The Career Equation®: The Formula for Career Clarity

From London to the Beach: Marketing Agency Founder: How Lucy Capon Built a Dream Life in Thailand

How do you redefine your career to prioritise both impact and balance? On this episode of The Career Equation, Zoë Schofield speaks with Lucy Capon, founder and marketing director of Wellhouse, a consultancy dedicated to helping purpose-driven businesses grow and thrive. After a decade as head of marketing in the finance sector, Lucy made a bold leap—leaving corporate life for a remote working adventure in Thailand while building her own consultancy from scratch.
Lucy reflects on her career transition, her passion for coaching, and her approach to creating impactful marketing strategies. Using the Career Equation framework, Zoë helps Lucy explore her guiding principles, conundrums as a solo entrepreneur, and her vision for mentoring and enabling others. Tune in for insights on rediscovering purpose, navigating career pivots, and building a business you love.
Resources and links
Connect with Lucy via LinkedIn or Wellhouse Marketing
Discover the Career Equation framework at www.thecareerequation.com

The Business Case for Career Conversations: The Secret to Retaining Talent, Driving Performance & Unlocking a Scalable Advantage

Why do career conversations matter to businesses and individuals—and how can they lead to tangible results? On this episode of The Career Equation, Erica Sosna and Zoë Schofield team up to explore the business case for career conversations. They discuss how using the Career Equation framework creates a win-win scenario for organisations looking to retain top talent and for individuals seeking clarity and growth in their careers.From reducing attrition to building a personalised approach to skills development, Erica and Zoë share how businesses like Savills, Microsoft, and Capital One have benefited from embedding structured career conversations into their people strategies. Learn how career dialogue fosters retention, boosts performance, and supports powerful decision-making for careers at every level in your organisation.

From Youth Culture to Boardrooms: Kian Bakhtiari on Gen Z, Innovation & the Future of Work

How can young people have a real say in shaping the future they'll live in? Join Erica Sosna and her guest Kian Bakhtiari, founder of The People, a Gen-Z-focused consultancy, on The Career Equation, as they explore this vital question. Kian’s mission is to amplify young voices through creativity and collaboration, helping businesses and the next generation work together for meaningful change.
Kian shares his inspiring personal story of adapting to new environments, the challenges young people face in decision-making and the workplace, and the potential of Youth Advisory Boards to revolutionise how businesses work. Through the Career Equation framework, Erica helps Kian frame his vision, purpose, and impact on the next generation. With practical advice and insightful examples, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about empowering young changemakers.

Turning Improv into Business: How Heather Urquhart Balances Motherhood, Theatre & Consulting — And What It Can Teach You About Leadership

Discover how the principles of improvisation can transform businesses and careers in this exciting episode of The Career Equation Podcast! Erica Sosna sits down with Heather Urquhart, an award-winning professional improviser and founder of And Also Improv, to explore the untapped potential of creativity and adaptability in the corporate world.
Learn how improvisation techniques like “listening, saying yes, and committing” can revolutionise communication, foster innovation, and enhance team collaboration. Heather shares her journey of balancing parenthood with running a creative business, while also navigating her career conundrum of transitioning from the stage to becoming a credible entrepreneur in corporate settings.
Erica introduces her Career Equation framework, a powerful tool for overcoming career challenges by aligning personal values, strengths, and aspirations. One key takeaway is Erica’s coaching insight, which helped Heather craft a business narrative that balances her authenticity and creative expertise with her entrepreneurial goals.
This episode offers invaluable insights for HR professionals, coaches, and business leaders looking to foster adaptability, creativity, and collaboration in their teams. Tune in to unlock strategies for turning challenges into opportunities and explore how creativity can be a competitive edge in today’s dynamic workplaces.
Whether you’re seeking career growth, innovative team-building techniques, or tools for organisational success, this episode has something for everyone. Listen now and start solving your career equation with clarity, creativity, and confidence!

From Global Banking to Freelance Freedom: How Paul Mullins Reinvented His Career and Made the Leap from HSBC

For many, a career spanning 35 years in global finance might seem like the pinnacle of stability and success. Paul Mullins is an exception to this. He is a former leader at HSBC. He sought a new challenge that prompted an unexpected career shift. He transitioned from corporate leadership to consultancy. In this episode of The Career Equation Podcast, Paul reflects on his leadership journey. He shares valuable insights into navigating the challenges of a major career change. He shares about transitioning into consultancy and mastering the art of communication.
"Moving from a big corporate to a consultancy role was exciting and a bit challenging," Paul says. He transitioned from managing large teams at HSBC to helping fintech startups grow. This shift allowed him to use his experience in a new way. After managing global projects for years, Paul now focuses on smaller businesses. He aims to share his expertise with these companies to help them enter new markets. His goal is to support sustainable growth for these businesses.
The podcast further explores the evolving demands of leadership. Paul discusses the importance of personal development. He explains how key skills like communication can shape successful career transitions.

I Made My Own Dream Job: How Susan Emmett Reinvented Her Career and Designed a Social Impact Role From Scratch — After Journalism, Housing Policy, and Consultancy

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.

From Student Radio to commentating on the Olympics - sports journalist and broadcaster Alex shows us how to climb the freelance ladder in the competitive world of sports journalism

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.

Doc Martens, the Global Majority and my next steps: How I Create Cultures of Belonging in Retail, Tech & Beyond — Holly Smith’s Story

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.

Career Superpowers: Jeffrey Wotherspoon on Finding the Right Job and Building a Leadership Business

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.

From Regret to Reset: How to Reframe Your Career Story

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.