In Our Apa Era

Sana Currimbhoy

A wellbeing specialist and an HR specialist come together to provide you with a unique holisitic approach to navigating life (professional and personal) We use the concept of an ‘apa’ (i.e. older sibling), as a guide in this podcast. Your hosts share life observations (via wellbeing & HR knowledge) and stories to explore concepts relating to life and work, sharing what's worked and what hasn't It's a great listen for anyone regardless of background and career experience, if you just wants some friendly sage advice to navigate life

Episodes

  1. 08/10/2024

    In Our Apa Era: Imposter Syndrome

    Episode nine: The apas feel like imposters Podcast episode 9: Imposter Syndrome Summary & key points  This episode explores the concept of Imposter Syndrome, what we define it to be and how we have seen it play out based on personal experiences Imposter Syndrome can often manifest when you feel you’re not good enough or feeling like a fraud      It often plays out for high achievers and in the work place it can also play out when we think about DE&I and the experience of Ethnically Diverse colleagues Imposter syndrome can be felt in moments and not necessarily all the time Some ways to overcome imposter syndrome: -Building an inclusive culture in the workplace that allows you to be your whole self (celebrate multi cultural events & team building activities) -Having diverse workplaces surrounded by diverse colleagues -Formal training in the workplace around imposter syndrome; talking and demystifying the topic of imposter syndrome -Life experience, dealing with and overcoming challenging circumstances which can build confidence -Having a true passion in your subject matter -Knowing that you don’t have to know everything about a particular subject    -Watching others around you and seeing how they respond -Realising it’s alright if things go wrong -Getting constructive feedback and using that to evolve -Giving yourself credit for what you’ve owned and how far you’ve come Quotes to remember “One day the veil falls and you feel like an imposter" “Have the confidence of an average white man”

  2. 07/24/2024

    In Our Apa Era: Productivity & Goal Setting I

    Episode six: The apas set goals Podcast episode 6: Productivity & Goal Setting 1 Summary & key points    This episode explores the concept of goal setting with some helpful tips on how to set achievable goals for yourself (both in work and in your personal life)      The theory of goal setting from an HR and work lens is explored (e.g. linked to performance management), alongside the importance of goal setting Top tips for setting and sticking to your goals:     Have few and simple goals so that you can easily achieve them which you can update each quarter       SMART goals – a great framework to set clear goals both at work and for your own personal goals        Being purposeful of the goal being set; reflecting and challenging yourself on why you are choosing that goal can help set the right goal and go after the right things        Having a coach or someone to speak to or even self reflection time can help with setting the right goals       The best way to commit to your goals is by writing things down      Manifesting your goals and continue to affirm your commitment Be aware of self talk; it is a very powerful tool – used positively it can get you where you want to go, or you self pity or think negatively it could shake your confidence, bring you down and not let you achieve your goal Quotes to remember  “It all starts from being able to visualise and think where you want to go and then knowing the steps it takes to get there, without goal setting this can get really overwhelming”        “We sometimes struggle with understanding our goals in a way that we can then either write them down or visualise them in a clear way”     “Understand the journey to get there (to achieving your goal) and all the variables and moving parts to get you there” “Writing things down helps you achieve things”      “If you bring something to your awareness you will see it everywhere”      “Everything you say to yourself is a direct order”       “You want the voice in your head to be your cheerleader… not the other way around… it’s too easy to give in to the negative voice"

  3. 06/28/2024

    In Our Apa Era: Origin II

    Episode three: Your host Sana's story Summary & Key Points This episode takes a deeper look at migrating to the UK via the route of studying at for an undergraduate degree and then getting a job right after university Sana’s experience covers studying a liberal arts degree and then moving to a corporate job after university & navigating your first career post university     Challenges include figuring out your career independently at age 21, managing the switch between studying into working and sticking with a discipline for 10 years which overtime has become a passion Key concepts include how long to stay in a role and job and the benefits of sticking with a role to learn and master it before you move onto a different role Another idea explored is that of personal drive and where that comes from. In this case it began as an internal need in comparison to peers and the pressure we put on ourselves to hold ourselves to a high standard. Overtime this concept of personal drive has changed and become more organic and based on enjoyment of work, creating something unique and leaving a personal mark on the world Quotes to remember “It’s hard at the age of 17 to know what you’re studying and then picking a subject you cant change” “Study what you enjoy at undergraduate level” “Mock interviews are essential to securing that first job” “After 10 years working, in the last 3 years I properly work up and enjoyed what I was doing”

  4. 06/19/2024

    In Our Apa Era: Origin I

    Episode two: Your host Mahnoor’s story Summary & key points  This episode looks at Mahnoor’s experience of migrating to the UK from Pakistan in her 30s, in a post Covid era, and moving for her master’s degree, navigating this change while also going through big life changes     The episode explores the concept of moving from a state of being ‘comfortable’ and safe to moving into and navigating challenge    This is also a great example of not having a straightforward career trajectory and managing simultaneous careers at the same time Top tips to help set you up for success: Having a goal and timeline was very important to make the change a reality    Maintaining a practical mind-set, making good use of the resources at your disposal Strong drive to succeed and do as much of this as you can on your own Prioritize and plan what to go after         Use your network to test your ideas, your friends and peers can help you understand your strengths Being clear about what you want to go after, narrowing down options linked to what could give you a career based on your experience and interests Commit to your chosen path; once you choose something give it your all and see it through      Be pragmatic and have a back up plan, think of this as a second career you can pursue alongside your first Understand yourself and see different aspects of your personality as your strength, if you have anxiety for example think about how it can be used to help you by helping you plan better and be more prepared Keep disciplined, build habits that will get you to where you want to be Quotes to remember   “Stability is a concept” “(on drive) Its like a fire in my belly… I cant sit still if I feel like I’m not moving or going somewhere or doing something” “We all carved our own path from what we had” “It wasn’t luck that got me here, it was hard work and planning” “Anxiety is like a super power; when I enter a room I’ve thought about the 10 things that could go wrong and also the 10 things that can go right” “Wellbeing brought me here… it made me more me…  instilled habits that brought me here”

About

A wellbeing specialist and an HR specialist come together to provide you with a unique holisitic approach to navigating life (professional and personal) We use the concept of an ‘apa’ (i.e. older sibling), as a guide in this podcast. Your hosts share life observations (via wellbeing & HR knowledge) and stories to explore concepts relating to life and work, sharing what's worked and what hasn't It's a great listen for anyone regardless of background and career experience, if you just wants some friendly sage advice to navigate life