As 2022 draws to an end we have taken the opportunity to pull out our personal highlights of Season 3. Over the last 22 episodes, we have had an array of guests from all over the globe, sharing their stories, their highs and lows and their most challenging client request. I don’t think our guests realise just how inspiring their stories are to others in the industry and especially to those listeners who are trying to get into the private sector. Learning how other people have carved their career really helps others plan their own route through the industry.

I personally have loved every minute of hosting this podcast. As the Founder & MD, I don’t often get the opportunity to talk to candidates on a day-to-day basis and it’s invaluable to me, as an agency owner, to have a true understanding of the current marketplace. As an agency, we are obsessed with adding value to the private sector and hearing from people within the industry first-hand enables us to ensure our service offering and various initiatives are what people actually need!

I would like to thank everyone who has listened to the podcast over the last 3 years along with everyone who has given me their time to come and be a guest and share their story. This podcast would be nothing without you!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from us all at Silver Swan xx

Silver Swan is excited to launch our training services in partnership with Mathieu Barbe at Service Excellence Training. We have onboarded the highly experienced Mathieu as our in-house trainer here at Silver Swan and we now offer on-site bespoke training for all our clients worldwide. We are huge believers in the power of training and hiring good people is not enough if you want a highly effective team, it is essential that there is an effective onboarding and training program in place also.

Today we delve into Mathieu’s extensive career working with UNHW clients worldwide from cruise ships to super yachts to private residences and large events. There isn’t much he hasn’t done and his transition into training has enabled him to train some fantastic teams in some incredible locations. If you have a newly hired team then they will all be great individually but they won’t work cohesively without any kind of training to bring everyone’s experiences together to form a standardised level of service. Equally, if you have a well-established team, don’t underestimate the importance of regular upskilling of your staff. We recommend annual training for well-established teams to keep things fresh, enhance skills and keep staff engaged and developing.

Silver Swan can now offer tailored training programs depending on your needs.

Today we talk with Jarryd who is a member of our Palace Manager community in the UAE. He is embarking on a very exciting new challenge where he and his wife will be managing a very large VIP residence in Dubai. 

Jarryd started his journey in the private staffing sector after spending 5 years working at an incredibly luxurious and gloriously beautiful safari resort in South Africa. They ran a very impressive portfolio of lodges alongside a large team whilst working closely with many UHNWs who were visiting on holiday. 

This prompted them to make the move into private staffing where they took on a domestic couple position for a client in India. They’ve done such an incredible job they are now working for the same family but in Dubai. 

We are looking forward to hearing more about his journey and learning about any future employment opportunities he’s going to have moving forward for those looking for work. 

Thank you to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems who has launched a new service called Private Service Support Team (PSST). They provide all the systems, tools, and support for the private service industry. From online systems, do-it-yourself training modules, and now, her recently launched membership platform to support the private service professional. 

Use discount code LIFEINPRIVATESTAFFING25 to receive a 25% discount.

Silver Swan has recently launched a concierge company to offer not only dedicated service to our UHNW clients but to offer support to our fabulous House/Estate Manager communities. These roles are already challenging without the last-minute or often crazy requests of the Principals – you are no longer alone! Instead of feeling that you need to find a way to make the impossible happen, just email [email protected] and we’ll help.

Powered by the incredible, global team at The Atlas Club, the service is truly 24/7 with no request being too big or too small. Today we invite Lisa, one of the co-founders of The Atlas Club to come and discuss how the company came about and what their service offering includes. Lisa alongside her equally fabulous business partner Ciara, has been providing a lifestyle management service to many UHNW individuals and families worldwide for the last 10+ years.

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

Today we are talking to a highly experienced European private chef who was one of the lucky ones to win a green card through the green card lottery and move over to New York. His story is inspiring having worked his way up from the literal bottom of the kitchen ladder up through the ranks in Michelin kitchens before transitioning over to the private sector when in New York. He has now been working for the last 10 years as a private chef and shares his views on how the role of a chef changes when you make that transition.

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

We are often asked whether formal Butler training is essential for a successful career as a private butler, today we have Thomas on the show who has been working as a Butler Trainer all around the world for many years. We discuss what a typical course looks like, what you can expect and what content is included. It’s interesting to hear his insights on working as Butler in Europe versus China. He also has lots of experience working with UHNW clients himself so understands the industry inside out. Thomas is looking for his next challenge, so feel free to reach out to him if you are looking for a trainer like Thomas!

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

Today we’re talking to the fabulous Weber who has been working in the US in the private sector for a huge chunk of his career. With a background in interior design, he learnt all about the world of the UHNW clients and built a strong network over the years of designing. It was from here where he pivoted his career into the full management of his clients’ personal lives. He has worked for a number of reputable people over the years, managing small teams to large teams, managing small estates to large estates. He is a member of our Florida estate manager community and so is well and truly now part of our Silver Swan family!

Apologies in advance for the poor sound quality of this episode.

We’re heading stateside again today to speak with Alec, an Estate Manager based in Los Angeles. He built his strong hospitality career through F&B in restaurants and hotels before moving into property management. It was this role which opened him up to the private sector industry and specifically the world of estate managers. He moved over from Florida to LA to pursue an Estate Management career. We are always fascinated to hear the stories of how people transition into the sector in the hope that it helps others who are looking to make a similar transition. We discuss the life of an estate manager and why he plans to do it for many years to come.

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

Today Philippa talks with a British chef who has worked his way up from basement kitchens to luxury ski chalets into private homes. A lot of guests we speak to talk about how they would never now return to a commercial kitchen having now experienced a career within the private industry….but not Sam. Philippa and Sam discuss the pros but also the cons associated with working with UHNW clients (of which there are many, as we all know!) and why Sam still regularly works in restaurants. In fact, opening and running new restaurants ensures he continues to learn and develop his skill set which he struggles to do as effectively when working alone in a private kitchen.

Supplier shout out is – Wellocks which is a national fresh food supplier and who supplies all the best restaurants. Then also Bethnal Green Fish who every private chef based in London should use!

Thanks also to our sponsor Kelly Dixon at Estate Management Systems with a NEW product available. HOW TO MANAGE A MANSION training course is now available split into 11 separate $250 modules enabling you to pick and choose the modules that are most relevant to your role. Use code LIFE25 to receive a 25% discount.

Our guest today is part of our fabulous Florida estate manager community based over in Palm Beach and today she talks to Philippa about her fairly recent entry to the private sector where she was able to take her high levels of service experience from the commercial sector and step straight into house management. She is incredibly passionate about her work and wishes she discovered the private sector years ago! However she proves its never too late to pursue a new career path and whilst she is on a steep learning curve she is loving every minute.