My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Jack Parsons
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  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

'My Duvet Flip,' the careers show. Join Jack Parsons as he delves into an enthralling discussion with people and their careers, where we explore some of their most memorable instances of making mistakes and the valuable lessons they gained from them. 

  1. FEB 5

    Niamh Savill, Senior Solutions Architect at Halo: Breaking Into Tech Without a Tech Degree

    Episode Guest Niamh Savill is a Senior Solutions Architect at Halo CRM, where she works across consultancy, product development, and customer solutions. With a background in languages, she brings a people-first, curious approach to solving complex technical challenges. Episode Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:33 Meet Niamh and Why She Said Yes to My Duvet Flip 1:31 Niamh’s First Jobs and Early Lessons About Work 2:42 What Early Roles Teach You About Communication 3:10 How to Communicate Better at Work 3:52 Finding Halo Through Indeed 4:33 From Language Degree to a Tech Career 5:01 Niamh’s Journey at Halo CRM 6:49 Building Confidence and Putting Your Hand Up 7:47 Learning on the Job and Asking Questions 8:02 Niamh’s Best Day at Halo and Travelling for Work 8:58 What Halo Taught Niamh About Being Yourself 9:42 How Niamh Describes Halo’s Culture 10:34 Being a Woman in Tech 11:22 Advice to Young Women Applying for Tech Roles 12:08 Do You Need a Tech Background to Work in Tech? 12:58 A Day in the Life of a Senior Solutions Architect 13:51 Why Relationships Matter at Work 14:31 Dealing With Imposter Syndrome 15:36 Finding Best Friends at Work 16:27 Paul’s Leadership Style at Halo 17:44 Can Ambition and Drive Be Trained? 18:53 Niamh’s Advice to Anyone Applying to Halo 19:12 What Gets Niamh Out of Bed in the Morning Episode Partners Check out the latest from Halo: https://halograduates.com and https://www.instagram.com/halonextgen/ Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    20 min

  2. FEB 3

    Samantha Schlimper, Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise: How People Really Get Jobs (It’s Not Your CV)

    Episode Guest Sam Schlimper is Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise, where she works with global organisations to redesign work, unlock human potential, and build future-ready talent strategies. With deep experience across recruitment, financial services, and advisory, Sam is passionate about creating meaningful work that energises people and organisations. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:23 What gives you energy and what drains it at work 1:17 Sam’s duvet flip and why self-reflection matters 2:09 First job lessons and learning what you don’t want to do 3:04 Why trying things is essential early in your career 3:39 How Sam fell into recruitment and talent without a plan 4:12 Confidence, training, and learning on the job 4:46 Building confidence in a hybrid and remote world 5:47 Why job descriptions don’t reflect how work really happens 6:33 Do remote workers really miss out on promotions? 7:39 How to know who you are (and why it’s a lifelong job) 8:16 Being good at something that slowly drains you 9:10 Why fun, energy, and people keep you in a job 10:05 What makes a great recruiter today 11:40 How people really get jobs beyond their CV 12:44 Understanding human potential at its core 14:13 Simple ways to identify your own potential 15:36 Are you stuck in the ‘frozen middle’? 16:29 What it feels like when work slowly erodes you 17:36 Mucky ducks and how bad culture spreads 18:57 What to do if you are the mucky duck 20:04 Knowing when it’s time to leave an environment 22:13 Why human connection matters more than ever 23:14 AI, young people, and the future of work 24:45 Why early careers need new, non-traditional routes 25:46 The beehive analogy and problem-solving talent 26:47 Why AI should be treated like a colleague, not a tool 28:37 The danger of cognitively offloading your thinking 30:08 How to work with AI without losing your edge 32:43 Psychological safety and AI adoption at work 35:40 Confidence, power, and who embraces AI first 38:38 Lessons from Sam’s time at Barclays 40:33 What Randstad Enterprise does and why Sam loves her work 43:49 The red folder quick-fire questions 48:24 Sam’s duvet flip and what really gets her out of bed Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    50 min

  3. JAN 29

    Pete Harris, President at Pipedrive: How to Find Your Purpose (Even at 35,000 Feet)

    Episode Guest Pete Harris is the President at Pipedrive, with a career spanning from auditing at Deloitte to global leadership. Known for his grounded wisdom and purpose-driven mindset, Pete brings clarity and compassion to every room he walks into - or in Pete's case, runs into! Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:55 Meet Pete Harris – President at Pipedrive 3:00 The Flight That Changed Everything 6:20 Why Pete Turned Down Partnership at Deloitte 9:00 Discovering Your Purpose in Life and Work 12:15 Pete’s Hierarchy of Needs 15:10 From Corporate Climb to Courageous Quit 18:00 The Power of Support: Marriage, Mentors & Mindset 21:30 Resigning With Grace and Class 24:00 Pete’s Ironman: Testing Limits and Finding Clarity 28:00 What Endurance Taught Pete About Insecurity and Self 31:10 Talking Money: Value, Confidence & Childhood Habits 35:00 From Seven-Year-Old Saver to Global Leader 38:20 Why Your Job Title Isn’t Who You Are 41:00 What Real Wealth Looks Like (And It’s Not Money) 44:15 Time, Presence, and the 18 Christmas Rule 47:00 Leadership, Listening and Talking Last 50:00 The Power of Diversity and Integrity at Work 53:00 Pete on Taylor Swift, Energy Vampires & the A-Team 56:00 Final Reflections and Pete’s Duvet Flip Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    59 min

  4. JAN 27

    Alex Glover, Managing Director, Programmatic at Brainlabs: What Nobody Tells You About Making It in Marketing

    Episode Guest Alex Glover is Managing Director of Programmatic at Brainlabs, where he leads global innovation in data-driven advertising. His passion for programmatic strategy and graduate development is helping shape the next generation of media talent. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:12 Meet Alex Glover, MD of Programmatic at Brainlabs 0:40 The job Alex nearly took (and why he didn’t) 1:48 Discovering advertising through curiosity 3:04 Early experiments with websites and Google Ads 4:16 The career-changing advice Alex got from his dad 5:06 Startup grind: no playbook, just problem solving 6:10 From tiny clients to Mediacom’s biggest accounts 7:33 Why Alex couldn’t stay away from programmatic 8:48 Taking a bet on himself at Brainlabs 10:00 The truth about programmatic advertising 12:05 Advertising’s future: Netflix, Spotify, and beyond 13:42 Inside the Brainlabs grad scheme in Buenos Aires 15:37 How moving to Argentina can kickstart your career 17:23 What makes someone thrive in programmatic? 19:08 Building confidence, then passion 21:07 Jack and Alex on being obsessed with your craft 22:45 Getting promoted: it’s not just about extra projects 24:10 How to stand out in your first job in media 26:04 Why reporting taught Alex the most about marketing 27:18 When Alex felt like a fraud (and what happened next) 29:12 What it’s really like working at Brainlabs 31:20 Why Brainlabs refuses to sell to a holding company 32:46 The culture of innovation and automation at Brainlabs 34:05 How AI is being used by grads at Brainlabs 35:24 “If you do it three times, automate it” 36:48 The one mindset shift every grad needs to hear 38:04 Chapter 1 of Alex’s career: “Working it out” 39:02 Most unexpected lesson from a ‘boring’ task 40:00 When Alex truly felt imposter syndrome 41:12 The job that led to Patagonia 42:00 Jack’s final question: What’s your duvet flip? 43:38 Why achievement, not titles, gets Alex up in the morning 44:30 Final reflections and thank yous Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    45 min

  5. JAN 22

    Donna Whitehead, CEO at University of Brighton: Can Grit, Humour and a Chicken Shop Get You to the Top?

    Episode Guest Donna Whitehead is the Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University of Brighton. A proud working-class leader from Hartlepool, Donna brings a bold, purpose-driven vision to higher education. Episode Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 1:22 From Council Estate to CEO 2:59 Donna’s First Job: Paper Round Hustle 4:23 Learning Discipline and Drive 6:01 “Shy Bairns Get Nowt”: Grit as a Mindset 7:08 Pride in Her Hartlepool Roots 8:42 Imposter Syndrome and Black Tie Moments 10:53 Getting Sacked and Bouncing Back 12:08 The Life Event That Changed Everything 13:33 Failing College, Then Trying Again 14:59 Studying Law and Seeing a Bigger World 16:33 From No Map to Leading a University 17:44 Why Education Became Her Purpose 19:06 What a University CEO Really Does 20:45 Brighton’s 10-Year Vision: Equity & Enterprise 22:31 A Day in the Life of Donna Whitehead 24:35 What Brighton Has Taught Her About Life 26:02 Never Compromise Your Values 27:07 Deputy CEO vs CEO: The Real Difference 28:31 What Donna Would Study Today 29:40 Why Choose University of Brighton? 30:55 Careers in Education: Donna’s Call to Action 32:07 Quickfire Round: Mascots, Boss Phrases & Icons 34:10 Donna’s Message to Students, CEOs & the World 35:47 Donna’s Duvet Flip – What Gets Her Up Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    38 min

  6. JAN 13

    Andrew Leaver, CEO of Brand Partnership Group: What No One Tells You About Scaling a Business

    Episode Guest Andrew Lever is the Co-Founder and CEO of Brand Partnership Group, a leader in brand-focused sales and marketing services. With a career spanning Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Samsung, Andrew brings calm leadership and consistent growth to every organisation he touches. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:41 Why Andrew was one of the show’s first believers 2:03 The power of consistency in careers and partnerships 3:00 Andrew’s first job and how he became a CEO 5:00 From Unilever to Paris — learning fast abroad 7:40 Facing fears: new languages, new countries 10:00 Returning for a dream role at Coca-Cola 12:00 What Coke taught Andrew about human connection 14:00 Brand loyalty and leadership lessons 15:20 How to actually build consistency 17:00 Calm leadership through change and chaos 19:00 Navigating COVID and moving fast as a business 21:00 Transforming Brand Partnership Group from the inside 23:00 Learning from mistakes and knowing when to pivot 25:00 Real partnership vs. transactional relationships 27:00 Andrew’s rule if he was Minister of Partnerships 28:30 What Brand Partnership Group actually does 30:00 How Blue Square supports Samsung, HP & SharkNinja 32:30 Training, retail support, and in-home repair 34:00 Crew Live: From West End to global brand activations 36:00 Rise: Engineering growth with data and insight 37:45 A teaser for the next agency in the group 38:30 Why youth opportunity is at the heart of BPG 40:30 Supporting confidence, skills and mental resilience 42:30 Apprenticeships and building the next generation 44:00 Turning BPG into a talent pipeline for global brands 45:20 Living company values — not just posting them 46:50 The truth about culture and consistency 48:10 Quick-fire: Remarkable notebooks & lion mascots 49:20 The strangest pitch Andrew ever received 50:15 Dreaming up a youth-focused business with Jack 51:00 The motto Andrew would put on a Piccadilly billboard 52:00 The brand Andrew wishes would call tomorrow 53:00 Reflecting on friendship, support, and doing good 54:30 Andrew’s evolved duvet flip: From chasing to creating Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    1h 4m

  7. JAN 6

    Paula MacKenzie, CEO at Pizza Express: From Paper Rounds to the Boardroom

    Episode Guest Paula MacKenzie is the CEO of Pizza Express, with a career spanning leadership roles across the food, drink, and hospitality sectors. Known for her drive and authenticity, Paula brings a bold, values-led approach to business and team culture. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:24 Paula’s First Job – Paper Rounds and Earning Freedom 2:23 Young Paula Saves for a Stereo – The Power of Incentives 3:38 What Drives Paula’s Determination? 5:03 What Paula Would Tell Her Younger Self 6:00 Paula on Staying True to Who You Are 7:47 Paula on Boundaries, Values & Handling ‘Darling’ Moments 10:33 From Paper Round to Career Steps – Paula’s Journey Begins 12:04 Why Paula Left Accountancy for Industry 14:46 Paula on Feeling Like an Outsider in Finance 16:05 Lessons from Innocent – How Paula Learned to Break the Rules 18:24 The Show Must Go On – Paula on Doing It Anyway 19:25 Becoming CEO – Paula’s Cross-Functional Climb 22:57 Paula on Imposter Syndrome & Reframing Thoughts 24:56 What Paula’s First Day as CEO Really Felt Like 27:08 Paula’s 4 A’s Framework for Leading From Day One 30:00 The One Life Lesson Paula Swears By 31:41 Quickfire with Paula – Pizza Orders, McFly & Collabs 34:43 Strong Roots and Giving Back – Paula’s Perspective 36:00 Paula’s Duvet Flip – Doing What She Loves Every Day Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    37 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    General Manager at Mars Pet Nutrition:

    Episode Guest Nick Foster is the General Manager for Mars Pet Nutrition in Northern Europe, where he leads with a passion for purpose, people, and pets. With nearly 20 years at Mars, he’s held diverse roles across sales, marketing, and supply chain, always driven by a desire to be a good ancestor. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:23 Meet the General Manager of Mars Petcare 1:00 From RAF Dreams to a Business Career 2:05 Finding Purpose Through Pet Care 3:20 Nick’s Duvet Flip: Being a Good Ancestor 4:10 Lessons from McDonald’s and Early Work Ethic 5:15 Accidental Entry into Mars 6:40 Career Advice: Squiggly Lines & Making Friends 8:10 General Management Explained 9:45 Mars Petcare’s Scale and Purpose 11:15 Changing Law to Help Renters with Pets 13:00 Cancer-Sniffing Dogs & Coral Reef Projects 15:00 Mars’ Family Values and Long-Term Thinking 16:40 Starting a Career at Mars: Advice to Young People 18:00 The Myth of Work-Life Balance 19:30 How to Build a Career with Impact 21:10 Nick’s Leadership Style and Communication Growth 23:00 The Power of Mentorship & Sponsorship 25:00 Fun Q&A: Sloths, Brainstorms & Huskies 28:00 Key Digital Skills for Petcare Careers 30:00 Final Lessons on Career, Purpose & Progression 33:15 What Gets Nick Out of Bed Each Day Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    35 min
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'My Duvet Flip,' the careers show. Join Jack Parsons as he delves into an enthralling discussion with people and their careers, where we explore some of their most memorable instances of making mistakes and the valuable lessons they gained from them. 

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