The Career Equation

How to Co-design a Job You Love ft. Susan Emmett

Join host Erica on The Career Equation podcast as she delves into the art of creating a fulfilling career with Susan Emmett, Social Value Director at Stantec. Susan’s journey from journalism to business development offers unique insights into embedding social value into business strategies. Her career path highlights the importance of aligning professional ambitions with personal values, providing invaluable lessons for those seeking career satisfaction.
In this episode, Susan elucidates the concept of social value, illustrating its shift from a corporate formality to a vital business strategy influenced by public expectations and legislative frameworks like the Social Value Act of 2012. She stresses that genuine success now depends on a company’s societal and environmental impact, rather than just financial performance.
At the core of Susan’s philosophy are leadership and communication, as she champions clear storytelling to highlight Stantec’s contributions to social value. She shares her vision of making social impact an integral part of "business as usual," encouraging leaders to align corporate objectives with broader societal goals.
Tune in to discover how Susan Emmett’s transformative approach can help you design a career that not only achieves professional aspirations but also makes a positive contribution to the world. This episode is essential listening for anyone looking to integrate sustainability into their career path and lead with purpose.

Alex Seftel’s Career Growth from Student Media to BBC

Alex Seftel's journey in journalism is a testament to the power of seizing opportunities and embracing career growth. Learn about the Career Equation and how it can transform your professional path!
In today's episode of the Career Equation, we sat with Alex, a versatile journalist and BBC podcast producer. From student media to BBC podcasts, Alex's career shows curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone. He shares, "I wanted to get into sports because I've been a sports fan, although that hasn't been my upbringing. My parents aren't interested in sport that much." His interest in sports journalism came from wanting a more relaxed setting than political reporting. "Sport was a little bit more relaxed than politics. You didn't have to think about balancing between two sides, less stressful, you can say more what you want," Alex explains.
His journey began in earnest during his university years when he took the plunge into student media. Despite initial hesitations, Alex found a welcoming community that shared his interests. He recalls, "When I got into it people were very friendly. We had the same interests in the case of sport, for example." This experience helped him to find passion. It helped him to build skills in commentating, writing, and TV production.

Employee Engagement is the key to my Diversity Agenda w/ Holly Smith

On the latest episode of The Career Equation Podcast, we sit down with Holly Smith. She is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Partner at Personio. We explore the critical role of employee engagement, HR strategies, and culture in the modern workplace. Holly has a Employee background in leading DEI initiatives. She has a deep passion for driving inclusion within organizations. Holly offers a distinctive view on the role of HR as a strategic partner in meeting business objectives. This is especially relevant for tech companies.
“HR teams can be strategic partners to departments,” Holly explains. She highlights her experience at Personio as an HR tech solution. She automates tasks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Holly has over three years of experience at Personio. She collaborates with leaders to align employee engagement and culture with business goals. Her focus is on enhancing workplace satisfaction while meeting organizational objectives. "It’s easy for HR to be viewed as just supporting internal customers, but we can also help the business achieve its wider goals,” she adds.
Holly shares not only her professional journey but also how her personal experiences. Such as how becoming a new parent has shaped her approach in the workplace. Her insights are invaluable for anyone looking to improve employee engagement.

Harness Your Superpower at Work w/ Jeffrey Wotherspoon

In today's episode of the Career Equation, we sit down with Jeffrey Wotherspoon. He is an executive and leadership coach. Known for his exceptional work in diversity, inclusion, and personal development, Jeffrey has turned his superpower into a tool for creating safe learning environments. He has accreditations from the International Coaching Federation. Jeffrey brings a wealth of experience to the table. Jeffery’s coaching audience spans from young men in prison to high-level executives. He aims to help individuals succeed and reach their full potential. He seeks to foster empathy, understanding, and collaboration in the workplace.
“The work I do is always bespoke—tailored to the client’s needs,” Jeffrey explains. Jeffrey helps clients improve their leadership skills and navigate difficult conversations through personalised coaching. He helps them to identify their strengths and passions. He adds, “I create a space for learning, understanding, and empathy. Leveraging the diversity in the room helps people work together better.”
Jeffrey shares how the career equation has transformed his approach to coaching. He explains that the model helps individuals align their personal goals with their professional ones. It also assists organisations in achieving similar alignment.

Rethink Regret in Your Career Journey w/ the Career Equation

In a recent episode of the Career Equation Podcast, hosts Erica Sosna and Zoë Schofield explore the concept of career philosophy. They discuss its importance in today's ever-changing work landscape. They share their insights on various episodes in the podcast. They provide new insights into how people and organisations can rethink career planning. Their approach focuses on the evolving demands of the 21st century.
Erica Sosna is the creator of the Career Equation. She emphasises the core philosophy behind their approach. "A career is a series of choices where we explore how to align my gifts with how I spend my time and make money", she says. This statement sets the stage for rethinking traditional career paths. It challenges conventional ideas and promotes a more flexible approach. The focus is on personalising career development to meet individual needs.
The hosts share stories from various professionals. They talk about Annalise, who made a significant career change. She shifted from corporate life to entrepreneurship in France. They also discuss the career tangent of Charlie, a doctor who knew his calling from an early age. These real-life examples illustrate the diverse ways individuals navigate their career journeys. They highlight how their choices align with their values and aspirations.

Career Coach Sarah Taylor Phillips on Careers as Random Set of Experiments

In the latest episode of The Career Equation podcast, host Erica Sosna sits down with Sarah Taylor Phillips. She is a seasoned career coach and recruitment consultant. Sarah's journey from a thriving corporate career to becoming a top career advisor is both inspiring and educational. With 20 years in talent acquisition, Sarah has seen the job market change firsthand.
"I realised that my true passion lay in helping others navigate their career paths," Sarah reflects. "The satisfaction of seeing someone transition into a role they love is unparalleled." Sarah transitioned from corporate recruiter to career coach to make a direct impact on people's lives. "In recruitment, I was matching candidates to jobs. As a career coach, I'm helping people align their entire lives with their professional aspirations," she explains.
Sarah's expertise in guiding midlife career changes has become relevant in today's dynamic job market. Her approach is called the "Career Voyage." It emphasises the importance of self-reflection and strategic planning in career development.

Launching a Real Estate Business in Your 60's

In the latest episode of the Career Equation Podcast, we sit down with Dominic Grace, a renowned figure in the real estate industry. With over 37 years at Savills, Dominic has recently embarked on a new journey. He has transitioned into property management consulting. This episode explores Dominic's experiences. It offers valuable insights into career change, work-life balance, and personal branding.
Is real estate a good career? Dominic sheds light on this by reflecting on his long and successful tenure at Savills. "I had a pretty long career at Savills, 37 years there," he recalls. During this time, he saw the company's growth from a small player to a global leader in the real estate industry. Yet, even with such a fulfilling career, Dominic felt a growing desire to explore new horizons. "I found myself tantalized by more and more things that were out of the guide rails of that role," he explains.
This led Dominic to a pivotal moment of self-reflection and a significant career change. He credits a transformative session with Erica for helping him peel off several layers of the onion and gaining clarity on his next steps. "You were brilliant," he tells Erica. "It certainly helped me decide what to do next and end up where I am today."

Annelies Kleyweg's Journey to Finding Her Perfect Dream Career using The Career Equation

In a recent podcast episode, Zoë Schofield sat down with Annelies Kleyweg. She is the owner and "gites executive officer" of Le Moulin de Clapier. It is a stunning mansion in the beautiful Dordogne area of France. Annelies decided to pursue her dream career. She left her corporate management and leadership roles. She pursued her dream of running a hospitality business. Now, she’s focused on this new venture in the French countryside.
Annelies's journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion and finding the right career equation. Her story begins with a holiday in Canada, where she and her husband stayed at a gite and started fantasising about running their own. This sparked a desire for change, leading them to take a leap of faith during the COVID-19 pandemic. Annelies shares, "We said, if we don't do it now, we will never do it. And, so, we just packed up, sold our house, and went. Yeah, it's really strange, and everybody said we were crazy, but we said, well, you can't fail, right? If you don't make it, it's not a failure. At least we tried."

From A&E to Sports Medicine: A Junior Doctor's Journey in Shaping His Medical Career

In today's episode of the Career Equation Podcast, host Erica Sosna sat down with Charles Hillman. He is a junior doctor working in A&E focusing on sports and rehabilitative medicine. Amid recent NHS strikes, Charlie provides a rare glimpse into emergency medicine today. He illuminates the realities of life on the medical frontlines. As he balances the pressures of the NHS with his aspirations in sports medicine, Charlie's experiences offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare. His perspective reveals both the challenges and potential solutions within the healthcare system.
Charlie's journey into medicine began with a passion for science. His initial inspiration was shows like CSI. But, he realized the reality of medical practice. It was far different from its portrayal on television. He explains, "In school, you're, no matter how much work experience you do, you don't know what it's about. Um, you know, you see people with injuries and with illnesses. And you read books that describe what it's about, but it's not, it's nothing like what it is."

What are the secrets to this podcasting pioneer's fulfilling career?

In this episode of the Career Equation Podcast, host Erica Sosna sits down with Gilly Smith, a seasoned journalist, food writer, and podcasting pioneer. Gilly's illustrious career spans television, radio, and print, with a particular focus on the politics and culture of food. Her experience includes working on programs about malnutrition. It focuses on the impact of markets on food security in countries like the Philippines and Guatemala. Erica points out that Gilly's career is fueled by passion and curiosity, which is a key theme in their conversation
Gilly's journey into journalism begins with a deep-seated desire to make an impact and do something different every day. "I wanted to make a change in the world and I wanted to do something different every day," she recalls. This drive led her to work for Bob Geldof on Sport Aid. This role cemented her commitment to using storytelling as a tool for change. Her father, a storyteller and PR person for the army, also significantly shapes her narrative skills. "I was surrounded by that kind of capturing and getting people to unpack," she says.
In this episode, Gilly shares her insights on the importance of storytelling in journalism. She discusses the challenges of a career change and the power of personal narrative. She also discusses her current career dilemma on how to transition her extensive expertise into a consulting career.