In this week's episode we cover values in the workplace, what they are, and why they matter. Bec this week goes completely off the cuff on this as she's a values pro, and Annie did a bit of soul searching to reflect on what her values in the workplace are. We cover: * How values and ethics are related * How your values can be supported in work, or not * Our own personal values and how we live them * How values are different in different aspects of life e.g. work, self, friendships * How values change over time, including in life transition stages like pregnancy * Navigating values misalignment * What we think of workplace values and how they are used We also cover important topics such as to "wed-shred" or to "wed-dread", and Bec ponders a potential correlation between how much you get paid, and how harmful the work you do it. Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! Recommendations from this episode: * Brene Brown - Daring Greatly [https://brenebrown.com/book/daring-greatly/] * Simon Sinek - Start with Why [https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/183786/start-with-why-by-sinek-simon/9781405977593] * Rutger Bregman - Moral Ambition [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/latenightlive/rutger-bregman-moral-ambition/105268882], Utopia for Realists [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Utopia-Realists-How-Can-There/dp/1408890267]

This week's episode is on the "Let Them" theory. A controversial theory, which can be summarised as a mindset and boundary-setting approach that encourages emotional freedom and letting go of control over how others behave. At the core of this idea is that you can't control other people's emotions, so you shouldn't worry about it. In this episode, Annie and Bec give their hot take on: * What are the positives of this theory? When is it helpful * Is this just giving up, and giving up influence? * What would happen if we stopped engaging with complex issues at work * How "doing hard things" is part of work, and this theory does encourages being passive * The benefits of productive rage * Is "caring a little less" better advice for women than men? * How this helps people pleasers Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! Recommendations from this episode: * Shameless Media - Mel Robbins and the church of "Let Them" [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mel-robbins-and-the-church-of-let-them/id1352875216?i=1000699123974] * Mel Robbins, The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About [https://www.melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/]

In episode 2 of season 3, we cover the long awaited topic of burnout. This is potentially Annie's favourite thing to talk about, as she considers herself often close to a burnout episode (and this is not a point of pride). This episode covers: * The 3 dimensions of burnout * The "double shift" that women do at work, and at home * Annie's personal experience of burnout * How burnout changes your brain, and how your brain recovers * The importance of social connections in the recovery from burnout * How to prevent burnout * When burnout means you should leave your job Also learn about Annie's hen-do, Bec's view on sound baths and whether she will step into a renovation project or not. Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! Recommendations from this episode: * Christina Maslach, The Maslach Burnout Inventory – emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. * Arianna Huffington, Advocates for microsteps [https://thriveglobal.com/articles/arianna-huffington-no-phone-bedroom-sleep-recharge-thrive-role-model] in her work at Thrive Global to counter burnout. * McKinsey & LeanIn.Org [http://leanin.org/], Women in the Workplace 2023 [https://womenintheworkplace.com/]

We're starting season 3 of the Career Coven strong, with an episode on having a personal career advisory board. Get the expert take on the value of career advisory boards and learn about how we've both approached having career advisors around us. This episode covers: * Why women need a personal advisory board * How important advisory boards can be in periods of transition (e.g. return to work, navigating maternity leave, changing roles or organisations) * How to choose your board members, and how to balance them * How to ask someone to be on your board * How to maintain relationships with advisors * Who is on our own advisory boards (beyond just each other). Also get the massive life updates from Annie and Bec after a bit of a break in the pod... Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! Recommendations from this episode: * Jan Torrisi-Mokwa, Building Career Equity [https://www.amazon.com/Building-Career-Equity-Jan-Torrisi-Mokwa/dp/0983189676] * Herminia Ibarra, How to do sposorship right [https://herminiaibarra.com/how-to-do-sponsorship-right/] (2022) * Tara Mohr, Playing Big:  For Women Who Want to Speak Up, Stand Out and Lead [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Playing-Big-practical-guide-brilliant/dp/0099591529/ref=asc_df_0099591529?mcid=4b195716fab7359ab095d3e7554d362f&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=3617108633627327215-0099591529-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3617108633627327215&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9222618&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1&gad_source=1] (2015) * Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar [https://hbr.org/search?term=Rakshitha%20Arni%20Ravishankar], Finding The Right Mentor, Harvard Business Review [https://hbr.org/2023/10/finding-the-right-mentor-our-favorite-reads] (2023)

In the last episode of season 2, Bec and Annie discuss the skill of negotiation. Bec has a strong belief that everything in life is about negotiation, and this is one of her favourite skills to practice. Annie tends to rush negotiations, and push for outcomes, something which is a development area. Bec talks through how she prepares for negotiations, so that she feels confident and calm in her position. She outlines how firm but fair is often the best approach to negotiations - as in the majority of cases you're negotiating with people who you will work with again. Annie talks girl math - how to get to an hourly rate which does not undervalue yourself. This episode covers: * What makes a 'good negotiation' * The importance of knowing when to walk away * Playing a few steps ahead * Accidentally negotiating well * Not rushing negotiations * How it's easier to negotiate on behalf of other people, and that you can ask for help * When to have a break in a negotiation Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Recommendations from this episode: * Venture Deals [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Venture-Deals-Smarter-Lawyer-Capitalist/dp/1119594820/ref=asc_df_1119594820/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=597877400562199837&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045894&hvtargid=pla-2281435179578&psc=1&mcid=62ee080c63ab3f69abaef9c4c1884765&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=597877400562199837-1119594820-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1], Feld and Mendelson. A good book for if you are preparing to raise money for a business.  * Accelerate Law. [https://www.acceleratelaw.co.uk/] Annie's Lawyer Simon who is amazing for startups. 

This week's episode is a risky experiment. Bec and Annie decided to put their chat to the test - by interviewing two people they've recently managed about what they're really like. Annie interviews Francesca Ward, who Bec is currently managing. Francesca has done not one but two jobs with Bec - so knows her like the back of her hand. Bec has a chat with Dani Conlon, who was part of the team which Annie managed most recently. Dani doesn't hold back - highlighting that Annie's a 'horse girl'… We've learned a lot about each other through this conversation. We hope you find it as fun as we found recording it. Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com

In this week's episode, Annie speaks to Clare Mullen. Clare is the Chief People Officer at the health-tech startup Scan.com [http://scan.com/]. She works across the UK and the US to build that team. Annie and Bec decided, having an expert in interviewing on the show, we should probably focus on how to get a job from the perspective of someone who has really seen it all… over 20,000 interviews. Listen in to hear a discussion about: * The top 3 most common problems you see in first interviews from the hirers perspective (and how to avoid them) * Tips for an amazing first interview from a hirer's perspective * What candidates should be trying to find out from their future employer, as they progress through interview rounds * How to standout in interviews, in a good way * How Clare approached building her own career, including being a freelancer and then going into a full time role * Tips for starting freelancing Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com

In this week's episode Bec and Annie talk through self development, and how they've both approached building their careers. Whilst Bec has taken a very structured and deliberate approach to building her career, Annie's career moves have been more opportunistic and often led by passion and gut instinct. Bec has a 3 year life plan, that helps her focus in on her progression and goals. They discuss the merits of both different approaches. Listen to this episode to hear more about: * Resources we recommend to think about career progression and structure * The roles we've both learned the most in * How coaching has supported us both at different times * The difference between coaching and mentoring * Top 5 tips for career building Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Recommendations from this episode: * Designing Your Life [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Designing-Your-Life-Perfect-Career/dp/1784701173/], Burnett and Evans

This weeks episode is all about coaching. Both Annie and Bec have benefitted from coaching at different points in their career. They've also spoken about coaching at various points across season 1 and 2 of the Career Coven. In this weeks episode Bec speaks to Annie's former coach - Seb Agertoft. This episode is for people who are either thinking about getting a coach or are interested in becoming a coach. By the way - Annie highly recommends working with Seb (the best coach she's worked with in terms of outcomes). This episode covers: * Seb's personal journey to coaching * What coaching is * How there are different styles of coaching * The difference between coaching and mentoring Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com https://www.sebagertoft.com/

In this week's episode of the Career Coven Bec and Annie answer a series of questions from the listeners. They cover: * Is there a dream job for everyone? * How to balance finding your 'dream job' with working where you are now? * Should we all be purpose driven in our jobs? * How can you change culture in a highly political organisation? * What to do when you're managing engineers that don't like to change their behaviour… And much more…. Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Recommendations from this episode: * Designing Your Life [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Designing-Your-Life-Perfect-Career/dp/1784701173/], Burnett and Evans * Sir Wobbles [https://www.instagram.com/sirwobbles/?hl=en] wombat rescue Instagram account * 5 Dysfunctions of a team [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Overcoming-Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Facilitators/dp/B079X8ZBR4/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=164156882394&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YpZeR3nWpqf6lo6YoDz4TUnltlKewgUJIw1eotb-nYwX30TAsTNSFa-k-rO1VNtO9ohkprziMBjoFn_7T2FmePnFabVPK9kK4ivxJkweof7RUQIABEs5pJSonno6LJOkE6vVpS0i7fRhIQMVK_eoDX2_8OnfhKpNLHMMyu0OH3_Sh5APKaneELxAmEiwADKonf_ha2pTfvUEz6PBYGIqyOLtrQ463v5FgaeZyXN9rbU.xyru2qxO_MYPpl5yCkThRmWPzusayWHzrBoD11--tQw&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=696769354718&hvdev=c&hvexpln=69&hvlocphy=9045894&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4887579906989738938--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4887579906989738938&hvtargid=kwd-433598645&hydadcr=24431_2302447&keywords=5+dysfunctions+of+a+team&qid=1725813126&sr=8-1], Lencioni and Leffert

In this week's episode, Annie speaks to Lizzi Amartey. Lizzi is the Head of People at the UK non-profit Founders Pledge. Lizzi has worked across the globe in HR, and is passion about how to build diversity into teams. Annie and Bec decided that given Lizzi's incredible background, we should focus the chat on how to build diverse and high performing teams. Listen in to hear a discussion about: * Is there a 'right' construction of a team? * What most often goes wrong when trying to build a team * How to remove 'bad apples' from the team * How to hold an organisation to account for diverse hiring * Tips for hiring diversely * How to ask about diversity in a job interview process Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Recommendations from this episode: * Hire slow, fire fast [https://hbr.org/2014/03/hire-slow-fire-fast] * CultureAmp - Empower Diverse Teams [https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/empower-diverse-teams] * BambooHR- How to recruit a diverse team [https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-to-recruit-a-diverse-workforce] * CIPD - inclusive employers [https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/guides/inclusive-employers/]

This week on the Career Coven, we talk about the process of being interviewed for a new job. It covers how to make a good first impression, how to develop a narrative around your own skills and whether or not to have notes in front of you during an interview. Bec shares her best and worst of interviews, and how she finds it easier to interview for jobs where your own experience is directly relevant. Annie share how candidates should also leave an interview with some value - it shouldn't just feel like a one sided interrogation. Our interviewing tips include: * Trying to say something interesting in the first interview, not just perfectly articulating your CV * Make sure the role is clear, or push for clarity on it * Keeping things quite conversational can help it to feel less nerve-racking * Trying to have more than one example of your key strengths, so you're not just talking about the same examples over and over when interviewing (boring for you) * Dress appropriately - even if it's online * Listen actively to the interviewer, and don't just try to fit 'your examples' into the questions being asked Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com

In this week's episode of the Career Coven, Bec interviews Alice Pelton who is the founder and CEO of the Lowdown. The Lowdown is a health platform - where women can research their health choices (used by over 2 million women per year). Alice and Bec have an honest conversation about what it's really like being pregnant at work, and being a leader. Bec felt that there were lots of parts of becoming pregnant which were not explained to her at all, and both Bec and Annie feel that pregnancy at work is something that is not openly discussed. We want to give a voice to some of what people go through whilst pregnant. Quote of the episode — "Women are fucking amazing actually." A trigger warning for this episode - we do cover the topic of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. We know that some people will find this content upsetting, so we wanted to be up front about that. But as so many women will experience pregnancy loss on the journey to parenthood, we wanted to keep this information in. This episode covers: * Getting pregnant whilst working * The misinformation women are told about pregnancy * Coping with the nausea * How your hormones change in pregnancy, and  their impact on you * The pressure to perform at your best, whilst pregnant * The importance of naps * How and when to tell people * When you should go on mat leave * Returning to work (don't come back first week of Jan) * How you prioritise better when you're a parent * Childcare once you're coming back to work And most importantly - how amazingly worth it the journey to being pregnant is. Alice provides a lot of tips about what she would do differently next time she was pregnant. Gold-dust! Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Content & recommendations from this episode: * Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matrescence-Metamorphosis-Pregnancy-Childbirth-Motherhood/dp/1802061304/ref=asc_df_1802061304/]- Lucy Jones * The Lowdown [https://thelowdown.com/] * Alice's Substack [https://alicepelton.substack.com/] * Bubble [https://joinbubble.com/] - an app for booking nannies and childcare

On the first episode of their second season, Annie and Bec talk how to quit your job. They discuss when to quit, how to quit, and whether it's ever a good idea to go out in a blaze of glory. Like most people, Annie and Bec debate whether it's always best to have your next job lined up when you quit, or just to go. Listen to this episode to hear more about: * How to think about job tenure * Job scenarios when you may want to quit * Job scenarios when you don't want to quit * How to quit well * How not to quit * What to do in a notice period * What not to do when you quit Enjoying this content? Please rate and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com There's a few life updates in this one - which shape some of the content of the second season. So don't miss out! If you like our content you can follow us both on our personal platforms: * Bec's Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaellul/] & Substack [https://becsbriefing.substack.com/] * Annie's Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-coleridge-57b39067/] & Substack [https://anniecoleridge.substack.com/]

In this last episode of season one, Annie shares her deep love of feedback, and some techniques to help make giving feedback less painful. As usual, Bec holds Annie to account on giving clear examples of these tools things actually work in practice. Whilst we both agree giving feedback is important, and that it should be specific and not vague but Bec is possibly less obsessed with feedback than Annie overall. Listen into this episode to hear us answer listener questions on: * Is all feedback worth listening to? * When I get feedback I don't want to hear, I can tend to discredit the person who gave me the feedback. Is this normal? * WTF is up with radical candour? Is this the same as just giving feedback? Enjoying this content. Please give us lots of stars and subscribe on your preferred platform. Let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com Recommendations * The BIFF feedback model [https://andiroberts.com/feedback-models-hub/] * The SBI(R) model of giving feedback [https://www.mindtools.com/ay86376/the-situation-behavior-impact-feedback-tool] * Three ways to give feedback better than a third grader [https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2022/10/12/three-ways-to-give-feedback-as-well-if-not-better-than-a-first-grader/]

In this episode we talk about the importance of trust in making hybrid working work! Bec is a huge fan of hybrid working, whilst Annie can see more benefits of working in the office for some of the week. Listen into this episode to get tips on: * How to get your team to come back into the office (carrot vs stick) * The social importance of working in the office * How employers have a responsibility to make the office environment productive * Which work is best done in an office vs at home * How hybrid working has positively impacted caregivers - and  that you can't have one rule for some and one for other Content recs, references & extra reading * Deep work, Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/deep-work-rules-for-focused-success-in-a-distracted-world/] (Annie) * Big Tech returns to the office [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/12/rto-microsoft-apple-spacex] Are you a fan? Please consider popping us a few stars and subscribing on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com 

We all need resilience - in work, and in life. Recovering from setbacks is part of everyones journey. In this episode, Bec and Annie cover times when we've not felt resilient, our own 'watch out' signs that our resilience may be low, and what we both do to maintain our resilience now. They talk about the importance of having a longer term mindset, and spending time on self care can be critical to increasing your resilience and recovering from burnout. Listen to find out answers to: * Do you have be optimistic to be resilient? * Can you find resilience on your own? Or do you need other people? * What are 5 things everyone could do to increase their resilience? Content recs and little extras from this episode: * Sara Pascoe at the Hay Festival [https://www.tiktok.com/@hayfestival/video/7375139870273998113] on how experience makes things easier to process * The Body Keeps the Score [https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score] - Dr Bessel van der Kolk * Why We Sleep [https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/295665/why-we-sleep-by-walker-matthew/9780141983769] - Matthew Walker * The stress bucket exercise [https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/the-stress-bucket/%20https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/managing-stress-and-building-resilience/] * NHS mental health services [https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/] - if you need a bit of help from a professional * If anyone you know is struggling with mental health - the Samaritans are always available [https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/] when you need. Enjoying this content? Please give us stars and follows on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com

The most requested topic by our listeners - attempted by us for the first time. Annie and Bec discovered in researching imposter syndrome that they've both had it, and they've both recovered (almost) from it. We cover what imposter syndrome, and how it's linked to structures in society. We also discuss the importance of having a growth mindset in overcoming imposter syndrome, as well as more light hearted tips and tricks that can help you in moments where you feel like an imposter. This entire episode is structured around listener questions, and we look at a couple more specifically on: * How is imposter syndrome linked to the gender pay gap? * How can you overcome imposter syndrome when going for a promotion? Content recs, references & extra reading: * Lizzo [https://open.spotify.com/artist/56oDRnqbIiwx4mymNEv7dS?si=bmOSlBpMRqqDPJMvu0bYZQ] * Dr Valerie Young's Imposter Syndrome Institute [https://impostorsyndrome.com/valerie-young/]  * Thinking your way out of imposter syndrome, Valerie Young [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7v-GG3SEWQ] * Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/]  * Is imposter syndrome a sign of greatness? Quartz  [https://qz.com/606727/is-imposter-syndrome-a-sign-of-greatness] * Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: What's the difference? Harvard Business School [https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset]  * Fix The System, Not The Women, Laura Bates [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59493858-fix-the-system-not-the-women]  Not necessarily related to imposter syndrome but fraud-adjacent and enjoyable * The Missing Cryptoqueen podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5nk7d9MLCgE3M47mXPW7MP?si=677586dff29b4642] * Bitconned documentary [https://www.netflix.com/title/81507283]

In this episode, Annie and Bec give you a career coven palate cleanser and answer some audience questions which have been left since the start of the podcast. It's a "snippy snappy" episode, to use Bec's words, where we both alternate in giving answers. We cover questions like: * Born to lead, or learn to lead? * Can you have work-life balance as a leader? * How to build up your confidence after set backs * How can you start a side hustle alongside a job? * How useful is it to do an MBA? Enjoying this content? Please chuck us some stars, subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com

Annie takes the lead in this episode, having strong feelings about how she likes her team to manage upwards to her. We discuss the importance of preparing for your line management meetings, knowing and communicating exactly what you need from your line manager, and establishing your boundaries early. Annie shares how one of the most common things people forget when managing upwards is that often, you are a small part of your managers whole job and responsibilities. Sometimes, this can lead to people feeling overlooked or unimportant - when really it's about the time people have to invest across all their different priorities. Having empathy with your line manager, as well as expecting that they will show you empathy and support, is important for a relationship to be both successful and realistic. We examine the often given advice that it's important to be 'easy to manage' and we answer some listener questions on: * How to deal with a manager who doesn't like you * How to deal with a manager blocking your progression * How to manage up if you don't trust your line manager Content recs, references & extra reading * Dealing with your incompetent boss [https://hbr.org/2011/06/dealing-with-your-incompetent?registration=success], Amy Gallo, HBR * Setting the Record Straight on Managing Your Boss [https://hbr.org/2014/12/setting-the-record-straight-on-managing-your-boss], Amy Gallo, HBR  * Guide to managing up: What it means and why it's important, [https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/managing-up-importance] CultureAmp  Are you a fan? Please like and subscribe on your preferred platform, and let us know what you think! hello@careercoven.com P.S. This was our last planned episode for series 1. Let us know what extra topics you'd like us to cover next.