Your Career Journey

Emma Graham

Welcome to ‘Your Career Journey,’ the podcast designed to be your compass through the twists and turns of career development. Whether you're a seasoned professional navigating a career transition, climbing the corporate ladder, looking to return to work after some time away, or just taking your first steps, this show is for you. Each episode dives into real stories from people who have made their mark. We cover career challenges, triumphs, and everything in between, offering practical insights, inspiration and giving you valuable takeaways for your journey. Expect candid conversations with industry experts and thought leaders who've embraced the highs, weathered the lows and emerged with wisdom worth sharing. Join me and let’s explore the multifaceted landscapes of career development, leadership, and growth together. 

  1. 4D AGO

    Why Sales & Marketing Still Aren’t Aligned (And How to Fix It) with Michelle Michaux

    Today I'm joined by Michelle Michaux, who shares how her unconventional career journey (from banking operations to marketing) gave her a front row seat to how large complex organisations can bridge the gaps between marketing, sales, and delivery. Michelle brings a refreshingly honest perspective on what marketing should be doing inside organisations, why alignment with sales is still one of the biggest challenges in B2B, and why marketers need to get better at articulating their value at the leadership table. Together, Emma and Michelle explore the realities of working inside complex global organisations like Fujitsu, the cultural nuances that shape business decisions, and how marketing can move beyond execution to become a genuine driver of growth. If you care about career growth, influence, strategic thinking and the future of marketing, this episode will give you both practical insight and plenty to reflect on. To connect with Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-michaux/ 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:22 Michelle's Career Journey 02:07 Transition to Marketing 03:11 Running Her Own Consultancy 04:10 Operations Experience and Its Impact 06:59 Sales and Marketing Dynamics 11:21 Challenges in B2B Marketing 15:32 Global Marketing Complexities 18:41 Cultural Insights from Fujitsu 22:58 Personal Anecdotes and Cultural Reflections 24:06 Understanding Cultural Differences 25:02 Marketing's Role in Business Strategy 25:50 Challenges in B2B Marketing 28:06 The Importance of Customer Insight 30:00 The Role of Chief Customer Officers 32:19 Aligning Marketing with Business Goals 34:11 Articulating Marketing Value 43:28 Final Thoughts and Reflections Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    46 min
  2. JAN 19

    How To Build an International Marketing Career with Adam Lavrentiadis

    Ever wondered what it really takes to build a global marketing career? How do you go from working in a local market to leading marketing for global brands? In this episode, Adam Lavrentiadis shares his journey from Australia to the global stage, breaking down the mindset, skills, and strategic moves required to build a successful international marketing career. 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔️ How Adam built a global marketing career from Australia ✔️ Skills needed to work with international brands ✔️ The difference between local vs global marketing strategies ✔️ How to position yourself for international opportunities ✔️ Career mistakes to avoid in marketing ✔️ Advice for marketers who want to go global Whether you’re an aspiring marketer, brand strategist, or entrepreneur, this conversation reveals real-world insights on scaling your career across borders, adapting to global markets, and standing out in today’s competitive marketing landscape. Timestamps: 00:40 Introduction and Welcome 00:51 Adam's Journey Begins: From Australia to London 02:26 First Steps in Sales: Mambo and Beyond 04:57 Transition to Footwear: Skechers and Converse 12:54 Marketing Aspirations: Moving from Sales to Marketing 21:34 Career Growth: From Converse to Timberland 23:09 Reflecting on Life in a Beautiful Place 24:06 Career Growth at Timberland 26:07 Transitioning to the US 29:00 Challenges of Moving and Networking 34:48 The Importance of Brand in Marketing 40:22 Navigating the Future of Marketing with AI 44:10 Final Thoughts and Advice To connect with Adam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-lavrentiadis/ Website: adamlav.com Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    49 min
  3. JAN 5

    Rethinking Success Through Career and Life Transitions with Caroline Patrick

    Today, I’m joined by Caroline Patrick for a thoughtful, honest conversation about how our definition of success shifts over time, often in ways we don’t expect. Caroline shares her career story, which starts with dreams of becoming a police officer, moves into marketing, and eventually leads her into senior leadership roles focused on stakeholder engagement. Along the way, life throws some huge curveballs, including surviving the Boxing Day tsunami and later making the decision to take a year off to travel with her family. We talk about the moments that force you to stop and reassess, the courage it takes to step away from the path you thought you were on, and why success in one season of life might look completely different in the next. We also cover the importance of being proactive rather than reactive in your career, letting go of other people’s expectations, and building confidence through self-awareness and intentional choices, even when those choices feel uncomfortable. This is the perfect conversation to kick off the New Year; it's for anyone who’s questioning what “success” really means to them right now, or feeling a quiet nudge that something needs to change. To connect with Caroline: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepatrick/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    49 min
  4. 12/15/2025

    The Most Important Career Advice I Heard This Year

    It’s been an incredible year of conversations on Your Career Journey, and I wanted to wrap things up by taking you through the standout moments, themes, and lessons from every guest who joined me. From navigating redundancy… to changing career paths… to leading with purpose… to building confidence… each episode this year brought something special and genuinely useful for anyone building a career with intention. In this episode, I’m pulling together the biggest takeaways, the ideas that genuinely shifted my perspective, the stories that stayed with me, and the practical advice that can help you create a career you’re proud of. Whether you're exploring a pivot, stepping into leadership, rebuilding your confidence, or simply trying to figure out your next step, there’s something in here for you. What you’ll hear: ✨ The themes that kept coming up  ✨ The best advice from this year’s guests ✨  Insights on leadership, confidence, career change, and growth ✨  My personal favourite moments from the show Thank you for being here, for listening, and for being part of this community. I can’t wait to share what’s coming next year. My first episode of 2026 will go live on the 6th January. See you there :)  Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    37 min
  5. 12/08/2025

    Unlocking Your Potential with Goal Setting | Insights from Keith Abraham

    In this episode, I’m joined by Keith Abraham, a globally recognised speaker, author, and one of the most passionate voices on goal setting you’ll ever come across. Keith shares his unconventional path from leaving school early to building a successful career helping leaders and teams achieve clarity, focus, and meaningful momentum. So what really sits behind effective goal setting?  ✨ Creating emotional and mental connection to your goals  ✨ Getting specific (much more specific than you think!)  ✨ Building the right habits and support systems  ✨ And choosing a mindset that actually helps you move forward Keith breaks down his ‘how formula’, offers practical tools you can start using straight away, and shares powerful stories from his own journey that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take action. If you want clearer direction, stronger confidence, or a way to bring your next chapter to life, this episode is full of insight and encouragement. To connect with Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithabraham/ Website: keithabraham.com Tools: https://mygoaldriver.com/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    46 min
  6. 11/24/2025

    ✨ Changing Career Direction Without Starting Over. With Kate Greenwood

    What do you do when the career path you’ve been on since university no longer feels right? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Greenwood, who shares her incredibly honest journey from a traditional career in family law to a leadership role in legal tech and innovation. Kate talks about the reality of stepping away from a clearly defined path, including the identity shift that comes with saying “I’m not sure this is for me anymore.” She also shares how she repurposed her deep knowledge of family law without starting again from scratch, and how that opened the door to a completely new, fulfilling chapter in her career. Today, Kate is leading the integration of AI and technology within her firm, showing what’s possible when you stay curious, have courageous conversations, and recognise the value of your transferable skills. We also dig into: What it really looks like to pivot your career inside your organisationHow technology is reshaping the legal professionThe importance of open dialogue with managers and leadersWhy your skills and experience are far more adaptable than you thinkIf you’re feeling stuck on your current path or wondering what else might be possible for you, this conversation is a brilliant place to start. Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    51 min
  7. 11/10/2025

    Leading with Heart: How Emotional Intelligence Transforms Leadership. With Ann Pocock

    What does authentic leadership really look like, and how do we bring more of ourselves to the way we lead? In this episode of Your Career Journey, I’m joined by Ann Pocock, founder of Kinetic Effect and former Corporate Marketing Communications Director, who shares her powerful transition from the corporate world to leadership coaching. Ann and I talk about what it means to lead with emotional intelligence and curiosity. And why self-awareness and adaptability are now essential leadership skills, not nice-to-haves. Ann shares her personal experiences with redundancy, the small but mighty “micro steps” that helped her move forward, and the lessons she’s learned about building a more human approach to leadership. We also explore: ✨ How to navigate the shift from corporate life to self-employment ✨ Why emotionally intelligent leaders create safer, more productive workplaces ✨ How to embed a strengths-based approach into your team culture ✨ What it really takes to lead with authenticity and purpose If you’re reflecting on your own leadership journey, or want to bring more heart and self-awareness into how you work. Then this conversation is a great place to start, with lots of insights, practical advice and suggestions for free resources and next steps. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:20 Career Journey and Transition 04:16 Facing Redundancy and Embracing Change 06:32 Building a Coaching Practice 10:51 Marketing and Self-Leadership 18:37 Holistic Leadership and Emotional Intelligence 25:01 The Intuition in Interview Processes 27:30 The Impact of Rapid Organisational Change 28:36 Managing Stress and Emotional Intelligence 32:38 The Importance of Authentic Leadership 38:24 Practical Steps for Personal Development 43:28 The Journey of Continuous Growth To connect with Ann: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annpocock/ Website: kineticeffect.co  Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    49 min
  8. 10/27/2025

    Embracing Diversity and Leading with Purpose | Career Lessons from Celeste Warren

    How do you really make Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, not just as a policy, but as something that’s lived and felt in an organisation? In this episode, I sit down with Celeste Warren, a globally recognised HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader with nearly 40 years of experience at some of the world’s largest corporations. Celeste shares her inspiring career journey, from her early days as a journalist, to becoming a global HR executive, to specialising in DEI leadership. She reflects on the powerful influence of her father and how his experiences shaped her own perspective on resilience and inclusion. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ➡️ How Celeste pivoted from journalism to human resources ➡️ What DEI really is, what it isn't and why everybody wins when you get it right ➡️ The lessons she learned from embedding DEI into corporate strategy at Merck ➡️ The challenges and opportunities of rolling out DEI on a global scale ➡️ Why continuous learning and authentic leadership are critical for leaders today ➡️ Her advice for the next generation of professionals stepping into leadership roles Celeste also shares her next chapter: launching her own consulting practice and publishing her book, 'The Truth about Equity', while staying focused on empowering others to embrace diversity and lead with purpose. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:10 Celeste's Early Life and Career Beginnings 02:47 Transition to Human Resources 04:53 Career at Merck & Pivot to DEI 09:23 What DEI Really Means 12:11 Embedding DEI in Large Organisations 18:28 Global Perspectives on Inclusion 26:19 Common DEI Challenges & Misunderstandings 39:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections 👉 If you’re a leader, HR professional, or simply curious about how to create more inclusive workplaces, this conversation is packed with practical insights and powerful stories you won’t want to miss. To connect with Celeste: 🌍 Website: https://crwdiversity.com/ 📖 Book: https://crwdiversity.com/#book 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestewarrenllc/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: 💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you 💡 Confidently communicate your value 💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network 💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move 💡 Navigate the job market effectively 💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources: 📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice 📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

    42 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to ‘Your Career Journey,’ the podcast designed to be your compass through the twists and turns of career development. Whether you're a seasoned professional navigating a career transition, climbing the corporate ladder, looking to return to work after some time away, or just taking your first steps, this show is for you. Each episode dives into real stories from people who have made their mark. We cover career challenges, triumphs, and everything in between, offering practical insights, inspiration and giving you valuable takeaways for your journey. Expect candid conversations with industry experts and thought leaders who've embraced the highs, weathered the lows and emerged with wisdom worth sharing. Join me and let’s explore the multifaceted landscapes of career development, leadership, and growth together.