Annette Minihan Podcast

Annette Minihan and Careers Unpacked
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I'm Annette Minihan - career coach, people-watcher, and believer that our careers don't end at 40, 50, 60, or even 70. The truth is: we're living longer, working longer, and most of us will have more than one career chapter. This podcast is here to share the real stories... the pivots, the reinventions, the sideways steps, and the leaps of faith... from people who've built careers with resilience and imagination. My goal? To give you fresh ideas about how to extend your career, build a portfolio life, or simply open up new possibilities for what your next chapter could look like.

Episodes

  1. 6 Aug ·  Video

    Build Career Options - to work for longer

    If you're planning your next career move, considering a portfolio career, or simply wondering what the future of work looks like, I think you're going to enjoy this one. Mike Mister is one of the most respected leaders in the UK, with 50 years advising professionals on how to show up with confidence and position themselves to win. In this discussion Mike breaks down how to extend your career for longer and exactly which skills, what mindset, and what actions you need to take in 2026 to succeed at work so you can position yourself so you're your career work for you … During this conversation we explored: • An uncomfortable question. Do people secretly want to work for longer? The answer isn't what you might expect. • How a self-confessed "raving introvert" learnt to network without pretending to be someone else. • Why experimentation is one of the smartest ways to change careers. • The real reason so many talented people never ask for help. • How to choose the right projects when building a portfolio career. • The skills that will help you build a career that lasts longer, evolves with you and continues to challenge you. Every guest leaves me thinking differently. Mike certainly did. You'll find Mike Mister on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mister-ab0b14/ To connect with the show host - Annette Minihan: ▶ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan ▶ Website: www.careersunpacked.com ▶ Newsletter: https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008  Subscribe for more conversations with senior leaders, recruiters, coaches and industry experts to help you build a career that works for you. #Careers #ExecutiveSearch #JobSearch #InterviewTips #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #Networking #Recruitment #AI #PersonalBrand #HiddenJobMarket

  2. 1 Aug ·  Video

    Building a career that give you choices longer term - with Vince Pizzoni

    This week the Annette Minihan podcast is back with another expert guest, Vince Pizzoni.  Vince has built a successful 'Portfolio Career' as a Career Coach, Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham, NED, Board Advisor and Mentor. His earlier career was as an Executive in the Energy sector, working globally in 46 countries over 30 years. In this episode Annette and Vince cover: - Purpose at work .... - How to create a portfolio career (and career longevity into your 70s) - The difference and impact of Mentors and Sponsors on career development - How to be more visible in organisations and the labour market - How a Personal Brand needs to be personable to make you memorable There is lots of energy and practical advice in this conversation!  You'll find Vince on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincepizzoni/  🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with senior leaders, recruiters, coaches and industry experts to help you build a career that works for you. Connect with the show host - Annette Minihan:  ▶ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan ▶ Website: www.careersunpacked.com ▶ Newsletter: https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008

  3. 31 Jul ·  Video

    How to get Hired in 2026 - with Jessica Hamilton

    The job market hasn't become impossible. It's become more human. In this episode of the Annette Minihan Podcast, I sit down with a market leading recruiter - Jessica Hamilton (Co-Founder of Finc Select), to explore what's really happening in today's job market.  If you're applying for senior roles, preparing for interviews, or wondering why the recruitment process feels different, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Together we cover:  • What the job market really looks like in Summer 2026 • How to use AI to strengthen your job search, without falling into the traps recruiters spot immediately • How to access the hidden job market before roles are advertised • What hiring managers are looking for in final-round interviews • How to gather salary intelligence before you negotiate • What career longevity looks like in a market that often feels obsessed with youth One insight completely changed how I think about interviews: "Hiring managers discover who they want to hire through the hiring process." If that's true, interviews aren't simply about proving you're qualified. They're about helping someone imagine you solving their problem. Whether you're actively job searching, thinking about your next career move, or simply curious about where executive hiring is heading, I think you'll find this conversation both practical and thought-provoking.   About Jessica Hamilton:  Jess is Co-Founder of Finc Select, a search consultancy specialising in Financial Crime, Compliance and Regulatory recruitment. She works with organisations to identify exceptional talent while advising professionals on navigating today's increasingly competitive hiring market. You'll find Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahodson/ 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with senior leaders, recruiters, coaches and industry experts to help you build a career that works for you. Connect with the show host - Annette Minihan: ▶ LinkedIn: https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008 ▶ Website: www.careersunpacked.com ▶ Newsletter: https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008 #Careers #ExecutiveSearch #JobSearch #InterviewTips #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #Networking #Recruitment #AI #PersonalBrand #HiddenJobMarket

  4. 28 Jun ·  Video

    How To Take Good Photos (to support your Personal Brand) with Kate Swerdlow

    If you hate being photographed, you're not alone! In this episode of Annette Minihan's Podcast, Annette talks with personal brand photographer Kate Swerdlow, the person behind Annette's most-used photos across LinkedIn, newsletters, and content. Kate shares what people say the second they step in front of the camera "Can you make me look thin?" "What do I do with my arms?" "Are you good at Photoshop?" We explore why smartphones and social media have made us more self-critical, and how to get natural, authentic photos that actually build trust. If you're building a personal brand, selling a service, or simply need better photos for LinkedIn, this episode gives you a practical checklist for showing up with confidence, even if you feel awkward. Key topics we cover: • The most common fears people have on camera (and how to handle them) • Why people hate photos more now than ever • The real secret: trust and direction, not "being photogenic" • What makes a great personal brand photo (honesty and authenticity) • Why candid "in-between moments" often become your best images The 3 essential photo types for your personal brand:  1. clean professional headshot 2. you in action, in your real work environment 3. something personal that makes you relatable If you can only do one shoot a year: • How to plan outfits, locations, and crops for maximum reuse • How to prepare the day before (sleep, hair, makeup, and what you can control) • Advice for 50+ professionals: stop hiding, bring your experience to the front T 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with senior leaders, recruiters, coaches and industry experts to help you build a career that works for you. Connect with the show host - Annette Minihan: ▶ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan  ▶ Website: www.careersunpacked.com ▶ Newsletter: https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008   Connect with Kate Swerdlow - re photos to support your personal brand LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-swerdlow-5a509719/

  5. 28 Jun ·  Video

    Designing a 100 year Career: Risk, meaning and Starting Before You Feel Ready

    What do you say when someone asks: "Tell me about yourself"? In this episode of the Annette Minihan Podcast, Annette sits down with Amit Gandhi, a corporate healthcare leader turned founder, to unpack the career pivots that shaped his path from engineering into leadership, and eventually into entrepreneurship. They cover:  What he learned inside GE Healthcare How culture differs when you move to Philips & why founding his own company has become a turning point for designing the next decade. If you're considering a career shift, thinking about starting something, or trying to build more optionality outside one job, this one will land. Key topics we cover How to answer "Tell me about yourself" with clarity and positioning Pivot 1: choosing work over an engineering masters, and why that mattered Pivot 2: landing a dream role at GE and learning leadership at scale GE vs Philips: leadership focus vs innovation focus London Business School as the "first year of the next ten"  Why starting a business is about risk mitigation, not blind risk The real compromises: finances, family buy-in, and pacing the leap   Lessons learned: start earlier, think bigger, move step by step Notable mentions Straight from the Gut by Jack Welch The 100-Year Life by Andrew Scott & Lynda Gratton Warren Buffett's advice on giving yourself time to build

  6. 28 Jun ·  Video

    The Third Act: Reinvention, Relocation and Finding purpose again with Alison Haig-Davies

    This episode I'm joined by Alison Haig-Davies… a woman who has reinvented herself more than once, often by necessity, sometimes by choice, and always with courage. Alison spent over 30 years in senior HR leadership roles in London,  before stepping off the corporate ladder to build a portfolio career as a non-executive director, coach, and mentor. Just as that new chapter was taking shape, life threw her a curveball: a relocation to Sydney for her partner's job. No network. No reputation. No safety net. And she had to rebuild everything from the ground up. In this conversation, Alison shares: • Why her biggest pivots came during periods of enforced pause • How "micro purpose" can be more powerful than chasing a grand mission • What a portfolio career actually looks like in practice • How she landed her first NED roles (and why starting small matters) • What companies miss when supporting people in mid-to-later careers • Why rejection is inevitable during reinvention • How to stay brave, persistent, and grounded when a chapter ends and another begins Alison's story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. She shows that your career can have multiple acts… and that sometimes the most unexpected turns open the most meaningful doors. If you know anyone in Australia who Alison should connect with, please do make the introduction ...she's actively building her network and passionate about supporting others through transition. A brilliant, warm conversation with someone who proves that careers don't end at 40, 50, 60, or 70… they simply evolve. If you want to connect with me (Annette) or anyone from Careers Unpacked team you can do so at info@careersunpacked.com - would love to hear your thoughts after you have listened to this conversation.

  7. 13 Feb

    Artist to Lawyer - Rob Harrison's career pivot

    What if your career turns out exactly how you hoped, just not in the way you expected? In this episode of Annette Minihan's Podcast, Annette speaks with Rob, who grew up in Liverpool dreaming of being "bigger than Andy Warhol", studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, graduated into a recession, then reinvented himself into a global trade finance lawyer working across major banks. This is a story about creative identity, making bold pivots, creating opportunity through work ethic, and building relationships that quietly shape your future. What you'll learn in this episode • Why graduating in a recession forces clearer choices (and faster pivots) • How Rob retrained into law through self-funding and long hours • The "under an hour" training contract story: opportunity can move fast when you've earned trust • Why going in-house changed everything and brought him closer to the business side of deals • The moment trade finance clicked, and why it felt like "Lego all day" • How creativity shows up in unexpected careers through structure, problem-solving, and communication • What different bank cultures taught him (UK vs German vs Japanese vs US influence) • Career management that works: own your career, build your network, maintain relationships   Key moments  • Fine Art degree, recession graduate reality check • Pivot to law, paralegal grind, training contract offer out of nowhere • Moving in-house at Lloyds Banking Group and discovering trade finance • Later roles including Barclays and Deutsche Bank • Bringing it full circle: a client dealing in Andy Warhol prints • Now working globally at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation   Rob's best career advice • Nobody will manage your career for you • Network intentionally, you never know when paths reconnect • If you really want a career, you'll do what it takes, and often you're building it before you realise it If you want more real career reinvention stories, subscribe and share this with someone who's questioning their next chapter. Contact details:  Annette Minihan - please connect via  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan/ Newsletter - https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008 Website- www.careersunpacked.com Rob Harrison via LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/robert-harrison-lawyer

  8. Trailer

    Annette Minihan's Podcast - Trailer

    Welcome to Annette Minihans podcast. I'm Annette! I'm a career coach, a lover of all things new when it comes to talent development, and I'm really keen to share insights with you that will help you grow and develop your career so that you can achieve your goals and the life and career that you want and you deserve.

Trailer

About

I'm Annette Minihan - career coach, people-watcher, and believer that our careers don't end at 40, 50, 60, or even 70. The truth is: we're living longer, working longer, and most of us will have more than one career chapter. This podcast is here to share the real stories... the pivots, the reinventions, the sideways steps, and the leaps of faith... from people who've built careers with resilience and imagination. My goal? To give you fresh ideas about how to extend your career, build a portfolio life, or simply open up new possibilities for what your next chapter could look like.

Information

  • Creator
    Annette Minihan and Careers Unpacked
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Annette Minihan Podcast