Graduate Edge

A special episode. Josh discusses seven lessons from our first seven episodes and speaking with seven extraordinary professionals from across industries and the world.From a CEO who started as an intern, to someone who worked with Nelson Mandela, to an engineer who crawled through naval ships in the Falklands just six weeks into her graduate programme … our first seven guests couldn't have been more different.Themes emerged. And in this episode, Josh brings those to life.

Jean Oelwang is Co-founder of Virgin Unite, the not-for-profit arm of Virgin Group. She shares memorable stories and advice from an unexpected career spanning corporate and non-profit worlds.From volunteering with homeless teens early in her career to launching telecom companies in six countries, Jean discovered her passion for tackling global challenges. She's since led initiatives like The Elders, bringing together Nelson Mandela and other world leaders.Learn about "disruptive detours" in careers, surrounding yourself with the right people, and how Jean created her opportunity to work with Richard Branson to drive positive change.

Growing up in Perth, Australia, Peter Mcdonald forged a unique career in the global automotive industry with Europe's biggest brands. With no connections. Persistence and adaptability has certainly helped, it all started with a chance internship with Volkswagon in Germany. The rest is history…Peter shares how speaking English as a first language in a foreign country was his biggest asset early on. And he opens up on why international assignments can be difficult and sometimes take many years to prove worthwhile. Peter offers a unique perspective for those considering careers in large vs small companies, recently taking a successful leap into the scale up automotive energy technology sector.

Darina Garland's career and advice comes from a journey inspired by values, experimentation and problem solving. From her work experience as a young person, to making an impact in the education sector, to then starting and leading Ooni - one of the world's most innovative and successful consumer goods companies.Darina's career experiences at first seem diverse and unexpected, however our conversation uncovers something very different. We discover a clear thread of values, influences and skills. We explore the importance of creativity, work experience, and personal growth in shaping a fulfilling career. Darina opens up about overcoming self-doubt, balancing work, trusting your instincts in career decisions. And why not knowing too much early in your career is an asset. 

Olivia Kinghorn knew from the age of 14 she wanted to work at sea. With a family history in engineering, her dream to join the Royal Navy as a marine engineer came to an abrupt close before she even finished her degree…What follows is a stream of extraordinary experiences early in her career that have made her a role model to young women pursing STEM careers. First with the Ministry of Defence in the UK and recently with Babcock, the international defence, aerospace and security company in New Zealand.  Olivia shares why being in the room is so important for women in engineering. And her lessons from being in the deep end early on - like chartering C-17 military aircraft for a NATO submarine rescue project, and more.    

Katie Rigg-Smith started as an intern at Mindshare - the global media agency - and went on to become their youngest CEO and the first woman to ever hold that role. Yes, one of the most remarkable career journeys I've encountered unfolded within the walls of a single company over 26 years.Katie shares how her journey to CEO was completely unexpected, unfolding by doing something that sounds almost too simple - being excellent at whatever role she was in at the time. Our conversation is refreshingly honest about some of the messy parts - like the moment a few years in when she nearly burned out before taking a phone call from a friend that completely changed how she approached her workload, and herself. This episode is packed with stories, insights and advice - revealing that sometimes the best career move is to stay right where you are.

Terence Koo shares inspiring advice on making the most of opportunities that are only available when you're early in your career. Starting out at PwC in London, before building shopping centres in China, and moving into FMCG, Telecommunications and Digital Marketplaces in Australia, Terence shares why chasing experiences over positions matters. We discuss Terence’s incredible but simple advice on how to use your energy for your wellbeing. And reflect on the immense value Terence discovered in getting good at the boring stuff and creating unthinkable opportunities by being respectfully bold. We discuss leveraging spare time and why asking one good question in a meeting is sometimes all you need to do.

Josh Tyler's career hasn't followed a straight line - and that's what makes his story so great. From starting out on Virgin Media O2's graduate scheme, to his role being made redundant, to becoming Head of Contact Strategy and Transformation, Josh has learned incredible lessons about resilience, relationships, trust and what makes someone valuable early on. In this conversation, Josh opens up about feeling disoriented at the beginning, developing a network, setting boundaries with his manager, and why he believes AI represents a revolution for young professionals entering the workforce. Josh also shares why he thinks most decisions early in your career are reversible.