Your Career Journey

This week I speak with Wendy Chamberlain, a self-employed Buyers Agent and Sellers Advocate. Wendy’s love for property and her desire to help empower and educate others about Real Estate ultimately led her in this direction, but it wasn’t all plain sailing.Not knowing what she wanted to do after school led to Secretarial College, working in a bank, living in Tokyo, and exploring various roles at a law firm. Things took a significant turn when Wendy did a computing degree and shifted into IT consultancy. Climbing the corporate ladder, taking on larger projects and bigger teams meant a huge amount of stress, which resulted in a number of health issues.Realising that her job was literally making her sick Wendy made a huge change, shifting to being self-employed and focusing on her love for Real Estate. Wendy talks openly and honestly about this time, and what she was telling herself whilst pushing herself so hard, and what she's learnt since then.Wendy has a fascinating story, and I love the way she views things and how she shares the lessons she has learnt. If you feel a bit stuck and aren’t sure what to do about it, this episode is a great place to start! If you'd like to connect with Wendy, you can find her at:Website: https://chamberlainadvocates.com.au/Podcast: https://www.propertymama.com.au/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendychamberlain/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

Join Emma as she chats with Katie O'Malley, a leadership and organisational development coach from Chicago.  We chat about Katie's career journey from political campaigns and nonprofit work, and eventually finding success with her own coaching practice. Katie shares her insights on leadership development, organisational culture, and the importance of psychological safety at work. They discuss the challenges of transitioning careers, the pressures of traditional success metrics, and the power of betting on oneself. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on personal growth, resilience, and creating impactful workplace cultures.If you'd like to CONNECT with Katie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateomalley/Website: https://encouragecoaching.org/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:31 Katie's Career Journey: From Politics to Nonprofits07:07 Transition to Commercial Real Estate and Mental Health Struggles10:01 Pivot to Coaching and Building a Business14:15 Facing Gender Bias and Making Bold Choices18:30 Reflections on Success and Choices23:53 Choosing to be Childfree and Societal Reactions26:58 Diving into Workplace Culture and Diversity27:11 Transitioning Through Different Work Cultures27:37 The Nonprofit Industrial Complex29:36 Workplace Induced Trauma30:18 The Impact of Middle Management32:10 The Importance of Leadership Training38:34 Recognizing and Retaining Employees42:47 Building a Positive Workplace Culture50:33 Final Thoughts and AdviceHi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In today's episode, I’m joined by Paola Piccinno who shares her experiences navigating an international marketing career, the unique challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. Born in Naples, Italy, and raised in Puglia, Paola’s inherent curiosity and passion for travel led her to pursue a career that accommodated her love for exploration. Initially studying journalism, a pivotal conversation with a professor redirected her path towards marketing. After moving within Italy for study and then working at Microsoft in Milan, Paola made her first internal move to London.Here working for Kingston Technology, she was tasked with expanding the brand into EMEA which involved frequent trips to South Africa. What did she learn working in this part of the world? Another of the interesting features of Paola’s career has been taking sabbaticals, highlighting how one-year breaks have allowed her to learn new languages and grow personally. After one such year, she returned to London and took on a role at Google.After working extensively in Europe and a brief stint in Turkey, Paola moved to Australia, continuing her career in tech marketing. Beginning in Sydney, then Melbourne and now up on the Sunshine Coast.In recent years, she transitioned to a fractional CMO role, leveraging her expertise in the niche of account-based marketing (ABM). Given the network she has built globally, she is working with a number of clients in the Middle East and India.What has this international approach meant for her in terms of what she’s learnt and what has it meant in terms of how she has approached her career?Join us to find out! If you'd like to connect with PaolaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolapiccinno-abm-b2b-marketing/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I'm joined by Rita Martinez, a seasoned marketer with a career spanning blue-chip companies like Coles, Energy Australia, and CareSuper. Rita’s journey through diverse marketing roles has given her a wealth of insights to share. But, in the beginning, how did she know marketing was her calling? And how did having a mentor early on shape her path?In the early days, Rita focused on Retail and Customer loyalty roles, before really branching out and taking on the ‘toolkit’ approach to building her skills. She also embraced the opportunities that came her way, whether that was taking shorter contract roles that led to other things, or taking on new challenges in parts of the business that were new to her.Adaptability has been central to Rita’s success, especially over the last decade. Embracing change came naturally to her and became a key factor in how she continued to grow her career.We also discuss the unique Marketing challenges of working in regulated industries and leading teams.This is a wide-ranging conversation packed with insights on navigating career pivots, the evolving marketing landscape, and the power of continual learning. Whether you’re starting out or considering a change, Rita’s story is filled with inspiration and practical advice.If you'd like to connect with Rita LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamartinez/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Lucy Owens, a personal stylist and image expert, and the founder of Style Rises. Lucy shares her inspiring journey, transitioning from a marketing career to launching Style Rises in 2019, with a mission to empower women through the power of style.Together, we chat about how style and personal brand are closely linked, and how what you wear can boost your confidence, improve performance, and even shape how others see you.We dive into fascinating topics like the psychology of clothing, the idea of "enclothed cognition," and the tricky balance of modern work environments and their evolving dress codes.We also bust some myths about style—like the belief that it’s something you’re born with and can’t learn. Lucy gives practical tips for looking sharp on Zoom, why your LinkedIn photo matters more than you think, and how to show up to interviews with confidence and authenticity.This episode is packed with real, actionable advice on using style to elevate your personal brand. You won’t want to miss it!In the episode, Lucy mentions her style quiz, here is the link: https://www.stylerises.com/style-quizHi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

Kellie is a Marketing & Comms consultant and writer, who joins me to talk about her journey from full-time agency and corporate roles to freelance. And her newly found passion for travel writing.Kellie built the first part of her career in Agency, primarily in Account Management. It was when she had a family that she found the lack of flexibility challenging, she was able to work part time but it affected the type of Accounts she worked on, and she ultimately didn’t enjoy the work as much.Kellie talks openly about the challenge of balancing her career aspirations with having a family and how that led her to burn out.  For her, freelance was an option she wanted to explore, to see whether it would give her the flexibility and time with her family, whilst also allowing her to grow her career and work in a slightly different direction.She talks about embracing the unknown and jumping off the cliff as being key parts of her freelance journey. What she's learned from different types of projects and what life as a freelancer has actually been like.The other thing it’s enabled her to do is focus on her love of writing, and she has expanded her work to include travel writing. We talk about what she's learned about pitching, putting herself out there and where her favourite travel destination is.Connect with Kellie via:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-floyd/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Gurr a strategic marketing generalist and project manager. Kelly has had a varied career working across B2C, B2B, B2B2C with both local and global brands. Her favourite place to be is at the intersection of strategy, customer experience and operations. Recently Kelly has taken on a new challenge, embarking on life as a digital nomad. Travelling around Australia in a caravan with her husband and 2 kids, for 8 months.Curious about what life on the road is really like? Join me as we dive into the adventure of van life and uncover the lessons learned along the way.What’s life on the road been like? What have been the ups and downs of van life? What has she learned, what are the things which have surprised her? What does a typical day look like and how are her family getting on with it? How did she approach the conversation with her employer?What advice would she give to someone who is considering doing a similar thing?Whether you’re seriously considering hitting the road or just daydreaming about it, Kelly’s insights and tips could be just what you need to turn your idea into reality!If you'd like to connect with KellyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellygurr/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by Charlie Syme, a senior marketer and comms specialist, who has worked with member-owned, enterprise, not-for-profit and start-up businesses.Just over a year ago, he started his own business, Pigface Marketing, where he operates as a fractional CMO. The discussion kicks off with Charlie celebrating the first anniversary of his business, which is a huge milestone. To understand the current direction, we go back to the beginning to uncover what led him to this point. Charlie reflects on his career trajectory, what he learned from the different stages and the importance, for him, of purpose.Once he'd decided to start his business one of the challenges he faced was with business development, and we discussed how he overcame that. We talk in depth about the importance of brand storytelling in marketing and Charlie details his approach and why he loves it so much. He also gives a perfect real life example by explaining where the name Pigface Marketing came from.We also touch on the personal growth that comes with starting a business, something we have both experienced and the important role of networking and building a community.The conversation ends with Charlie talking about the common threads between career, marketing and storytelling (there are quite a few!).If you'd like to connect with Charlie.Website:  https://www.pigface.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesyme/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In a slightly different episode this week, I’m joined by specialist Marketing Recruiter Lucy Bolan from New Chapter Talent to talk about what’s happening in the market at the moment.Lucy has been in Recruitment for almost twenty years, with all bar two of those in the Melbourne market. She also recently started her own business earlier this year, called New Chapter Talent.In news that will surprise no one, it’s still very much an employers’ market at the moment, particularly at the more senior end.  Lucy talks about how competitive it is for those types of roles, and how the number of applicants leads some employers to be spoilt for choice, meaning very slow processes, and in some cases an ability to make decisions.We talk about how to deal with redundancy and Lucy gives some great advice on what to do next if you find yourself in that situation, including the importance of having a solid plan.About how to stand out in a crowded market place, the importance of networking and how to leverage specialist recruiters effectively. Tips on what to include and not include in your CV, and how to differentiate yourself from other candidates with similar experience.If you'd like to connect with Lucy.Website:  https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-bolan/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by Rhiannon Di Martino, who has had a really unique career path covering Marketing, People and Culture, Diversity and Inclusion and is currently working as the chief of staff to the CEO of a mental health charity.The broader themes for Rhi are around taking control of her career and finding purpose in what she did, but how did she go about doing that?Rhi has sought out and taken on a succession of roles she’s never done before, she’s very much been the driver in her own career. Breaking this down she talks about the importance of curiosity, the value of having advocates within the business and the type of culture which supported her growth to try new things.Over time wanting to define and find purpose in her work became a key part of the puzzle, Rhi talks through her thought process and how she was able to clarify what it meant to her.Rhi also talks openly about imposter syndrome and how she was able to deal with it, learning how to embrace vulnerability and the importance of knowing what she's aiming for.Rhi’s career journey is a fantastic example of what can happen when you take control, map out your path and make it happen! If you'd like to connect with Rhi:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannon-di-martino-588481Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode I’m joined by Martin Kelly, as we talk about how he took his career from initially studying Engineering in Scotland to ultimately building his life and Marketing career here in Australia. Martin talks about the lessons he’s learned along the way, the things which have made a difference for him and shares practical advice and insights. From realising Marketing was a career option instead of Engineering, to how a chance meeting with his future wife in a backpackers in the Middle East ultimately led him to Australia.In terms of his career in Marketing how he’s learned to work with Sales and to make sure Marketing has a seat at the leadership table. Gained clarity through experience of the things which are important to him and how he balances those things when choosing or rejecting roles. In addition to understanding the role ‘gut feel’ has to play here. A really interesting discussion about Mentoring and Networking. What role have mentors played in his career and how did he go about finding them?So many great pieces of advice, thank you Martin for taking the time to chat with me.If you’d like to connect with Martin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinekelly/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by Nigel Taylor, a highly experienced video and content producer whose career has spanned both full time corporate work and freelance work here in Australia and in London. Specific projected have included video and digital production including TV & film, shoot and talent direction, project management, editing and scriptwriting.We talk about how Nigel got into the industry, after initially thinking that medicine would be the route he took.  What he learned from his first professional role in regional TV and why it was such a great place to start.Next came a move to London and landing his dream job working at Disney. What did he learn during this time of working for a large global corporate and what impact did it have on the level of creativity he could bring to the role. Nigel also worked on his own passion and freelance projects, what part did this play in his overall learning and approach.On returning to Australia and effectively starting his career again (an aspect of global relocation that often gets overlooked), what made the difference for him and how was he able to re-establish himself?We end with a fascinating discussion about AI and its impact on the Creative industry. Nigel holds a very positive view and I loved his take on it.So many takeaways and insights from this conversation, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did having it.My links:Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/Guests' links:Website: https://abiggerboat.tv/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelandrewtaylor/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I’m joined by Jane Betshel to discuss her journey from Marketing to Mortgage Broking. Jane built a highly successful career in Marketing, working in Events, e-commerce, Product Marketing, and ultimately leading a team of 70 people as Head of Marketing.Feeling burnt out, Jane decided to leave that role and, after a period of reflection, ventured in what seemed like a completely different direction by starting her own mortgage broking business.Discover how Jane began her career in Marketing, successfully climbed the corporate ladder, and learned key management and leadership insights along the way. We also discuss the challenges she faced leading such a large team and the burnout that followed.Taking some time out for reflection, how did Jane discover her new path? What role did the advice of a trusted friend play in her decision? How did she realise that Mortgage Broking was her next career move, and how does she feel about starting her own business? We also explore how she is leveraging her Marketing and other transferable skills in her new venture.This episode is packed with valuable insights and advice on career development, leadership, and making bold career transitions.If you’d like to connect with Jane you can do here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebetschel/Just Right Lending - https://www.justrightlending.com.au/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

Pierre is an Executive Coach, Human Resources Advisor and leadership development fanatic. After starting his career as a Chartered Accountant he soon moved away from numbers and towards people, focusing instead on HR, Talent, Learning and Development. Having lived and worked in a number of different countries including Australia, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the USA, Pierre has gained valuable lived experience and insights into what really makes people tick and how being an inclusive leader has a tangible impact to the bottom line.Our conversation starts with Pierre’s own journey from being a Chartered Accountant in  South Africa, moving into the Learning & Development space to ultimately building his career in the HR and Talent leadership space.Having had the opportunity to work in a number of different countries and choosing to settle in Australia some sixteen or so years ago, Pierre brings his experience to bear on his perspective on culture and diversity. He shares insights as to how great leaders can get the best from their teams and some of the common mistakes that get made.We also talk about how organisations approach leadership and Pierre shares valuable advice which focuses on authenticity, feedback and curiosity.If you’d like to connect with Pierre you can do so via:https://www.linkedin.com/in/padevilliers/thetalentexchange.com.au Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

My guest today is Mickey Rummery, Founder of Connect Experience Design.Mickey started his career in recruitment in London, before moving to Melbourne in 2010. Whilst honing his relationship-building skills he saw an opportunity to become more involved in the then up and coming area of User Experience Design. By proactively networking and creating his own opportunities, he over time, transitioned his career into the Human Centred Design space, the area in which he now has his business.A recurring theme in Mickey's career narrative is his proactive pursuit of opportunities. By researching potential avenues, reaching out directly to organisations, and initiating conversations, he significantly altered the trajectory of his professional path. In the episode, Mickey delves into the specifics of how he navigated this process, offering firsthand, actionable advice based on his experiences.We also talk about what led him to start his own business, and how he’s finding the transition from working for someone else. You can connect with Mickey via:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyrummery/https://www.connectxd.co/Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

My guest today is Sharon Morris, whose journey unfolds from an uncertain graduate to an experienced Executive championing authenticity and social impact. Along the way, Sharon explores various roles across industries and learns the importance of saying yes to new challenges. Her desire for change ultimately leads to her climbing the corporate ladder, although that was not outwardly her intention.Another key part of her story is embracing lifelong learning and the shifts in perspective that this creates. The final pillar is the importance of being true to oneself, following her passion and working in spaces which have social impact.Sharon also shares her approach to leadership, to hiring good people and the impact that networking has had on her career.Her story serves as a compelling reminder of the rewards that come with embracing change and seizing opportunities for growth. Tune in for valuable insights and actionable advice from Sharon's inspiring journey. Enjoy the episode!Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Steph Sta Maria, a talented copy and digital content writer originally from Malaysia, now calling Australia home. Steph's journey into the world of writing is a fascinating one - despite always knowing this is where her passion lay, she shares how discovering the right pathway was still a journey in itself.We delve into Steph's early career, where she had the opportunity to explore various roles and mediums within the media industry, providing valuable insights into what she enjoyed and what she didn't.Talking about her relocation to Melbourne, Steph shares what helped her to settle quickly, offering practical advice that others can apply. She also discusses her experience navigating the job market and addresses the 'local experience' barrier.Transitioning from freelance and contract work to a position in a large corporate organisation, Steph provides useful insights into managing this shift and offers advice for those stepping into this type of environment for the first time.Lastly, Steph opens up about finding her voice and confidence, sharing techniques and practices that have empowered her along the way.Packed with nuggets of wisdom and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who has recently relocated to Australia, has recently joined a large organisation, or is grappling with imposter syndrome. Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/

Today's guest is Matt Woodard, a Talent acquisition specialist who has spent the last 16 years in this space across NZ and Australia, although the accent will tell you he’s originally from the UK. Matt now runs his own business Scalr where he works with start-ups and scale-ups in setting up their talent acquisition functions for success. This episode aims to give you an insight into what's happening on the other side of the fence. Once you've applied for the advertised role with 'X' company, what happens to that application?How is it assessed?What role does technology play?Does my CV need to be keyword optimised?How do I give myself the best chance of being successful?What does a standout application look like?We also talk about why applications may not be getting responded to, and what's gone wrong when an application falls through the cracks.Matt also gives his advice on how best to prepare for an interview, and what the interviewer is looking for from you. What type of questions should you be expecting and what questions should you be asking?Finally, Matt shares the advice that's been helpful to him in his own career.Hope you enjoy the episode and find it useful.Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change. If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/