The Ascent

By Ben Efstathis

Join host Ben Efstathis on 'The Ascent,' a podcast where professionals share their unique career journeys. From the ups and downs to the twists and turns, our guests offer a behind-the-scenes look at ... more

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FAQs about The Ascent:

How many episodes does The Ascent have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.

The Ascent episodes:

June 22, 2023Ep. 15 | A Career of Reinvention: Zack Fischer on Tennis, Music Artist Management, Wall Street Sales, and Food Industry Management
Join me today, as I speak to Zack Fischer, a Project Manager for Flavour Makers as we discuss his incredibly diverse career pursuing professional tennis, working in the music industry, making it in the intense world of Wall Street sales, and finally finding stability in the food industry in Australia.
In our wide-ranging conversation, we discuss:
His diverse professional journey and how he turned his back problems into career opportunities.

The rigorous work-life balance of Wall Street and how it shaped his career and personal perspectives.

How he managed to navigate career transitions across multiple industries and countries.

His role at Flavor Makers and becoming a Project Manager.

His unique approach to analysing the music industry and the creation of a predictive algorithm for song success.

His distinctive sales strategy that led to increased response rates and success on Wall Street.

Got questions, or want to be on the podcast?
You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Or email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 41min
June 12, 2023Ep 14. | Empowering the Fearless: Alex Connor on Fitness, Adversity, and Building a Successful Personal Training Business
In today's episode, Ben invites Alex Connor, the founder of Fearless Training, to share his fascinating journey from dreaming of being a Formula One driver to running a successful personal training business. Tune in for a compelling story filled with insights on pursuing your passion, overcoming obstacles, and the importance of mentorship in one's career journey.

What we discussed:
Early Influences: Alex's childhood aspirations and how adversity sparked his interest in fitness

Academic Choices: The decision to study sports science and its impact on his career trajectory.

Navigating Life Abroad: Personal and professional challenges faced after relocating to Australia.

Workplace Challenges: Dealing with toxic work environments and making bold career decisions.

Mentorship and Skill Development: The significance of mentorship in Alex's career and his evolution in the hospitality and sales sector.

Entrance into Bodybuilding: His journey into competitive bodybuilding in 2018 and the development of success-enabling habits.

Industry Hurdles: Navigating through regulations and insurance obstacles in the fitness industry.

Fearless Training: The conception and growth plan of Alex's personal training business.

Reflections and Future Goals: Alex's reflections on his career decisions, learning, and future plans for Fearless Training.

Got questions, or want to be on the podcast?
You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Or email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 38min
June 02, 2023Ep 13. Part 2. | Shifting Gears: Operations Management & Climbing the Corporate Ladder with Fleet & Allocation Coordinator for ANZ at Tesla Renee Shaw
Today, join me as I talk with Renee Shaw, the Fleet and Allocation Coordinator at Tesla for ANZ.

Renee shares her eclectic career journey, starting from a fruit market job at age 12, working at Vodafone, and a significant shift into real estate before landing at Tesla. We discuss the complex realities of striving for success, including the promotion process and her personal struggle with burnout. We reflected on the role of ego and work ethic in her career offering valuable insights into navigating career changes, recognizing burnout, and understanding the dynamics of professional growth.

This is part two of a two part podcast.

What we discussed:
Renee's Early Years: Renee discusses her journey from starting work at a fruit market at age 12, to enrolling in university after taking a gap year, and eventually securing a well-paying job at Vodafone.

Education and Career Shift: Renee shares her experience studying law & psychology in the pursuit of forensic psychology and her realization of its competitive nature and limited job prospects. We discussed her transition into real estate and property management, and digital marketing leading her to her current job at Tesla.

Job Success and Promotion: The cost of success and the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder.

Dealing with Burnout: Renee delves into her personal experience with burnout, how difficult it can be to recognise, and the struggle of feeling unfulfilled in a job.

Joining Tesla: Renee shares the story of how she applied to Tesla despite not meeting all the criteria and her journey from Operations Manager to her current role.

Reflecting on Work Ethic and Ego: Renee closes the episode by reflecting on her work ethic and how her ego has played a part in some of her career decisions. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing these aspects for career advancement and personal fulfillment.

Got questions, or want to be on the podcast?
You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Or email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 60min
June 02, 2023Ep 13. Part 1. | Shifting Gears: Operations Management & Climbing the Corporate Ladder with Fleet & Allocation Coordinator for ANZ at Tesla Renee Shaw
Today, join me as I talk with Renee Shaw, the Fleet and Allocation Coordinator at Tesla for ANZ.

Renee shares her eclectic career journey, starting from a fruit market job at age 12, working at Vodafone, and a significant shift into real estate before landing at Tesla. We discuss the complex realities of striving for success, including the promotion process and her personal struggle with burnout. We reflected on the role of ego and work ethic in her career offering valuable insights into navigating career changes, recognizing burnout, and understanding the dynamics of professional growth.

This is part one of a two part podcast.

What we discussed:
Renee's Early Years: Renee discusses her journey from starting work at a fruit market at age 12, to enrolling in university after taking a gap year, and eventually securing a well-paying job at Vodafone.

Education and Career Shift: Renee shares her experience studying law & psychology in the pursuit of forensic psychology and her realization of its competitive nature and limited job prospects. We discussed her transition into real estate and property management, and digital marketing leading her to her current job at Tesla.

Job Success and Promotion: The cost of success and the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder.

Dealing with Burnout: Renee delves into her personal experience with burnout, how difficult it can be to recognise, and the struggle of feeling unfulfilled in a job.

Joining Tesla: Renee shares the story of how she applied to Tesla despite not meeting all the criteria and her journey from Operations Manager to her current role.

Reflecting on Work Ethic and Ego: Renee closes the episode by reflecting on her work ethic and how her ego has played a part in some of her career decisions. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing these aspects for career advancement and personal fulfillment.

Got questions, or want to be on the podcast?
You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
If you'd like to be on the podcast and talk about your career experience or have a question, please email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 49min
May 25, 2023Ep 12. | Battling in the Web Design Arena with Accredited Shopify Expert Clayton Bates
Today, join me as I speak to Clayton, a self-taught web designer and certified Shopify Expert who shares how he started his business, the lessons he learned, and his advice for others looking to get into web design. He emphasizes the importance of working on oneself, backing oneself, and being true to oneself. Clayton also shares some tips on how to deal with clients and how to compete in the arena of web design.

We discussed:
Clayton Bates' Early Career (02:43-05:25)

Starting a Web Design and Development Business (05:25-10:43)

Challenges and Lessons Learned in Running a Business (10:43-48:57)

Clayton Bates' Design Process (48:57-51:37)

The Importance of Communication and Managing Client Expectations (51:37-1:01:18)

Clayton Bates' Business Philosophy and Future Plans (1:01:18-1:17:18)

You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
If you'd like to be on the podcast and talk about your career experience or have a question, please email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 18min
May 14, 2023Ep 11. | Shaping Visions: Charles Sheng on Leaving Accounting to Pursue Videography, Childhood Lessons & Visualising Goals
Today, join me as I speak to my friend Charles Sheng, an Accountant turned Videographer as he discusses his unique journey.

We explored numerous subjects from:
Our early childhood & high school years

The realisation he hated accounting

Young adulthood and our learnings

Thoughts on raising kids

The skills of interviewing & communicating

Why he decided to pursue Videography

Goal setting, & visualising philosophies

You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠
If you'd like to be on the podcast and talk about your career experience or have a question, please email me at: [email protected]
...more
2h 4min
April 19, 2023Ep 10. | Creative Crossroads: Ash Jackson on Band Life, Streetwear Success, and Capturing the World Through a Lens
Today, join me as I speak to my friend Ash Jackson, a professional photographer, previous musician, and entrepreneur.

We spoke about:
What it's really like to be part of a band, including the challenges and rewards of striving to make it as a live musician.

Transitioning into the streetwear game and figuring out to run an ecommerce brand.

Moving into professional photography & growing a passion into a full-time career

How to navigate the ‘business side’ of being a creative professional

You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠
If you'd like to be on the podcast and talk about your career experience or have a question, please email me at: [email protected]
...more
2h 16min
April 05, 2023Ep 9. | Educating the Next Generation: A Candid Conversation on Primary School Teaching with Rory Hitchcock
Today, join me as I speak to my good friend & flatmate, Primary School Teacher Rory Hitchcock (or Baz).

We discussed:
What drove him to become a primary school teacher

If teaching was what he expected it to be

The realities of teaching young children, the human cost & toll as a profession

The rewarding aspects & challenges of the job

His involvement in surf lifesaving, rugby & numerous sporting clubs and how that’s helped him

His experience & opinion on taking a gap year

Whether teachers are paid fairly, and the how paying teachers more could impact the education system

Addressing gaps in the curriculum and teaching things like financial literacy & confidence

What’s the same & what’s different in school compared to when we went to school (8-9 years ago)

You can connect with me at:
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠
If you'd like to be on the podcast and talk about your career experience or have a question, please email me at: [email protected]
...more
2h 6min
March 28, 2023 Ep 8. | The Life Coach Lowdown: Understanding What Life Coaches are, What They Do, How They Work, and Everything In-between with Mia Cherry & Charlie Owen
Today, join Ben as he talks with Life Coaches Mia Cherry & Charlie Owen, where they reveal the ins and outs of life coaching. Discover what sparked their passion for coaching, their strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, and the distinction between therapy and coaching. We also discuss the potential pitfalls of unregulated coaching and the importance of industry oversight. Gain valuable insights on launching a career in life coaching, attracting an audience, and tailoring advice to specific clients. Finally, listen to Mia and Charlie share their experience of balancing work and personal life while working from home, emphasizing the power of communication. A must-listen for aspiring coaches and personal growth enthusiasts!

You can connect with me at:
⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Or email me at: [email protected]
...more
1h 40min
March 23, 2023 Ep 7. | Fast-tracking Your Career: Monetising Your Purpose and Working in People & Culture with Layla Georgia
Today, join Ben as he chats with Layla Everstets, Hismile's Business Manager and People & Culture expert. We discuss overcoming insecurities, developing career-shaping skills, Layla's approach to coaching and teaching talent, her fast-tracked career growth, trusting your gut, leading a team in your early twenties, and finding purpose and passion through life's challenges. Join us for an insightful conversation!

You can connect with me at:
⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Or email me at: [email protected]
...more
2h 21min

FAQs about The Ascent:

How many episodes does The Ascent have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.