Challenging University Podcast

Challenging University Podcast

By Toni KentBusinessEntrepreneurshipEducationSelf-ImprovementCareers
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Challenging University Podcast episodes

  • bonus episode - education

    Wondering what spurs me on to produce this podcast? Well, this is a good place to start :)

    Here's five minutes on what happened when I discovered my dad had terminal cancer during my first year of GCSE's, why I realised working in a fruit and veg shop wasn't going to be the start of a beautiful career and what happened once I'd sat my A-levels.


    #childhoodbereavement #education #careers  

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 min
  • financial services and a five-year philosophy with Nigel Chambers
    Ever wondered what a Chief of Staff does? Or why setting a target to double your salary every five years is not about money?Nigel Chambers is Chief of Staff at the global foreign exchange services organisation XE. In this episode he talks about his early life on a council estate and how going to the pub with less money than his friends steered him away from college but into an even better opportunity - that of a paid traineeship at TSB Trust Company.Despite being a straight-A student who was also good at sport, Nigel didn't experience pressure from his parents or school to go to university but he was instilled with an impressive work ethic and a world view that nothing was beyond his reach. After establishing himself within the financial services industry, he took a two-year sabbatical before returning and hitting the accelerate button with an incredible five year philosophy that - if you only take one thing away from this episode - will provide you with a brilliant technique for your own career planning.Touching on topics that include social mobility, elitism, peer influences and what it means to break the 'six-figure salary' barrier, Nigel provides valuable insights and personal anecdotes on what it takes to build an interesting, enjoyable, successful financial services career. #financialservices #careerpodcast #careerstories #careerinsights #chiefofstaff

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  • from shop floor to building a successful fashion brand with Nayna McIntosh

    What does it take to go from being a 'Saturday Girl' at M&S to establishing a successful women's fashion brand?

    To answer that question, I'm joined by Nayna McIntosh, CEO and Founder of womenswear label Hope Fashion.

    From recounting her parents' reactions when she failed to achieve the A-level results needed to go to university, to feeling like her gender and race meant she didn't fit on the management team of one of the UK's biggest high street stores, Nayna shares her experiences of going from the shop floor to shaking up how fashion is positioned to women over 50.

    There's great advice on what to look out for when embarking on a retail career, insights into why Next organising its collections by colour was quite so revolutionary and the approach she took when it came to securing the all-important funding.

    Nayna also shares some history behind the brand, explains why falling out with big characters is nothing to be afraid of and highlights why putting the customer first is a strategic priority - not a throwaway sentence.

    If you've ever wondered where a retail career could take you or want to hear about the possibilities of a post-corporate career, this episode is for you. To learn more about the brand, check out https://hopefashion.co.uk/

    #retailcareers #fashioncareers #careerpodcast #careeradvice

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  • it's got to be possible - right? with Shaun Frohlich
    If your name was on a list of test results pinned to a board, would you look from the top down or the bottom up?* In this very special episode, business founder and non-executive director Shaun Frohlich shares a wealth of stories and insights into what has taken him from a "square-bashing school" that he couldn't wait to get away from to a position where today he's helped dozens of business leaders to successfully increase and realise the value in their organisations. From his earliest beginnings of being adopted by highly academic parents (and his father's experiences as an escapee German Jew), Shaun tells a truly compelling story of embracing possibilities and playing to your strengths.Shaun shares an incredible array of teaching moments which include being the butt of the practical joke played on new kitchen staff; realising the boss is on the fiddle; learning what it means when a company "goes bust", deciding where to work based on what's in the car park and negotiating with HR when you've already got thirty years' experience of running organisations that turn over millions.We also talk about how dyslexia impacted Shaun's schooling, why he ran away from a lovely home to find his own way and how his view on education and the world of work informed his hopes for his children.This is a wide-ranging and uplifting conversation, full of laughter and honesty. I really hope you enjoy the listen.*If you look from the bottom up, this episode is definitely for you :)#entrepreneur #lifestories #careerstories #careerpodcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 2 min
  • entrepreneurialism and intention with Kris Britton
    What is it that makes a successful entrepreneur? For Kris Britton it's all about intention. From organising a show-stopping event to raise money for charity at secondary school (attracting so much attention his parents had to secure a credit card machine) to creating a beauty business that supplied to major tv news outlets aged just 18, Kris has always set self-limiting beliefs to one side. Today, as co-founder and director of marketing agency, KAYBE, Kris translates his passion into serious results that inspire others. In this interview, we discuss how Kris's early experiences influence his hiring practices, why intentional short steps make for great career moves and the power of helping people realise they have the answers to their own questions. We also talk about balance, giving back with a school for start ups and The Samaritans and why you need to know the phrase 'Brain, Buddy, Boss'. To find out more about KAYBE, head to https://homeof.kaybe.co.uk/ #entrepreneurlife #careerpodcast #careerstories #entrepreneurship

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  • daring to disrupt and Digital Gum with Louize Clarke
    When Louize Clarke changed the spelling of her name aged 12, it was clear that she was destined for a life of disruption. In this episode, Louize shares how setting out on a path of learning through experience led to her challenging the way recruitment gets done, taking on Tech Nation on the behalf of Thames Valley start-ups and creating a dedicated space where people from all walks of life build the digital skills capital they need to succeed. We also talk about what it takes to run a business with your partner and still stay sane, whether our own experiences of education shape what we want for our children and how bringing public and private sector organisations together can be like setting up a conversation between a cat and a dog! If you’re based in the Thames Valley and would like to build your own digital skills capital, you can find out more about what Louize’s skills hub, The Curious Lounge, has to offer here: https://www.thecuriouslounge.co.uk/learn #disruption #careerstories #careerspodcast #lifestories

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  • Pizza Express, Pride and partner marketing with Jack Blogg
    This episode with Jack Blogg offers an engaging, upbeat and interesting insight into what it takes to go from being a shift manager at Pizza Express to creating a career in technology marketing. Jack talks about coming out at 13, second year struggles at college and how hospitality feels like family. We discuss that moment when you realise how much you need to earn to rent your own place and the sense of dread that comes with making the switch from education to being out in the 'big wide world'. Today, Jack heads up Partner Marketing for the UK&I at one of the world’s largest software companies. It's a role that not only gives him incredible opportunity and responsibility, but also allows him to make a truly positive impact for his LGBTQ colleagues as part of their Pride ‘Power of Difference’ programme and community. You can read about why it's so important to him here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-pride-makes-me-proud-work-vmware-jack-blogg/   If you like this episode, please share it - I'd love to hear your feedback. #pride #careerstories #careerspodcast #lifestories #marketingcareers 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  • from childcare professional to founding an award-winning charity with Sarah Burns MBE
    How do you go from starting your professional life as a nursery nurse to founding an award-winning charity that's helped close to one thousand women enter the workforce? As the daughter of parents who held academia in extremely high regard, Sarah Burns MBE wasn't sure where life would take her after having to re-sit her exams. Sarah talks openly about how it feels to be pre-judged on the basis of your siblings' performance, the impact of moving countries during the last two years of her studies and the power of transferable skills in helping her make the switch from childcare to a career in software before truly making her mark in the charity sector.  Sarah was awarded an MBE in 2019 for her services to charity and in 2021 Smart Works Reading was awarded the highest accolade a charity can receive: the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. If you are, or know someone who would benefit from the services that Smart Works Reading has to offer head to: https://reading.smartworks.org.uk/  If you live outside of the Thames Valley, you can find your nearest Smart Works centre at www.smartworks.org.uk #careerpodcast #careerstories #charitycareers

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  • finding happiness in the housing sector with Nina Egge'Daborn

    What does it take to carve a successful career in housing? How about combining that with running your own business?


    Nina Egge'Daborn is an Aftercare Specialist at VIVID, a leading provider of affordable homes and housing-related services in the south of England. She also runs her own business in partnership with her husband.


    In this episode Nina shares her experiences of education in the UK and USA, describes her first steps on the career ladder as an 'Office Under Manager' at a solicitors, and explains how her experiences have shaped the career choices of her children.


    Nina offers insights on the opportunities that exist within the UK housing sector for young, bright people and those who are seeking a return to work after taking a career break. She also speaks candidly about the experience of her dad dying during the first year of her GCSEs and how running a business with her husband has added yet another string to her already extremely busy bow.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  • Intro

    Welcome to university, challenged. A podcast that challenges the notion that in order to have a successful, interesting, rewarding career, you have to go to university.

    This 60 second intro covers what the show's about and what you can expect.

    Got a story you'd like to tell? Connect with me on LinkedIn.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2 min

About Challenging University Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The podcast that uses inspiring career stories to challenge the idea that you have to go to university straight out of school if you want to get on in life.


#careerspodcast #lifestories…