Favourite Positions

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:

• Instagram
• 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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: [email protected] / [email protected]
• 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex 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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

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.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.