so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsbtn.
You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/
Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast. In this series, we've teamed up with Projects who run high-end, inclusive work spaces. We're asking experts from diverse industries 'What's Working?' for them and their teams, discussing the future of work and coming up with strategies for bringing the best out of ourselves and those around us.
This episode, we’re joined by Pauline Roussel.
Pauline is an expert in coworking spaces and community. Over the last 8 years, she has dedicated her time and effort to better understand the world of modern workspaces. Her mission is to teach people and companies about how to create spaces that work best for them and help them to attract and retain talent by being one step-ahead when it comes to their workplace strategy.
She’s the co-founder of Coworkies, a global job board setting the hiring and recruiting standards for the coworking and flex industry. The job board is the outcome of 5 years of travelling, visiting over 500 coworking spaces around the world.
She is also the co/author of "Around The World in 250 Coworking Spaces" a 350 pages coffee table book highlighting 250 founders of coworking and collaborative workspaces and their stories.
https://www.instagram.com/coworkies
https://www.linkedin.com/company/coworkies/
https://www.coworkies.com/
Pauline talks to us about her career to date, how to create inspiring work spaces and what she thinks the future of towns and cities around the world will look like - spoiler: coworking spaces play a leading part!
We hope you find this episode insightful! We will be back next week with another one so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsbtn.
You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/
Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do!
This our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK.
I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard.
This episode, we’re talking to Josh Connolly, resilience coach and one of the UK’s most influential mental health speaker.
TW: We need to put a trigger warning in here because suicide is briefly touched upon so if listening to any references about this topic isn’t supportive of you in your journey then we apologise and welcome you to listen to any of our other episodes.
Josh speaks incredibly openly in this episode and mentions that in December 2012, he began planning his suicide. He had just become sober, but after years of dependency and a lifetime of trauma, he explains that he was completely lost.
He tells us that back then, he believed that resilience was the ability to keep going no matter what, to avoid any struggle and show up. That ideal drove him to a place where he felt the best thing to do for his children was to take his own life. Today, he has a new idea of resilience. One that is fluid, that allows him to struggle and ask for help. Listen to Josh talk about how he’s learnt to understand what he feels, knows what he needs as a result and is able to communicate that within his activities and relationships.
https://www.joshconnolly.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/josh_ffw/
If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.
If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.
In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us
Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do!
This our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK.
I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard.
This episode, we’re fortunate enough to be joined by the incredible, Lynn Anderson Clark. Lynn is the Co-founder and CEO of The Know, purpose-driven media company.
The Know’s mission is to help people feel less stressed about current affairs and more capable of implementing small changes in their daily lives, as well as incentivising heftier change in policy and investment. Lynn talks to us about her career to date, how she avoids burning out and what she knows about the work life desires of both millennials and Gen Zs.
Find out more about The Know here: https://www.theknowmedia.co/
If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.
If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.
In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us
Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do!
This is the start of our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK.
I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard.
In this episode, I talk you through what you can expect from the upcoming series, introduce Alana properly and discuss with her what’s going on in the world of work right now (we cover topics such as meaningful work, flexible working, what different generations want from work, burn out, and AI) . We also end the episode with an exciting announcement about a new venture we have planned!
If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.
If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.
In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us
Look forward to bringing you the next episode of ‘What’s Working’ next week - until then, we hope you get to do something you love.
Hi, It's Alex here, Founder of Favourite Positions.
I’ve recently become the Director of a company that just over 3 years ago, I was working an entry level job for. My career to date has been fast paced and I’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time. Some lessons were more painful than others but I’m a firm believer that there are positive sides to any experience.
In this podcast episode, I go into what I've done to get to where I am now, the 'mistakes' I've made along the way and what I'm most excited about for both Favourite Positions and the company I am directing, Projects.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for all of your incredible support, words of encouragement and openness throughout this series. Hearing how this platform has helped you is so special to me and to my amazing Mum, Angela, who produces the podcast.
FavouritePositions team x
The plant-based meat alternative market is heaving with products in 2022 – but perhaps no brand has quite captured the attention of meat eaters, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans alike quite like THIS. With its hyper-realistic versions of common meat products, THIS has been making it easier to make plant-based like-for-like ingredient swaps since its launch in 2019.
Andy Shovel co-founded THIS alongside business partner Pete Sharman, with whom he now shares the role of Co-CEO. Prior to THIS, the pair established and ran a burger restaurant chain – yes, serving real meat. While the origins of the company seem antithetical at first, Andy says it actually makes perfect sense – both are big lovers of the taste of meat, who want to be able to replicate it in a cruelty-free, sustainable way.
It has been a whirlwind few years for Andy but his tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted approach keep him grounded through it all. Not only can THIS products be found on the menu in Café Nero, Honest Burger and Prezzo, just to name a few, but he and his team have also been winning awards, including a Food Matters Live Award for Plant-Based Product of the Year.
Hear from him about how he went from selling animal meat burgers to setting up one of the largest disrupter brands in the plant based food industry.
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
...
Hilary Owen is the Head of Marketing at Escape The City, the leading purposeful job board, helping mission-driven job seekers find work that they believe in, at organisations doing things differently.
They believe you shouldn’t need to compromise on flexibility or ways of working that suit you, and that working for a cause you truly care about is more possible now than ever. We couldn't agree more, obviously.
Their platform showcases 1,000s of organisations doing business for good, for people and our planet. Because life’s too short to do work that doesn’t matter. Their tag line is: Do Something Different, don’t waste 40+ hrs a week being unhappy and that's exactly what Hilary did.
Before joining Escape, Hilary worked in fashion brand and content marketing in New York and London.
She left in January 2021 to pursue a simpler life — starting with converting a campervan and subsequently spending the summer in Cornwall.
Hilary is a thought leader in work place culture and shares openly what’s worked for her in her career to date to ensure she’s fulfilled and living her best life!
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Becci Paige is the Founder of Stay In Your Lane Vintage, a hand picked vintage clothing store with a physical location in the heart of Brighton’s lanes and online shop.
Becci began her business two goals in mind. She wanted to create a sustainable clothing brand and to create an experience that made people happier than before they walked in. Having gotten to know her myself via being a customer, I can confidently say she is succeeding on both fronts. Becci’s background in retail made her see that there were not enough shopping spaces to make humans feel safe and included. She says it baffled her how we are so immersed in harmful stereotypes and these have attached themselves to clothes. From how clothes are marketed to how shops segregate their layout, she set out to do things different, creating a genderless clothing store and a place for each and everyone to feel truly welcome. Regardless of who the garment was originally manufactured for, if it fits and makes you feel fabulous then she believes it is made for you! Many of the pieces available for sale have been reworked and so are totally unique.
Becci has made shopping sustainably and feeling empowered to dress however makes you feel your most confident simple. Hear her story on how she went from a hopeless place to a business owner with a clear mission and a lease of life she didn’t see coming.
Visit SIYLV's site here: https://stayinyourlanevintage.com/
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
John Thornton is probably the most fearless employee I’ve ever met. We got to know one another at an all day long event at innocent smoothie’s head quarters, where he worked at the time. I had the pleasure of both hanging out with him and getting to see him do what he does best, which is write. He has since moved on from innocent to work as the Senior Creative of Surreal, a healthy cereal brand but during his time copy writing for the well known and loved smoothie brand, he caused an internet-wide argument about a blue drink, nearly poisoned the nation's children with Conker Milk, got himself banned from the company LinkedIn account, enraged an army of Covid-deniers, had to be airbrushed out of the TV ad I wrote...and he says those were the better days. In his own words, it is a miracle he wasn't fired.
Hear about how he went from being told off at school for cheekiness to being told off at work for the same thing but somehow not enough to get in serious trouble and just enough to make a name for himself in the creative marketing world, for the right reasons.
Find out more about what John's up to here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thornjohnton/
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
George Bettany is the Co-Founder of Sanctus, a coaching organisation which offers a holistic and sustainable approach to growth, blending personal and professional development with proactive wellbeing support.
George charts his personal journey from being an active child to a promising football player then an entrepreneur who dropped out of Uni to focus on his original business. He speaks openly about how ultimately, he and his business partner burnt out during the pursuit of that first business.
They both struggled with their mental health and wellbeing and didn't know how to to unbottle the way that they'd been feeling. They felt the space that they needed didn’t exist. Neither of them felt “ill” enough for therapy, and they didn’t even know where to start with trying to explain how they were feeling to friends and family.
George explains that he found his ‘place’ in life through solving that exact problem with Sanctus. People needed somewhere to talk and to connect that didn’t yet exist. And so Sanctus, meaning “pure” in Latin, became a living, breathing brand on a mission to change the way the world views mental wellbeing in the workplace and to give people the space that they need.
George has recently taken on the role of Chief Purpose Officer and talks during this episode about what he loves most about what he does as well as the challenges he's faced and how he's overcome them.
Find out more about Sanctus: https://sanctus.io/
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Sal is a Mindset, Mood & Movement Coach. Though he's the first to tell you that he's not your typical life coach - he doesn't preach positivity.
He's also not a conventional business coach – he won't examine your spreadsheets.
As you'll find out in this episode, Sal listens very deeply to individuals and business founders and encourages them to see what they're not comfortable seeing, so they can move on up to a new level of consciousness. He believes that in guiding them to see their truth, a shift is created in their perspective that frees them from fear and unease. Essentially, he create the conditions for positive change and personal growth.
He has been on a journey of profound personal growth himself. Hear about how he compiled his first list of the 'things he needed to work on for himself' as a child, how his anxious 'high achiever' tendencies in early adulthood led him to pursue success in business, relationships, financial stability, constantly looking or next ‘thing’ to make him happy and how, in searching for answers to him unease, over the last 20 years, he has studied Indian philosophy, practiced yoga and become a yoga teacher.
It was a real honour to record with Sal and I hope you enjoy listening to his incredible story to date.
Find out more about Sal: www.saljefferies.com
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Daisy Morris is a social media strategist and the Founder of social media consultancy and digital community, The Selfhood.
Studying Fashion at University, Daisy specialised in digital media and online consumer psychology, laying the vital foundations upon which her growth in the online world would be built.
After graduating she worked in creative agencies, within teams at in-house fashion brands, and on specific activations and events for global brands, such as Pernod Ricard, Nasty Gal, and Diagio.
In this episode, Daisy tells us how, in 2019, she quit her job after finding frustration in the lack of down-to-earth, real, and human advice available for those trying to find their way in the world of digital marketing and social media.
With a fire in her belly and an undeniable enthusiasm to support others in finding their voice on social media, she went on to found The Selfhood. The company was born to teach business owners and creatives how to share their talents and promote their work online, in the most actionable and authentic way.
Daisy tells us how the main premise of The Selfhood is that it aims to make URL interactions feel just as human as IRL ones. She uses funny tongue in cheek videos, memes, and vibrantly designed interactive content to share the know-how on building meaningful communities and connections on social media with business owners, creators, students, and creatives, far and wide.
Eager to found a sense of community in real life, as well as in the digital world, Daisy also runs her own sell-out community-centric events and away from the world, she has started a netball team for women looking to make new friends in London, which has been a huge success and continues to grow.
Find out more about Daisy: https://www.theselfhood.com/social-links
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Charlie Partridge has lived a life. Working as a performer, he has hosted events all over the globe to hundreds of thousands of people from New York and LA to Paris and London. He's toured shows with The New Scientist and hosted the Moth Live (one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world).
I first came across Charlie during his performance last year at Brighton Fringe and became obsessed. He was bringing hardcore beats from the underground German Haus scene as Acid Klauss, a Bavarian beatboxer, music producer, club veteran and comic creation. Charlie has created a huge variety of live entertainment experiences, to the highest possible standard, for all manner of clients including Fortune 500 companies, celebrities, Royals, charities and broadcasters. Testimonials on his website echo my own feelings about his talents, with Meta exclaiming that booking him for a team event has gone down in history for them and Wilderness stating that he is the best act they have ever had the pleasure of booking!
Hear from Charlie about where his imagination comes from, how he got into the position he's in and what he loves most about what he does.
Find out more about Charlie: https://charliepartridgecomedy.co.uk/
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Calypso Barnum-Bobb is a Self-Discovery Coach, Speaker and Host who helps people re-discover and express their most authentic selves so they can create lives they're obsessed with.
She leads 1:1 and group coaching sessions, talks and workshops in collaboration with leading global brands, including Nike, adidas, SOHO house, Lost Village music festival and the London College Of Fashion. She also runs a challenge for her community called 21 Days Of Self-Discovery, helping groups of people realise their greatness.
She's also the co-founder of People Like Us Retreats- the inclusive retreat company that holds transformational retreats for the modern human and the host of her brand new podcast Self-Centred with Calypso.
Hear about her fascinating journey to date and get an exclusive insight into what she's planning next.
Find out more about Calypso: https://msha.ke/calypsobarnumbobb
We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.
Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team x
Guest
Shoshanna Davis is the Founder of Fairy Job Mother, a community that empowers 15,000+ students, graduates and young professionals with the skills and mind-set to stand out, get hired and progress in their careers. She felt frustration over the lack of relevant career guidance and available to young people post-school and university so decided to take matters into her own hands.Through her platform, she's been able to help hundreds of students and graduates land jobs at the likes of Google, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, THG, HelloFresh, BT and has partnered with some amazing employers and brands including UCAS, Bright Network, Rate My Placement, Newton Europe, Zoella & more!
Overview
Fairy Job Mother is a young professionals ‘one-stop’ shop for all things career advice and progression. Shoshanna has created tonnes of resources and shares insights on topics including finding your dream job, gaining a promotion, salary negotiation, building your own business and more.
Takeaway
Regardless of background, everyone should be equipped with the skills, mindset and resources to progress in their career.
Links
Learn more about Fairy Job Mother on Instagram @thefairjobmother and stay tuned for Shoshanna's exciting next steps.
If you're over on Instagram and we're yet to connect then say hello!
We're@favouritepositionspodcast and we wouldlove to hear your thoughts on the series.
Thank you for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team
x
Guest
Phoebe Hanson is a climate and social justice activist and the Chief Operating Officer of Force of Nature, a youth-led start-up which empowers Gen Z to step up, rather than shut down, in the face of the climate crisis.
Overview
I was honoured to be able to sit down with Phoebe to find out how she creates a culture of hope when working in an anxiety inducing field. She truly does embed activism and sustainability in every facet of her life, always striving to do the best for our people and planet, and encouraging others to do the same.
Takeaway
Phoebe and the team she cares for are not only empowering one another to be their best selves in and outside of work but they're also supporting global community of young people.
93% of employees say that acting on climate at work is important to their personal sense of motivation and wellbeing. We all need to do more to ensure we're allowing this hugely important issue to form part of our work, as individuals and as teams.
Hearing the ways the Force of Nature team are freeing themselves from traditional work place restrictions really is eye opening, from providing transparency around everyones salary to speaking truthfully about their wellbeing. Their website states that they advise business leaders and challenge business-as-usual and I feel Phoebe put that across perfectly during our conversation. They truly are a team of young trailblazers.
Links
Find out more about what they're doing and how you can get involved in their work, helping young people turn eco-anxiety into action and driving intergenerational solutions with business leaders. Visit www.forceofnature.xyz and follow them on Instagram @forceofnature.xyz.
If you're yet to follow us on Instagram then please do, we're@favouritepositionspodcast.We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series and connect with you!
Thank you for your support, always.
FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Laura Hunter is the Co Founder of The Now Work, a platform designed to connect independent sustainability experts with the work that needs to happen, now. Their mission is to connect world-changing people to world-changing work.
Overview
In this episode, we talk to Laura about her experiences to date and hopes for the future of work, which she believes needs to be the Now of Work.
Takeaway
Laura is on a journey to make changing the world possible by changing the world of work and it was inspiring as ever to hear about how she's doing that. I appreciated her complete transparency around suffering with imposter syndrome and burning out and loved her advice on time blocking self care activities into your diary, prioritising them as much as work related tasks in order to work in a sustainable way.
If you feel like you're currently a square peg pushing yourself into a round hole then perhaps its time to check out what other options are out there for you that you'll be more comfortable in, be that by changing roles or going freelance, or like Laura, taking the leap to create your own thing entirely. Life is too short to stay in a position you aren't happy in and there are organisations out there that will celebrate you and your individuality, they might be harder to find than they should be but they're there.
Links
You can learn more about the Now Work on thenowwork.com or by searching on Instagram for @thenowwork.
If you're looking for a new role then do also check out the purpose driven Jobs Board I'm managing on behalf of media agency, The Know, by visiting theknowmedia.co and clicking 'Jobs Board' on the homepage.
If you're yet to follow us on Instagram then please do, we're@favouritepositionspodcast.We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series!
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
x
Guest
Bec is a fully qualified, BANT registered Nutritional Therapist with a unique mind-body-emotion approach, addressing root causes of ill health, not just physical symptoms. Her additional training as a restorative yoga teacher, EFT and breath work practitioner also feeds into her holistic approach.Overview
I sat down with Bec to find out how to bring my own body back into balance when I felt burnout and wanted to share her life changing words of wisdom with you all.Takeaway
Bec's own decision to redefine what success looks like to ensure it includes her health is simple and inspirational. I also genuinely love her tips on taking short breaks to focus on breathing or getting some movement in as they feel really manageable, as someone who currently couldn't face an hour long wellbeing focused class due to other time commitments and complete lack of ability to focus for that long (though I am trying to change that).
If you're listening to this, and like me, often feel on the brink of burn out then I can't recommend checking out Bec's Instagram enough. Prior to recording this episode, she took me through some EFT and I felt 100x calmer for it. She is so knowledgeable and caring, I feel honoured to have had her share some of her wisdom in this episode and I hope you have found it calming.Links
Find out more about Bec + her work on Instagram @becmilligan_ and on her site becmilligan.com. You can also find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. As you know by now, Favourite Positions is also on Instagram@favouritepositionspodcastso please do connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series!Big love
Thank you for your support.FavouritePositions teamx
Guest
Rachel Mathia is a Learning and Leadership Expert. She supports the executive team at lululemon with their leadership and cultivates the team culture.
Overview
Hear from Rachel on how to lead with your personal values and create a career where you are truly thriving, nobody knows this topic better than she does.
Takeaway
Rachel says the most valuable asset she's taken from her experiences is the immediate power of leadership. She says that the most successful team leaders she has worked with shared qualities of generosity, a level of humility and strengths within communication and that it is through these traits a confidence and resiliency grows within the company, allowing them, and others, to take calculated risks.
Links
Find out more about what Rachel does and check out her brand new game, 'What's Below The Surface', on rachelmathia.com. Please leave us a review so we can find out what you think about the series and share it with anyone you think will benefit from it. Visit favouritepositions.com if you'd like to read the hottest careers advice out there and follow us on Instagram if that's your thing, we're @favouritepositionspodcast and we're posting daily inspiration - good vibes only over there.
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
x
Guest
Beth Lewis is the People Experience Lead at TrustedHousesitters, a global, pet-loving community on a mission to create a world where pets enjoy their owners’ vacations just as much as they do!
Overview
In this episode, Beth talks about why TrustedHousesitters have transitioned into a remote-first organisation, how to support team members all around the world, what to look for in a progressive work space and how to prevent burn-out.
Takeaway
The future of work is exciting, it comes with new challenges but will unlock an enormous number of positives, one of which being the ability for individuals to have autonomy over their working patterns. Beth and her team have made a commitment to enabling flexible ways of working, including non-linear work days, because that was something that they found out was desirable for the company. This attitude and action is inspiring. There is no better time than now to take steps towards a more inclusive and caring world of work.
Links
Learn more about TrustedHousesitters via their website trustedhousesitters.com and find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. Favourite Positions is also on Instagram @favouritepositionspodcast so feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
x
Guest
In this episode, we speak to Greg, Head of Fundraising at Team Domenica, about how inclusivity at work is world changing. Team Domenica is a social enterprise charity. Their vision is for people with learning disabilities to be valued in the workplace, to reach their full potential and feel included as members of society.
Overview
Hear Greg talk about how the mission he and his team are on to help people with learning disabilities discover their career potential, to create employment opportunities and to remove barriers to work in local communities.
Takeaway
We all have an opportunity, through our work, to make this world a place where everyone feels valued, no matter what we do.
Links
You can follow the incredible journey Team Domenica are on over on their website teamdomenica.com and across all social media platforms, too.
You can find more resources on finding what you love to do and creating health and happy work place culture over on favorutiepositions.com. You can also find us on Instagram@favouritepositionspodcast- feel free to connect with us there!
Thank you so much for listening, this is the first of 10 episodes which will make up the culture + careers series, we'd love to hear what you think about it so feel free to leave us a review. Please do share the link to the series with anyone you think will benefit from knowing about it, we really appreciate your support.
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions teamx
Guest
In this episode, we chat to globally recognised tattoo artist, Lui Lopez. Lui specialises in the Japanese cartoon style, Manga and currently works out of Studio Hatch in Brighton, though regularly travels to cities around the world for guest spots.
Takeaway
Lui's experiences working in different places across the globe has given him invaluable insight into what makes an inclusive environment where people can thrive. He shared honestly in this episode the dangers of using profit as the main motivator and beautifully emphasised the simple but absolutely essential message that being kind to yourself and to others is more important than anything else.
Links
You can follow Lui's travels and see the world class art he creates over on his Instagram @luilopeztattoos and whilst you're there, check out our daily motivational posts @favouritepositionspodcast.
Thank you so much for listening, we hope you found this episode as enjoyable to listen to as we did to record. This episode is part of the culture + careers series, we'd love to hear what you think about it so feel free to leave us a review. Please do share the link to the series with anyone you think will benefit from knowing about it, we really appreciate your support.
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Fraser Davidson, Founder of Cub Studio, has over 15 years of experience in the animation industry and his work with comedians on various projects has gained acclaim as well as several million YouTube hits.
Overview
In this episode, we speak to Cub about how they've been able to nurture their team further and expand their capabilities in to new directions.
Takeaway
Fraser talks about the simplicity and importance of trust within a work space and the undeniable impact that has on the culture of the team. So often, job adverts and company websites list all the features they offer employees but perhaps taking a much more stripped back approach could be more effective - the bottom line is that we all want to feel like we're doing something meaningful with our time and if our work space can give us the confidence to do that then we're likely to find greater enjoyment in our day to day.
Links
Check out Cub Studio's engaging animations over on cubstudio.com and find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. Favourite Positions is also on Instagram @favouritepositionspodcast so feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
x
Episode 02: How putting people first changes everything - The Pod HR
Guest
Lizzie Boyd is the Founder of The Pod HR, a small squad of HR freelancers with a tonne of experience, including Lizzie, that exists to help businesses with their people stuff.
Overview
In this episode, we chat to Lizzie about the impact of putting people first, avoiding burn-out and why we avoid having difficult conversations.
Takeaway
There is a clear take away from this episode which is: take a moment to pause, check in with yourself and then check in with those around you. So many work place issues can be solved by communicating honestly, first with yourself then with your team.
Links
If you'd like to chat through an HR concern then you can get hold of the wonder woman that is Lizzie via her site: thepodhr.com or by emailing her at hello@thepodhr.com. If you're interested in hearing more from us on finding what you love to do then check out favouritepositions.com.
You can also find us on Instagram@favouritepositionspodcast- feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!
Big love
Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
x
Alex Young
Founder of Favourite PositionsHelping you find what you love to do
Guest
Alex Young, Founder of Favourite Positions
Overview
Alex Young is the Founder of Favourite Positions, a platform dedicated to helping people find what they love to do. She has built a career around connecting people with one another and to initiatives that enable them to develop personally as well as professionally.
Hear about where the concept of Favourite Positions came from and what she plans to do with it in the future, too.
Takeaway
Alex learnt at an early age that only we, ourselves, are responsible for our wellbeing and through experiencing pretty severe burn out, she had to rethink what a healthy lifestyle looked like. She talks about how to design a life that truly makes you happy and grounded through mindful routines.
Links
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and check out the website for the most eye opening careers insights you’ll ever see: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
Guest
Liz Gingell, Co-Owner of The Faerie Shop
Overview
Liz is the Co-Owner of The Faerie Shop, a physical shop and online space promoting wellbeing and inspiring people to realise and live as their authentic selves.
Hear her talk about the importance of listening to what it is that you don’t like doing when thinking about the kind of life you really want to have. Liz has learnt and continues to learn what she needs to about running her own business as she goes and doesn’t let the sheer amount of things she’ll need to get to grips with in order to make it a success put her off doing it in the first place because nothing matters more to her than freedom in her every day.
Takeaway
Taking stock of what we have that benefits us and eliminating shit from our lives that doesn’t make us feel good is really the key to doing more of what we love.
Links
Find out more about the shop by searching for 'The Faerie Shop' on Facebook and definitely pay it a visit if you're able to.
Please do follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions and share anything which resonates with you.
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FavouritePositions team
Guest
Caleb Yule, Founder of Stories of Note
Overview
Caleb Yule is the founder of Stories of Note, a film company dedicated to recording and amplifying important stories that are seldom heard.
Caleb works with non-profits and their funders, taking a strengths-based approach to storytelling, portraying all subjects in their best light.
Takeaway
Caleb is a master of timing and in this episode, he talks about how he has managed to work a 4-day week doing what he loves.
For anyone who wants to work as little as possible and spend the time they are working doing what they feel most passionately about, this one is for you.
Links
Check out Caleb's incredible films by searching for Stories of Note on Vimeo and learn more about his services over on storiesofnote.com.
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Rebekah Few, freelance mental health + wellbeing consultant
Overview
Rebekah is an experienced freelance mental health and wellbeing consultant, facilitator and writer.
She runs her own business (Not Lost, but Free) providing consultancy and training around popular psychological concepts and mental health to businesses. Her clients include Sony Music, Harrods, LinkedIn, Royal Mail and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine.
When she moved cities from Birmingham to Brighton and left her full time position a few years ago, she pushed herself to reimagine her whole life. Her approach to life is as her business’s name suggests: free.
If you’ve ever found yourself asking the question what is the purpose of my life then this episode will definitely be an interesting listen for you.
Takeaway
All we have to do to experience the very best things that life can offer us is free up our time.
Links
Check out Rebekah's website notlostbutfree.com for information about her services and also a whole host of blogs on topics from playing as adults to manifestation.
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Louie Syred, Co-Founder of Peak Moods
Overview
In this episode, we speak to Louie, Co-Founder of Peak, a mood enhancing drinks brand disrupting the beverage industry.
49% of Gen-Z suffer from poor mental health every day. As a neuro-divergent person, Louie has struggled with self-medicating his ADHD, and his co-founder, Ben, was no stranger to the social pressure surrounding drinking. So after an eclectic mix of combined career experiences, the two former school friends found themselves asking the question: why do we seek to dull our minds every day with coffee and alcohol, instead of uplifting our minds to unlock our best potential?
Hear from Louie about how Peak are going to take over the planet with their ground-breaking creative ideology but also take the opportunity to hear a story we’re not often told about the amount of effort we should be putting in to what we love.
Takeaway
This is a story about realising giving 100% of yourself to anything all the time isn’t going to get you where you want to go.
Stay up to date with Louie over on Peak’s instagram @peakmoods and if you haven’t tried his drinks yourself then what are you waiting for! Your mood will thank you for it.
Links
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Emmanuel Oyemade, Founder of Modomise and winner of this year's Young Start-up Award
Overview
Hear entrepreneur Eman talk about how he launched a business whilst completing his degree through marrying his ambition with his talent.
Eman submitted his final pieces of university work the day before recording this episode. Whilst studying Product Design, he founded a company, Modomise, and is in the process of bringing his first product, Tower, to market.
Tower is a modular desk tidy which can be personalised based on whatever it is you have on your desk. You can probably tell from this alone that Eman is somebody who not only loves to be organised but also wants to make the world around us an easier place for people to thrive in.
Takeaway
This episode highlights the power of asking people if they can give you what it is that you want even if they haven’t advertised it as available.
Find out how Eman has learnt to organise his time each day to be as productive and efficient as possible, scheduling time for work and play to ensure he's reaching his goals and having fun in the process.
Links
Follow Modomise on Insta: @modomise_ + stay tuned for updates on the release of Tower
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Alexandra Mehri, Teacher + Expert on Personal Social Citizenship and Health Education
Overview
In this episode, we speak to the teacher students dreams of.
Alexandra Mehri is an expert on Personal Social Citizenship and Health Education, teaching the importance of self-care to students and fellow teachers alike. Alex's words provide hope for students that there are people around them that care about their wellbeing above all else. Her advice also provides hope for aspiring teachers that whilst the job won’t be easy, it’ll be extremely fulfilling and there will be appropriate support.
Takeaway
This episode highlights how if you don't put your own well-being first then you won't be able to do your best at helping those around you.
Find out how Alex makes sure she avoids burn out in a profession where everyone seems to be constantly stressed and undervalued.
Links
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Lucy Forgham, Freelance Interior Designer
Overview
Join us as we chat to freelance Interior Designer, Lucy, about designing a life you love.
Lucy is 26 and lives in Brighton with her dog, Ralph, who joined us for the recording, and kitten, Meeko. She has built a life that works for her and is at the beginnings of her journey as a freelance interior designer, having recently left an employed role.
Takeaway
Lucy talks about her experiences with a chronic health condition. Thanks to her openness, this episode seeks to provide whoever needs to hear it with the reassurance that whilst it can make your day to day so much harder, illness doesn’t need to stop people doing what they love to do and success can be defined in so many forms.
Links
Check out Lucy's Insta: @solmestudios and click the link in her bio there to visit her site
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Jack Maddalena, Founder of Naurt
Overview
In this episode of Favourite Positions, we speak to the founder of the top tech start up in the UK, Jack Maddalena.
Jack is 25 year old and his location optimisation software, Naurt, will soon become a household name as they begin to work with brands everyone has heard of. In the 18 months since the start-up was founded, Jack has grown the company by 400%, secured over half a million pounds worth of investment and won multiple awards.
He talks openly in this episode about how he learnt to view his dyslexia as a positive (despite how the diagnosis was handled by his school), what he looks for when hiring his team members and how to prevent burn out with shit TV and well timed nights out.
Takeaway
This episode highlights how important it is to find the ‘why’ behind what you’re doing and remind yourself of it every day.
Links
Check out https://www.naurt.com/ before it becomes a household name and connect with Jack over on LinkedIn: Jack Maddalena
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com
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Thank you for your support.
FavouritePositions team
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Guest
Zach Hyland, Director + Content Producer
Overview
Join us for the very first episode of Favourite Positions and hear from Zach Hyland, Director + Content Producer.
At just 18 years old, Zach works for himself creating content for brands which he choses to collaborate with. From Greenpeace to Gary Vee, his talent clearly speaks for itself as he’s finding himself in high demand. Zach’s interesting upbringing has played a huge part in his confidence and ability to self motivate, balance work and life, as well as see the good in all things.
Takeaway
This episode highlights how vital it is to make time each day to do something you love.
Find out how Zach has created a position that makes him happy and hear his recommendations on how you can do the same.
Links
Follow Zach on Insta: @zqfilm + DM him if you’re looking for content creation
Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com