Too Much: The Switch by Future Women

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we’ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes – and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we’re turning our focus to YOUR next move. In the first of two bonus episodes, host Briana Blackett gets advice from Helen McCabe, founder of FW and Jobs Academy, to help you figure out when to go, where to go, and how to know if you're ready to make the switch.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, in every performance review, Melanie Silva was told she was “too excited”. Too passionate. Not serious enough. Then she joined Google and, suddenly, that enthusiasm was exactly what was wanted. In this episode, Briana Blackett speaks with Mel – now the Vice President and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand – about taking pay cuts to chase opportunities and why she's grateful she didn't get her dream job the first time around. This is a conversation about pivoting sideways and, even, backward. Because sometimes the best way up is not straight ahead.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 25 years, Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio has moved from diamond mines in South Africa to copper operations in rural Australia, and then made a leap that she never saw coming: running a nuclear reactor, despite having zero nuclear experience. Along the way she’s been told she’s "too quiet", and not assertive enough. In this episode, Pamela shares with Briana Blackett why curiosity beats confidence, how to pivot when you have no idea what you're doing – and why quiet women might just be the leaders we need most.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FW’s own deputy managing director Jamila Rizvi has spent her career as what she calls a “perennial number two” – from the Prime Minister’s office to media empires. She’s made bold pivots, survived life-altering health scares, and discovered that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit: I don’t want to do this alone. In this episode, Jamila chats with Briana Blackett about resignations feeling like break ups, fear masquerading as excitement, and how professional co-dependence has been key to her success.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was winning Olympic gold and World Championships. But at 23, Giaan Rooney was burned out. She retired from swimming, became a television presenter, then pivoted again – to a career you’d never expect. Giaan tells Briana Blackett how, at each turn, being “too invested” has seen her succeed. And how putting aside ego has given her the courage to change lanes – and have a crack at something new. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Reid is the founder of the world-famous Lune Croissanterie. But before creating her own formula for the perfect buttery, flaky croissant, she was a Formula One aerodynamicist, working on some of the fastest cars on the planet. And though she’s been labelled "too lucky", in this episode, she reveals the grit behind every seemingly effortless pivot, the years of hard work, and how a battle with an eating disorder led her to the top of a pastry empire.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we’ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes – and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we’re turning our focus to YOUR next move. In our last bonus episode, FW founder Helen McCabe helped us figure out when it's time to make a career pivot. Today, she's talking with host Briana Blackett about the HOW. The actual steps you take when you're standing on the edge, ready to leap into something new.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From styling hair to fighting crime, Detective Senior Sergeant Leemara Fairgrieve made quite the switch when she left hairdressing to join Victoria Police. These days, she’s busting major drug syndicates and rising through the ranks. But while she’s tough on crime, Leemara admits she can be tough on herself, and at times, ‘too accommodating’. In this episode, Leemara joins Briana Blackett to discuss how her softer side actually helped her build trust, discover her passion, and find success in her role as a police officer.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 

Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was “too strong”. After an illustrious career, Jones stepped away from the spotlight to retrain as a midwife. In this episode, Lana joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too strong” has helped her soar – from the stage to the delivery room.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carla Zampatti’s daughter, self-confessed nerd Allegra Spender, never saw herself as a natural fit to lead her late mother’s fashion empire. But that’s where she ended up, before a runway-worthy career-pivot which saw her ride the Teal wave into federal politics. In this episode, Allegra joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too nerdy” helped her break the mould in fashion, her switch from colour palettes to politics – and why playing to your strengths is the key to every professional pivot. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.