Long Story Short

A spot light on the teaching profession.

We have heard in the news about the high pressures facing teachers, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. I am sure you will agree with me that all key workers are doing a marvellous job during these unprecedented times.

Just recently we heard in the news that the UK Prime Minister welcomed a significant uplift in key public sector roles (2/1/21). For example, the commitment to recruit 41,000 new trainee teachers in 2020 will be ramped up throughout 2021.

Joining us today my friend and special guest Natalie Robb, will be sharing her career journey and talking about her current role as - Head of Media Studies & Lead English Practitioner within a London secondary school.

After successfully completing her A'Levels at the Brit School in acting and theatre studies, Natalie went onto university to study English Literature, Publishing and Media. During her final year of university, Natalie worked as a Teaching Assistant; it was here her passion and love of teaching developed. After carrying out various roles within the media industry, she embarked upon her teacher training programme at the Institute of Education.

Over the last 12 years Natalie has undertaken the following roles: Head of KS3 English, Deputy Head of Sixth form, Head of English, and now her current role as Head of Media Studies and Lead Practitioner of English.

For more information about the teaching profession check out:

www.getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

www.ucas.com

www.prospects.ac.uk

Connect with Natalie online:

Instagram: readingguardians

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels here:

Instagram

Facebook

Thank you for listening.

Take good care of yourself!

Sophia x

Thinking about a career move into the world of Digital Marketing? 

A booming industry which needs creative talent! The NHS, Museum of London, Warner Bros and Sweaty Betty are all currently recruiting (updated 12th January 2021).

In this episode I speak with Midyaan McPherson - Creative Director @ McPherson Marketing & Sales Solutions. He runs a successful digital marketing agency and we had an insightful conversation about his career journey, ambitions and entrepreneurial activities within digital marketing and creating awesome campaigns for his clients.

Midyaan successfully completed his Joint Honours Bachelor degree in Business & Sport Studies and started his career in a German tech start-up based in Cologne as an Executive Assistant.

Equipped with passion and vision, Midyaan started McPherson Marketing & Sales Solutions months before he graduated which has now been running for two years.

Check out his business socials:

Facebook:   mcphersonmarketingsolutions

Instagram: mcphersonmarketingsolutions

Website:     https://mcpherson-marketing.co.uk

For careers information check out:

https://targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/it-and-technology/112-how-do-i-get-into-a-career-in-it

https://www.udemy.com

https://www.diversityintech.co.uk/

https://www.ada.ac.uk/

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/information-technology

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels here:

Instagram

Facebook

Thank you for listening.

Take good care of yourself!

Sophia

How are you doing today? If you need any help, please speak to someone. Check out links below for help and support. x

For this episode we focus on mental health and showcase The Mindbubbles Project, founded by my long time friend, Educator and Mindfulness Practitioner Stephen Ismail Thomas.

Stephen is a mindfulness teacher and Director of The Mindbubbles Project. 

He is a certified M.I.S.P mindfulness teacher, delivering mindfulness programmes in primary and secondary schools. As well as working with young people in the workplace.

He has a social responsibility to help young people develop emotional intelligence through mindfulness practice and has been working with young people in educational settings and social housing for over 16 years.

We had a great chat about a range of things, including:

Check out Stephen's business socials here:

Website:    https://www.mindbubbles.co.uk/

LinkedIn:    Stephen Ismail Thomas  

Instagram: mindbubblesproject 

Twitter:       https://twitter.com/mettamindbubble

YouTube:   search for mindbubbles project

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd8gErtO53f5eS8CC8nqDLg

For careers & training information check out:

https://www.londonmindful.com

https://mindfulnessinschools.org/

https://mindfulnessinschools.org/teach-paws-b/paws-b-curriculum/

https://mindfulnessinschools.org/teach-dot-b/

Mental Health Support:

https://www.mindbubbles.co.uk/

https://www.cmckenzietalks.com/

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.rethink.org/

https://youngminds.org.uk/

The music featured in this episode (Roy Ayers, Everybody Loves The Sunshine) is not my own. 

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (JTR Bootleg)[Liondub Free Download]  

To download: https://soundcloud.com/liondubinternational/roy-ayers-everybody-loves-the-sunshine-jtr-bootlegliondub-free-download

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels here:

Instagram

Facebook

Take good care of yourself.

Sophia

How are you doing today? If you need any help, please speak to someone. See links below for help and support. x

For this episode we focus on mental health and showcase an essential specialist service founded during the coronavirus pandemic - The Carol McKenzie Talk Service.

My guest Carol McKenzie, founded this service, which offers therapeutic informed programmes for vulnerable and at risk children, young people and families. As a Therapeutic and Systemic Practitioner with a training background in Social Work, Carol draws on an extensive professional background in education and social care and is committed to improving mental well-being for children, young people and families.

Carol also views herself as a survivor of developmental trauma having lived through chronic childhood illness and hospitalisation. Born and raised in Hackney, East London she reflects on the ways these adverse experiences impacted her well-being and capacity to achieve her potential within mainstream education. 

In 2016, Carol embarked on further post-graduate professional training in mental health. Through the renowned Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust, she engaged in an intensive multi-disciplinary programme of mental health and clinical training, specialising in adolescents. Thereafter, developing her clinical work with families through Systemic training. In recent years, she has undertaken a number of clinical placements, therapeutic informed counselling and mentoring work with children and young people within schools, looked after children services and amongst families referred by local authorities.

In 2020 Carol became the founder and Director of Carol McKenzie Talk Service, offering three distinct therapeutic informed programmes for vulnerable and at risk children, young people and families. These being; Talk2Grow Youth Counselling, Talk2Grow Family Plus Programme and Talk2Grow Mentoring. Carol’s mission is to increase opportunities for children, young people and families to overcome barriers to potential, applying tools for strengthening individual and family functioning. She applies a client centred approach to services focus on raising aspirations, empowerment, strengthening families and mental well-being.

Carol sees her greatest achievements being a mother of 3 awesome adult children and 5 grandchildren.

Business Socials:

Website:    https://www.cmckenzietalks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolmckenzietalkservice/

For careers & qualification information check out:

https://www.bacp.co.uk/

https://mhfaengland.org/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/

Mental Health Support:

https://www.cmckenzietalks.com/

https://www.mindbubbles.co.uk

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.rethink.org/

https://youngminds.org.uk/

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

Covid generation: UK youth unemployment ‘set to triple to 80s levels’. (The Guardian 7.10.20)

Shocking, these are the type of headlines we are now seeing amid rising concerns over job losses.

The Resolution Foundation warns that young people could be lost due to long periods out of work.

It is my aim that this episode will truly encourage young people to keep pushing through and not to give up on their dream careers. With coronavirus redundancies hitting those aged 16-24 the hardest, my guest Renee Lewis provides a great insight into her role as an Advanced (HR Talent/ Associate) Apprentice.

Renee speaks with such passion about her apprenticeship role, as well as talking through her beauty business which was set up during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. 

 We had such an engaging conversation about:

Here is a little bit about Renee…

I am 21 years old and have been working in HR for nearly 2 years. My first exposure to Human Resources was in 2018 when I started an advanced apprenticeship. From having my first ever HR role, this allowed me to attain many key skills.

During the coronavirus pandemic and alongside my apprenticeship role, I have joined forces with my best friend to start a beauty / make up business called Paradise Parloure selling Siberian Mink Lashes.

Business socials below:

https://paradise-parloure.myshopify.com

instagram: paradiseparloure

For qualification and careers information check out:

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/Choices/Apprenticeships.aspx

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

Thank you for listening.

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

For Episode 5 (recorded August 2020), Andre Dalphinis shares his career journey, working within post 16 education. Alongside his teaching role Andre set up a Caribbean rum punch brand called Bay Noir, which is inspired by St. Lucia’s spices, culture and vibrancy.

I must say this is the best rum punch I have tasted by far! A must buy!

After finishing his A Levels Andre, attended university and studied Law, with it already in mind to teach Law. He completed his Law degree and worked in the Legal field before taking on a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) within post compulsory education in 2009-2010 at The Institute of Education. Since then, he has passionately taught Law, while delivering other subjects such as Business and Politics.

Find Andre’s social below:

Instagram: bay_noir_rp

Website: www.baynoir.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

For qualification and careers information check out:

www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

www.prospects.ac.uk

www.et-foundation.co.uk

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

Dennis Brown sings ‘Money in my pocket, but I just can’t get no love’.

Jessie J sings that ‘It’s not about the money, money, money.”

It’s all about the numbers and cash, where my guest Christina Frett shares her career journey as a Treasury Manager for episode 4.

Christina is a treasury professional with over 10 years of operational experience from a diverse range of industries including advertising & marketing, oil & gas, financial services and business support.

In her current role she oversees the management of cash and foreign exchange activities for Omnicom. Her main skillset includes foreign exchange management, cash management, credit risk analysis and regulatory reporting. She is highly skilled in problem solving, finding process improvements and counterparty management.

I hope you enjoy listening to Christina’s inspiring careers journey and have gained an insight into the role of a Treasury Manager.

Check out Christina’s impressive career history www.linkedin.com/in/christina-frett

For qualification and careers information check out:

https://www.treasurers.org/

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

It was with great pleasure that Elishua McPherson joined me on the Employability Matters Podcast. 

We had an insightful conversation about his career journey, ambition and entrepreneurial activities within the IT/ Tech industry.

I hope you enjoy listening to Elishua’s inspiring careers journey and have gained an insight into the role of a Senior Devops Engineer/ IT Consultant.

Check out Elishua’s impressive career history https://www.linkedin.com/in/elishua-mcpherson-a4735998/

Find his socials below:

https://www.instagram.com/servicemeit/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/serviceme-it-7b748a162/

https://www.servicemeit.com

Instagram: knowledgefinderedu

LinkedIn: knowledgefinderedu

http://knowledge-finder.co.uk/

For qualification and careers information check out:

https://targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/it-and-technology/112-how-do-i-get-into-a-career-in-it

https://www.diversityintech.co.uk/

https://www.ada.ac.uk/

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/information-technology

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

It was with great pleasure that Nadia Dalphinis (Creator behind Super Sentimental) joined me on the Employability Matters Podcast, where we had an engaging and insightful conversation about her career journey as a self taught Illustrator.

Apologies for the audio at the beginning. I am learning everyday. 

Here is a little bit about Nadia, in her own words…

"Hi, i’m Nadia Dalphinis, the creator behind ‘Super Sentimental’. I am a self taught visual artist who illustrates children’s literature, designs greeting cards, prints and apparel. I am obsessed with bold colours and prints. My work showcases the beauty of men, women and children from the African Diaspora and aims to create an awareness of African culture. I have been drawing since the age of 5 and after pursuing teaching as a progression I’ve decided to return to my first love of Art exclusively."

I must say, her work is absolutely first class!

Find Nadia's socials below:

Instagram: super_sentimental

Instagram: nadia_nouveau

Facebook: Super Sentimental

LinkedIn: Nadia Dalphinis

Website: supersentimental.bigcartel.com

For qualification and careers information check out:

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/illustrator

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs/job-profile/illustrator

https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/illustration/discover/become-professional-illustrator.html

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia

Following on from part one, I am so excited to bring to you PART TWO of the conversation. 

Coach Chris Browne shares his career journey as a Performance Coach and Public Speaker, as well as provides useful career guidance and information about his occupation.

You will gain an insight into a typical day of a Performance Coach, soft skills required for this role and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his industry.

Remember you can view a clip of the conversation at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClXf2X4sKqulnPf3dGBXW7g/

Join the conversation and community online through our social channels:

ICAN PD Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube    

Find Coach Chris Browne socials below.

Instagram: @coachchrisbrowne

Twitter: @chrisbrowne23

YouTube: 2inspirechange 4u

Website: https://www.coachchrisbrowne.com/

For qualification and careers information check out:

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/

https://www.centreforcoaching.com/

https://www.cpcab.co.uk/qualifications/lcs-l3

To Your Success. Employability Matters!

Sophia