Challenging University Podcast

When you've got a flourishing career with a leading consulting firm, why would you leave to start a Community Interest Company?

Tayo Adesina is the Founder and CEO of Trash Gxng, an organisation that addresses the issues of social isolation via creative programmes that build community and give a voice to youth who may otherwise be excluded from social and workplace opportunities.

In our conversation, Tayo talks about:

* How the loss of his friend David to suicide brought his purpose into sharp focus

* Why young people are not currently served by existing structures

* The power of combining soft skills training with tangible outcomes

* How you can get involved

This is a truly inspiring episode. To find out more about Tayo's work (and how to get your hands on some incredible merch designed by the young people who participate in the programme) head to: www.trashgxng.co.uk

To connect with Tayo on LinkedIn, follow this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olutayoadesina/

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How do you create an entirely unique career based on your life's experiences? And how do you end up advising government bodies, global leaders and policy-makers when you haven't got a degree?

Beth Britton is an award-winning content creator, consultant, trainer, campaigner and speaker who specialises in the field of elderly care with a specific focus on dementia.

In this episode, Beth speaks movingly about:

* Bullying and being home-schooled

* Her father's dementia and the path to diagnosis

* Combining work and study with helping to care for her dad

* Campaigning for better understanding and outcomes

* Being filmed for the G8 Summit and becoming a renowned expert

Alongside her own incredible story, Beth provides a mini masterclass in how to be successful as a freelancer!

To learn more about Beth's work - and to see her G8 film - head to the following links:

G8 Film: https://youtu.be/8QAKEgQMOcU

Website: https://bethbritton.com

D4Dementia blog: http://d4dementia.com

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If you leave university two years into your degree, does it mean it's all been a waste? Not for Sam Darling!

After a frank conversation with his tutor revealed he had earned enough credits to secure a HND, Sam left university and continued a career story that had started at the age of 16.

Having already gained vast amounts of work experience (and co-authored a popular book), Sam knew that industry was moving faster than the speed of his degree course - and that opportunities to grow were there for the taking.

In our wide-ranging conversation we discuss:

* Growing up in an RAF family and feeling out of place at boarding school

* The value of an early dyslexia diagnosis and support

* Why professional qualifications should be a priority

* Switching seamlessly between the worlds of cycling and cyber security

* Why top Government and security organisations are actively seeking neuro-diverse people (and how to spot their ads)

This episode is a fantastic example of how leaving a degree course needn't mean time wasted, and the vast opportunity that exists in a rapidly growing sector.

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How does it feel when you've won a place at uni, but you are intimidated by the social and cultural capital that surrounds you for the first time? And what does it take to help co-ordinate a new collaboration around solicitor apprenticeships in the City of London led by the Chair of the CLLS Training Committee?

Jo Hughes is the founder of Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships, an organisation that helps law firms and in-house legal counsel to set up solicitor apprenticeship programmes that attract and retain aspiring young legal professionals from outside of the traditional university graduate route.

In our conversation we discuss:

* How it feels when your background does not match that of most of your university peers

* Why solicitor apprenticeships are vital in expanding access to top legal careers 

* How solicitor apprenticeships benefit individuals and law firms alike

* What results are already being seen

To find out more about Jo's organisation, head to: https://joannahughes.co.uk/.

To keep up-to-date with the '#CityCentury' law firm collaboration around solicitor apprenticeships at: CLLS Training Committee: Overview | LinkedIn

For aspiring solicitor apprentices, the young legal professionals that Jo recommends following can be found on Instagram at:

Maia - My Legal Career: https://www.instagram.com/mylegalcareer/?hl=en

Holly - That Law Blog: https://www.instagram.com/thatlawblog/?hl=en

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If you've got university offers on the table for a degree in the career of your childhood dreams and you decide that uni is no longer for you - does it mean the dream is over? Not for Charlotte Gray!

Work experience in a veterinary practice post A-levels proved to her that she wanted to immerse herself in the day-to-day life of caring for animals rather than spending three years at university.

In this episode, Charlotte illustrates a route into veterinary nursing that isn't often talked about at school, demonstrates the value of getting that first foot in the door and proves the power of an apprenticeship.

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How do you go from a career at sea to riding the crest of the technology wave all the way to the cloud? And how do you go from setting your sights on the top job to carving a path that will get you there?

In this interview, John shares his career story which takes in:

• • Setting off to sea aged just 16
• • Becoming a Master Mariner by the age of 26
• • Charting a whole new course in IT hardware as an IBM sales apprentice aged 30
• • Switching into software as a specialist at Microsoft
• • Exploring the world of ISV and Software Development
• • Creating a new chapter in Cloud in his 60s at AWS

John’s story is one of clarity and focus, of aiming high and hard work, and the power of a curious mind to sustain your career.

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When your secondary school is more focused on controlling your behaviour than understanding the root cause, and your headmistress tells you that you'll be "a failure" - how do you find the confidence and motivation to create success on your own terms and break some serious taboos?

In this episode, Emma-Jane Taylor shares her incredible career story which began with a whirlwind of dancing, temping, hairdressing and earning a living in Spain, to finding herself selling printer warranties.

Finding success in a 'normal' job proved to her that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. So Emma-Jane created a portfolio of wellbeing businesses including a dance school which has just celebrated its 23rd anniversary.

Then, six years ago, Emma-Jane revealed that she was a survivor of child sex abuse and, rather than it destroying her career, the revelation led to her becoming an author, advocate, media commentator and corporate trainer.

Today, Emma-Jane is championing a conversation which many people are reluctant to have. In doing so, she is making sure the voices of people who have suffered are being heard - and encouraging Government to better support victims while holding the perpetrators to account.

To find out more about Emma-Jane's work, head to: https://www.emmajanetaylor.com/

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When you’re set on either becoming either a merchant banker or a helicopter pilot as a teenager, how do you end up providing business consultancy to some of the largest mobile network operators in the world?

James Gray is the Founder and Managing Director of Graystone Strategy and Chairman of the charity Frontline Children. In this interview, James shares his career story which takes in:

• Running the top-performing branch of an electrical retailer by his mid-twenties

• Winning a car and flipping it for a Ferrari

• Meeting a film star while recording an advert

• Deleting his qualifications to secure an interview at Vodafone

• Learning how to operate in a global corporate and the skills he gained

• Experiencing redundancy twice within six months

• Deciding he never wanted a ‘proper job’ again!

11 years since that decision and today James is enjoying the freedom and challenge that running a consultancy brings. This includes using his skills to help Frontline Children deliver education to the most vulnerable young people - to the extent of creating secret schools in countries where the government is denying this basic need.

To find out more about James’ business or the charity that he supports, visit:

https://www.graystonestrategy.com/

https://www.frontlinechildren.org/

You can also connect with James on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvnoexpert/

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How do you go from selling Sky door-to-door to becoming co-founder of an organisation that trains people in the art of technology sales?

And how do you create your own vision of career success when your family believe that university is the only way?

Omar Sadik is Co-Founder of TrainYo - a disruptive start-up that is opening up the world of technology sales careers to everyone. For free. Regardless of socio-economic or educational background.

As a highly capable student, it was expected that Omar would go to university. And, despite realising a very early aptitude for sales, he bowed to pressure and enrolled to study a finance degree. It took less than a year for Omar to leave and throw himself into the boiler-room environment of advertising sales where he learned how to cope with going to the wire and what it took to bust-free of limiting beliefs.

Following a number of years in recruitment and executive search (and a few bust ups in between...) Omar saw the opportunity in technology sales and went for it. And discovered just how unfairly weighted towards graduates the process could be.

So he did something about it. And in this episode, he shares how TrainYo is going to change the SDR world - one Sales Development Representative at a time :)

To find out more about TrainYo, or to join their programme, visit: https://www.trainyo.com/

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What does it take to create an academy designed to fill a global skills gap? And how do you tackle the challenge of holding AI to account when you left education after your A-Levels?

Darren Timmins is CTO at Intuita, an organisation dedicated to finding value in data and driving positive change. In this episode, he shares how an early love of engineering plus the opportunity to participate in an academy at the National Coal Board put him on a path that saw him witness some of the biggest moments in the evolution of technology.

From the birth of the internet to automated warehouses, Darren has been deeply involved in applying the latest tech to a wide range of industries – and has now turned his talents to how we deal with software that tells us it knows the answers.

To learn more about the Intuita Academy – which provides training that is free at the point of access – please visit: https://www.intuitaconsulting.com/academy

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