The Career Equation

Backing Yourself in Tough Times with Jayne Brierley

What happens when the industry you’ve given decades to starts crumbling — and what comes next?
 
In this episode, Zoë talks to Jayne Brierley — a seasoned TV producer turned consultant, who’s helping production companies shape stories, win commissions, and keep British storytelling alive. From stepping back during burnout to jumping into consultancy with clarity, Jayne shares what she’s learned from both the highs and lows of a creative career.
 
It’s a masterclass in adaptation — and a reminder that the magic happens when you stay true to your voice, even in uncertain times.
 
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In this conversation:
•Why “just enough” might be your sweet spot
•What it really takes to change industry — and why it’s harder than it looks
•The joy of making magic with like-minded creatives
•The four elements of a thriving career (and how to spot them in your story)
•Tips for leaders and hirers on spotting overlooked talent
•Why the best environment brings out your best work
•How Jayne uses the Career Equation to stay on track — and why she’s backing herself
 
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Find out more:
Jayne Brierley on LinkedIn
Zoë Schofield on LinkedIn
More at thecareerequation.com

Impact: What Matters Most – with Erica Sosna & Zoë Schofield

We all want to make an impact — but what does that actually mean?
In this episode, Erica and Zoë explore one of the most powerful (and personal) elements of the Career Equation. Impact is the difference you make — in your work, your world, and the lives of others. But it’s also where energy comes from. When you feel like your work matters, everything shifts.
This is a reflective, practical guide to working out what success means to you, and how to measure it on your own terms — not just titles, salary, or what’s trending on LinkedIn. Whether you’re figuring things out or leading a team, it’s packed with tools and questions to help you build a career that truly counts.
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In this conversation:• Why impact is personal — and always evolving• Getting clear on what success looks like for you• Why people stay (or leave) based on meaning, not money• How to ask the right questions — as a leader, coach or mentor• Ways to create more impact in your current role• How to spot your own sweet spots — and grow from there• Why measuring your impact boosts motivation• Real stories of people reshaping their careers after major change
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Find out more:• Erica Sosna on LinkedIn• Zoë Schofield on LinkedIn• More at thecareerequation.com

US Tech Founder: Anya Cheng & Thriving in the Chaos of Starting Up

How do you keep going when the path ahead is full of unknowns?
In this episode, Zoë is joined by tech entrepreneur Anya Cheng for a rich, honest conversation about navigating change — and backing yourself when things feel uncertain.
Anya’s story takes us from early career rejection and visa struggles to founding her own company, Taelor, which helps people look sharp without the usual stress of shopping or laundry. Along the way, she talks about the skills she’s carried through it all — resilience, connection, and a knack for solving problems in unconventional ways.
It’s a conversation about the messy, nonlinear path to success — and how our superpowers often come from the things we first had to fight for.
Whether you’re leading something, starting something, or still figuring it all out, there’s something in here for you.
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In this conversation:
• What rejection teaches you — and why it matters• The scrappy, human side of breaking into a new industry• Building Taelor — and solving real-life problems through tech• Creating a business that reflects your values• The difference one person’s belief can make• When you know what “good” looks like… but you’re still building• Spotting potential in others (even when it’s not obvious)• Thriving in chaos — and knowing when it’s time to grow
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Find out more:• Anya Cheng on LinkedIn• taelor.style — use code podcast for a discount
Connect with Zoë on LinkedIn
More at The Career Equation website
 
 

Identify Your Career Passions With Erica Sosna & Zoë Schofield

In this episode, Erica and Zoë take a deep dive into one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) parts of career fulfilment: passion.
They explore how to actually figure out what excites you — not just hobbies or dream jobs, but the stuff that gives you energy, matters to you, and makes work feel worth doing. Whether it’s a topic, a cause, or simply a way of working, passion plays a big role in helping us feel like we’re in the right place.
They also share personal stories, coaching insights, and practical ways to make use of your passions — even if you’re not planning a big career change. And for managers and people leaders, there’s plenty in here on how to support others without opening a can of worms.
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In this conversation:
 
• Why ‘passion’ doesn’t have to mean chasing your dreams or quitting your job• How to spot what really energises you (hint: it’s not always obvious)• The power of small tweaks over big leaps• What to do if you’ve got loads of passions — or none at all• How hobbies and interests can give you clues, even if they stay outside of work• Real-life stories from coaching clients and past guests• Ways to reflect on what matters — and what doesn’t need to be monetised• How to use the Career Equation to connect the dots• Advice for leaders: having the passion conversation without fearing the worst• Why it’s okay if your passions change (or don’t fit neatly in a box)
Connect with Erica on LinkedinConnect with Zoë on Linkedin
Find out more at The Career Equation website

Expert Special: The Skill Seekers, with Niamh O’Connell - Talent Integration Director, Flutter International

In this episode, Erica chats with Niamh O’Connell, Talent Integration Director at Flutter International, about what really makes careers feel fulfilling — and what gets in the way.
 
They dig into what it means to take ownership of your own development, why traditional frameworks often fall short, and how to build support around people in a way that actually works.
 
Niamh shares how her team is rethinking career paths, supporting self-led growth, and helping people find the right fit — not just the next role. They talk honestly about what it takes to shift mindsets, give managers the right tools, and create room for people to figure out what they want.
 
Whether you’re working in people and culture, managing a team, or figuring out your own next step — this one’s full of grounded ideas and fresh ways to think about career growth.
 
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In this conversation:
 
•Why rigid career paths often do more harm than good
•Flutter’s “Power Hours” – and why they matter
•How to support better career conversations between managers and teams
•The role of peer-led learning and expert “accelerators”
•Building scalable, capability-based approaches to career development
•How Flutter defines and supports their own “skill seekers” — and why naming them matters
•Creating flexible development strategies that actually flex across teams and business units
•Why environment plays a bigger role than most people realise
•Helping people figure out the stage of business they thrive in
•Internal mobility, mindset shifts, and learning that sticks
 
Connect with Niamh on Linkedin
Connect with Erica on LinkedinFind out more at The Career Equation website

From Burnout to Purpose: Winston Clements on Redesigning Life on His Terms

What if burnout wasn’t the end — but the beginning of designing a life entirely on your own terms?
 
In this episode, Erica Sosna sits down with Winston Ben Clements — global speaker, resilience coach and inclusion advocate — to explore how a shift from a tech career to the speaking stage became not just a career pivot, but a whole new way of living.
 
Winston shares candidly about navigating corporate environments as a disabled professional, the early signs of burnout, and the pivotal moment he realised he wanted a different kind of life. From building speaking skills at Toastmasters to standing on a TEDx stage, Winston’s story is a powerful example of designing work around strengths, purpose, and true impact.
 
They discuss the challenges of rebuilding in a new country, the surprising link between creativity and confidence, and why empathy and inclusive thinking are vital parts of thriving workplaces — and thriving lives.
 
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✨ In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why burnout can sometimes be a hidden career gift
• Winston’s transition from computer science to keynote speaking
• How environments — not just mindsets — shape success
• The impact of early encouragement and creativity on career confidence
• The ripple effect of inclusive workplaces and storytelling
• Reflections on redesigning work to fit who you really are, not just what you can do
 
🎧 Whether you’re pivoting careers, starting again in a new environment, or simply rethinking what fulfilment looks like, this episode offers hope, encouragement and sharp insight into what’s possible.
 
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🔗 Links & Resources:
• Connect with Winston Ben Clements on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Connect with Erica Sosna on LinkedIn
• Find out more at The Career Equation website
 
#TheCareerEquation #CareerDevelopment #BurnoutRecovery #WorkAndThrive #PurposeDrivenCareer

Identify Your Transferable Skills With Erica Sosna & Zoë Schofield

It’s easy to undervalue the things that come naturally — especially when they don’t come with a fancy title or certificate. But those everyday strengths you’ve developed over time? They’re your transferable skills — and they matter more than ever in today’s fast-moving world of work.
 
In this episode, Erica and Zoë explore why transferable skills are so powerful, and how to uncover the ones you might be taking for granted. From planning a family holiday to leading a team project, the skills you build across all areas of life often hold the key to your career development.
 
You’ll hear stories from past guests who’ve made bold career moves — from teaching to steampunk rapping, corporate life to château-renovating — all made possible by a strong sense of the skills they could take with them.
 
They also dive into practical frameworks to help you tell better stories about your strengths, and share advice for managers and coaches to help others do the same.
 
Whether you’re starting fresh, stuck in a rut, or mentoring a team — this is your permission to own what you’re brilliant at.
 
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✨ In this episode, you’ll find:
•What a transferable skill really is — and why you probably have more than you think
•A simple exercise to spot the skills that energise you most
•Why your “natural” strengths are often the most valuable
•How to use your career story to surface hidden skills
•Ways managers and mentors can help others grow in their roles
•Tools to boost your confidence and sharpen your career focus
 
🎧 Give yourself a moment to reflect. You might be sitting on strengths you haven’t even named yet.
 
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🔗 Links & Resources:
•ICF-accredited coaching programme – starts May 2025
•Connect with Erica: linkedin.com/in/ericasosna
•Connect with Zoë: linkedin.com/in/zoeschofieldcoach
 
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#TheCareerEquation #TransferableSkills #CareerDevelopment #WorkAndThrive #CareerClarity #ProfessionalGrowth

Expert Special: From Tick Box to True Impact (Jonathan Black, Part 2)

In this second part of Erica’s conversation with Jonathan Black, Head of Oxford University’s Careers Service and careers columnist for the Financial Times, they explore how to truly prepare for a 21st-century career — one driven by impact, adaptability, and learning.
 
From internships to alumni networks, Jonathan shares practical insights into how students can gain meaningful work experience, discover career paths they hadn’t considered, and gain clarity around what really matters. They also discuss the evolution of careers advice, the growing importance of purpose-led roles, and how to navigate a career change with intention and confidence.
 
Whether you’re just starting out or making a mid-career move, this episode is full of actionable takeaways, thoughtful strategies, and the kind of honest wisdom that helps turn ambition into progress.
 
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✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:
•Why employers value real-world experience (even a job at McDonald’s)
•How internships and micro-projects offer critical exposure to working life
•The growing demand for purpose-driven roles in the third sector
•How Oxford is piloting innovative ways to connect students and alumni
•Advice for mid-career professionals looking to pivot with confidence
•Why defining your ‘North Star’ can unlock surprising opportunities
 
🎧 This conversation shines a light on how careers are really built — through experimentation, reflection, and a clear sense of purpose.
 
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🔗 Links & Resources:
•Connect with Jonathan Black on LinkedIn
•Connect with Erica Sosna on LinkedIn
•Explore Oxford University Careers Service
 
#TheCareerEquation #CareerDevelopment #PurposeDrivenCareers #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerPivot #OxfordCareers

Expert Special: From Wake Up Calls to Wise Choices (Jonathan Black, Part 1)

In this first part of a fascinating two-part conversation, Erica sits down with Jonathan Black, Head of Oxford University’s Careers Service, to explore how career journeys really unfold — and why sometimes a wake-up call in a French farmhouse or a cheap motel can lead to some of the most pivotal, empowering choices.
 
With a career that spans engineering, publishing, consulting and entrepreneurship, Jonathan reflects candidly on the pivots, missteps, and moments of clarity that shaped his path — and the patterns he sees in the students and professionals he’s advised over the years.
 
They discuss the power of conscious career decisions, how to untangle parental and peer pressures, why staying too long in the wrong role is more common than we admit — and how being true to your values and environment is a key part of the Career Equation.
 
 
✨ In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why choice and control matter more than titles and salaries
The moment Jonathan knew he needed to walk away from consulting
What redundancy can teach us (once the dust settles)
How to spot a role that fits not just your skills, but your lifestyle
Honest reflections on challenges and what they can teach us
Insights into the world of Oxford careers advising — and what students really worry about
 
🎧 Whether you’re mid-career and wondering what’s next, or just starting out and figuring out what matters most, this episode offers thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and plenty of food for thought.
 
 
🔗 Links & Resources:
 
Connect with Jonathan Black on LinkedIn
Connect with Erica Sosna on LinkedIn
Explore Oxford University Careers Service
 
 
#TheCareerEquation #CareerDevelopment #CareerClarity #WorkAndThrive #ProfessionalGrowth #OxfordCareers

Making Sense of Your Career Story With Erica Sosna & Zoe Schofield

It’s easy to focus on the future when thinking about your career — the next role, the next promotion, the next leap. But what if some of your most useful career clues are hiding in the past?
In this episode, Erica and Zoë dig into the power of reflection. They explore how looking back at your career journey so far — the highs, the lows, and everything in between — can help you make smarter, more intentional decisions about what comes next. You’ll hear why your past experiences matter, how to spot the patterns that reveal what really makes you tick, and how the Career Timeline exercise can give you fresh clarity on where you’re heading.
They also unpack the Career Equation — their simple but powerful framework for designing a fulfilling working life — and show how it connects directly to your own personal story.
Whether you’re planning a big move, feeling stuck, or just want to understand yourself better at work, this episode is full of practical tips, warm encouragement, and real-life insight.
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✨ In this episode, you’ll find:
•A simple but powerful way to reflect on your career journey
•How to identify what energises you — and what drains you
•Tips to map your highs and lows (and why both matter)
•Why sharing your story can build trust and confidence at work
•A fresh look at how to apply the Career Equation to your next step
•Ideas for using this tool as a manager, coach or mentor
🎧 Listen in and give yourself the space to reflect — your next chapter might just start here.
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🔗 Links & Resources:
•How to build your own Career Timeline
•Info on our ICF-accredited coaching programme – starts May 2025
•Connect with Erica and Zoë on LinkedIn
 
#TheCareerEquation #CareerDevelopment #CareerReflection #CareerClarity #WorkAndThrive #ProfessionalGrowth