The Career Discovery Podcast

On the show today we meet Kate! Kate works as a Chief Internal Audit Officer in the financial services industry in the UK.

Kate kindly shares with us: 

Area of expertise (02:51)

• Common misconceptions of the internal audit role 
• An overview of the financial services industry: retail banks & building societies 
• The purpose of the internal audit role 
• Internal audit versus external audit 
• An overview of the typical roles within an internal audit department 
• What a chief internal audit officer does on an average day 
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career journey (44:54) 

• How Kate became a chief internal audit officer from aspiring doctor  
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:59:21)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring internal audit professionals   
• The future of the internal audit profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in the internal audit profession: 
  • The Institute of Internal Auditors 
• Advice for her younger self and you!  

Other resources:

• Love and Work – Marcus Buckingham
• What if I Say the Wrong Thing – Vernā̄. Myers
• Daring Greatly – Brené Brown

We also talk about:

• Having the courage to make tough decisions 
• The importance of choosing a company and culture where you can be yourself 
• Managing imposter syndrome 
• The importance of taking risks and putting yourself in the ‘arena’
• Knowing and believing in your own value and worth

So if you’re curious and wondering what a chief internal audit officer does or how to become a chief internal audit officer or you just want to be inspired – listen or watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

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Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Natalie! Natalie works as a Managing Director for Retail in the logistics industry in the UK.

Natalie kindly shares with us:

Area of expertise - logistics management (03:39)

• Common misconceptions of the logistics management role 
• An overview of the logistics industry 
• The purpose of the logistics management role 
• An overview of the typical roles within a logistics company/department 
• What a managing director for retail does on an average day 
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career journey (33:17)

• How Natalie became a managing director for retail from not knowing what she wanted to do  
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:08:21)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring logistics management professionals   
• The future of the logistics management profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in the logistics management profession: 
  • Generation Logistics 
• Advice for her younger self and you! 

We also talk about: 

• Navigating steep learning curves 
• How to approach mentoring 
• Building a network to support your career development 
• Learning from failure  
• Sustainability
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
• Why it’s okay not to have a plan 

So if you’re curious and wondering what a managing director for retail does or how to become a managing director for retail or you just want to be inspired – listen or watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Biola! Biola works as a Sovereign Analyst in the Asset Management/Investment Management industry in the UK. 

Biola kindly shares with us: 

Area of expertise (05:41) 

• Common misconceptions of the sovereign analyst role  
• An overview of the asset management/investment management industry  
• The purpose of the sovereign analyst role  
• What a sovereign analyst does on an average day  
• Specialist tools:  
  • Bloomberg  
  • Macrobond  
  • Excel  
  • R  
  • EViews  
  • Python
• Most enjoyable parts of the role  
• Challenging parts of the role  
• Proudest moments in the role 

Career journey (30:14) 

• How Biola became a sovereign analyst from wanting to be a lawyer as a child
• Highs of the career journey   
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Proudest moments of the career journey   
• Importance of role models and mentors   

Advice (58:25) 

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring sovereign analysts  
• The future of the sovereign analysis profession  
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in sovereign analysis:  
  • Financial Times  
  • The Undercover Economist - Tim Harford 
  • IMF  
• Advice for her younger self and you! 

Other references: 

• Erasmus  
• CFA  
• Cycle Together  

We also talk about: 

• Finding your passion and knowing when you have found it  
• Finding a mentor and getting the most out of the mentoring relationship  
• The value of extra-curricular activities at work for growth, development and raising your profile  
• The importance of values alignment and happiness in career decision making  
• Rejection and the importance of courage, tenacity, resilience and self-belief 

So if you’re curious and wondering what a sovereign analyst does or how to a become sovereign analyst or you just want to be inspired – listen or watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes 

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Mike! Mike works as a Counsellor & Psychotherapist in the healthcare sector in the UK. 

Mike kindly shares with us: 

Area of expertise (03:59) 

• Common misconceptions of the counsellor & psychotherapist roles 
• An overview of the counselling & psychotherapy industry 
• The purpose of counselling & psychotherapy  
• What a counsellor & psychotherapist does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role 

Career journey (19:20) 

• How Mike became a counsellor & psychotherapist from aspiring actor and established IT professional  
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey 
• Proudest moments of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (49:46) 

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring counsellors & psychotherapists
• The future of the counselling & psychotherapy profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in counselling & psychotherapy
• Advice for his younger self and you!  

We also talk about: 

• Financial security in career decision making 
• Navigating a mid-career change and re-training  
• Pursuing passion, purpose and career fulfilment 
• The importance of continuous learning  
• Setting boundaries to prevent burnout 
• The power of self-reflection and self-awareness   
• Imposter syndrome and fear of failure  
• Taking a leap of faith 

So if you’re curious and wondering what a counsellor & psychotherapist does or how to become a counsellor & psychotherapist or you just want to be inspired - listen or watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Karen! Karen works as a Human Resources (HR) Consultancy Business Owner in the UK. 

Karen kindly shares with us...

Area of expertise (3:00)

• Common misconceptions of the HR role
• An overview of the HR industry and typical roles within an HR department 
• The purpose of the HR role
• What an HR consultancy business owner does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career journey (19:48)

• How Karen became an HR consultancy business owner from aspiring Pan’s People dancer & PE teacher 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey 
• Proudest moments of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (51:14)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring HR professionals 
• The future of the HR profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in HR: 
  • Disruptive HR 
  • HR Disrupted – Lucy Adams
• Advice for her younger self and you! 

Other resources:

• The Top Regrets of the Dying - Bronnie Ware

We also talk about: 

• The advantage of surrounding yourself with positive people 
• The benefit of transferable and in-demand skills 
• The value of getting a foot in the door and learning on the job 
• The power of humility, curiosity and continuous learning 
• The importance of believing in yourself 
• Getting out of your comfort zone 

So if you’re curious and wondering what an HR professional does or how to become an HR professional, listen, watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Laura! Laura works as a Head of Marketing in the investment management/asset management industry in the UK. 

Laura kindly shares with us: 

Area of expertise (04:11)

• Common misconceptions of the head of marketing role 
• An overview of a marketing department and the wide variety of roles 
• The purpose of the marketing function  
• What a head of marketing does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career journey (37:17) 

• How Laura became a head of marketing from aspiring paediatrician 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey 
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:30:11)

• Helpful education, training and skills for marketing professionals 
• The future of the marketing profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in marketing 
• Advice for her younger self and you!  

We also talk about: 

• Taking the first step when you are afraid to start
• Finding value in all experiences
• The danger of taking things for granted, making assumptions and having pre-conceived notions  
• The power of understanding the context you are working in
• Building your personal brand within a company 
• Building your own ‘personal board of directors’ 
• The importance of asking questions and being willing to put yourself out there

So if you’re curious and wondering what a head of marketing does or how to become a head of marketing, listen, watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes 

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Louise! Louise works as a Social Media Consultant in the media & communications industry in the UK. 

Louise kindly shares with us: 

Area of expertise (02:34)

• Common misconceptions of the social media consultant role 
• An overview of the social media marketing industry 
• The purpose of the social media consultant role  
• What a social media consultant does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career journey (30:46)

• How Louise became a social media consultant from not knowing what she wanted to do 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey 
• Proudest moments of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:12:11)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring social media marketing professionals 
• The future of the social media marketing profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in social media marketing: 
  • The Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Advice for her younger self and you!

Definitions: 

• VA – Virtual Assistant 

Other references:

• Jim Collins – Bug Book

We also talk about: 

• Networking nerves 
• Imposter syndrome 
• The power of transferable skills 
• ‘Listening’ to what excites you and connecting the dots  
• The importance of staying curious – listening, learning, up-skilling, asking questions 
• The value of building solid foundations before specialising  
• Facing your fears, the ego and receiving feedback as a gift 
• Taking control of your own destiny 
• The importance of believing in yourself

So if you’re curious and wondering what a social media consultant does or how to become social media consultant, listen, watch and enjoy!

→ Episode page

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Farley! Farley works as an Executive Coach, Co-Founder & CEO in the professional services industry (coaching skills for managers) in the UK. 

Farley kindly shares with us:

Area of Expertise (03:35)

• Common misconceptions of the executive coach role 
• An overview of the coaching industry 
• The purpose of the executive coach role  
• What an executive coach does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career Journey (41:25)

• How Farley became an executive coach, co-founder & CEO from aspiring computer programmer 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:16:07)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring executive coaching professionals 
• The future of the coaching profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in coaching:  
  • The International Coaching Federation (ICF) 
  • Association for Coaching
• Advice for his younger self and you! 

We also talk about: 

• The value of encouragement and surrounding yourself with positive role models and peers 
• Finding your feet in a new environment and overcoming imposter syndrome 
• The importance of identifying your knowledge gaps and working hard to address them 
• Taking risks, saying yes, jumping in and rising to challenges 
• Having the courage to put yourself in positions of failure 
• The challenge of business building and importance of being resilient in the face of rejection

So if you’re curious and wondering what an executive coach does or how to become an executive coach, listen, watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes 

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Barbara! Barbara works as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the financial services industry in the UK. 

Barbara kindly shares with us: 

Area of Expertise (02:36) 

• Common misconceptions of the CIO role 
• An overview of the financial services industry (including the connectivity with FinTech)  
• The purpose of the technology role  
• What a CIO does on an average day  
• An overview of the different roles within a technology team 
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career Journey (24:18) 

• How Barbara became a CIO from aspiring basketball player 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (49:41)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring technology professionals 
• The future of the technology profession 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in technology 
• Advice for her younger self and you!  

Definitions:

•  MVP - minimum viable product or minimum viable proposition

Other references:

• The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell 

We also talk about: 

• The importance of cross-functional teams that incorporate the business and technology teams 
• Why you don’t have to be a coder to work in technology - there are a myriad of roles!
• Project management methodologies and new ways of working 
• The importance of people in technology 
• The value of being open and honest about your aspirations  
• The importance of asking for help and failing fast 
• Diversity and inclusion within technology   

So if you’re curious and wondering what a CIO does or what roles are available within technology; or how to become a CIO or how to get into technology, listen, watch and enjoy!

→ Show notes

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.

On the show today we meet Liz! Liz works as a Head of Index Sales in the FinTech industry in the UK. 

Liz kindly shares with us: 

Area of Expertise (07:03)

• An overview of the financial services industry ecosystem (banking, investment/asset management & FinTech)
• Common misconceptions of the sales role  
• The purpose of the sales role 
• What a sales professional does on an average day  
• Most enjoyable parts of the role 
• Challenging parts of the role 
• Proudest moments in the role

Career Journey (31:04)

• How Liz became a head of index sales from aspiring psychologist and CEO of Disney 
• Highs of the career journey  
• Challenges of the career journey  
• Importance of role models and mentors 

Advice (01:03:42)

• Helpful education, training and skills for aspiring financial services and FinTech sales professionals: 
  • IMC 
• The future of the sales in financial service and FinTech 
• Advice and resources for people who are keen to find out more about a career in sales and/or financial services and FinTech 
• Advice for her younger self and you!  

Definitions: 

• FinTech - financial technology
• AUM – assets under management  
• IFA – independent financial advisor  

Other references: 

• Mountbatten Program 

We also talk about:  

• The value of teamwork and organisational collaboration 
• The importance of networking and building lasting relationships 
• Recovering from setbacks, resilience, learning and finding the positives 
• Figuring out where in an organisation you can do your best work (cultures, environments, internal versus external clients etc)
• How dreaming big seems more commonplace in US versus UK 
• The value of curiosity and asking questions 
• Diversity and inclusion within the industry
• Balancing work, client entertainment and life

So if you’re curious and wondering what a sales professional in financial services and FinTech does or how to become a sales professional in the financial services or FinTech industry, listen, watch and enjoy! 

→ Show notes 

***
Thanks so much for listening, we really hope you enjoyed the show!

If you found this episode valuable, please help us spread the word by subscribing to the podcast and giving us a 5-star review.

And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please get in touch using the links below, we would love to hear from you!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Coaching, newsletter, website & more!

If you prefer to watch the show, our episodes are available on YouTube too.