Career Zone Podcast

From study to work: In conversation with Emma Norman, Learning and Pilots Manager at the University of Exeter

In this week’s episode, Dawn Lees is joined by Emma Norman, Learning and Pilots Manager at the university, as she shares her journey through education, her experiences of being neurodivergent, and how she came into her current role.  

Emma reflects on navigating school and university before her late ADHD and autism diagnosis. She talks about her experience of teaching  abroad in Spain, how the pandemic prompted her to rethink her future, and how chance opportunities, from a PGCE to Graduate Business Partnerships, led her to a career in curriculum development.

Navigating modern workplaces

In this episode, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Career Consultant speaks with Dr. Hannah Collis, an honorary lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour in the Exeter Business School, and now academic at the Henley Business School.

Together they discuss navigating the transition from university to diverse and complex workplace environments. Hannah shares insights from her research on modern working arrangements, explaining the differences between hybrid, remote, and in-person work. She discusses the benefits and challenges of each model, offers practical strategies for building relationships and accessing mentoring in virtual settings, and provides essential tips for graduates to thrive in any workplace configuration. The conversation also explores future workplace trends and how students can prepare now for evolving work models.

• Useful Links
  Skills development: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithdevelopingyourskills/ 
• University of Leeds Future of Workplace research: www.leeds.ac.uk/research/research-expertise/future-of-work 
• World Economic Forum Future of Jobs 2025 Report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/digest/ 

Field trips: What are they and how can they help you?

This week, Dawn Lees is joined by Ewan Woodley, Associate Professor of Geography to explore why stepping outside the seminar room can transform the way you learn.

Listen to find out:

• The skills you gain from field trips, such as real-world observation and teamwork.
• How field trips can help you to build your confidence and grow as a learner.
• How you can utilise the skills you develop in job applications and in interviews.
• How field trips are evolving to be more inclusive and sustainable.

Social Enterprise: What is it and how can I get involved?

In this week’s episode, Ciaran Stoker-Diver SEAS Faculty Lead, is joined by Barbara, a final year Business Management student and Vice President of Engagement for Enactus at Exeter.

Ciaran and Barbara explore what social enterprise means and how students can get involved. Barbara discusses some of the current Enactus projects students are involved with including Biosmart and Oyana.

Barbara also discusses the shares the range of skills you can develop through getting involved with social enterprise, including project management, marketing and finance.

 

Useful links:

• Enactus Streatham: https://my.exeterguild.com/groups/GYXRW/enactus
• Enactus Penryn: https://www.thesu.org.uk/organisation/enactus/
• Self employment and entrepreneurship page: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/explore/selfemployment/
• Student Startups: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/centres/entrepreneurship/studentstartups/ 

From Graduate to Professional: Navigating the transition from university into work.

In this week’s episode, we are joined by recent graduate Lowenna Luke to discuss what it’s really like to transition from university into a graduate level job. Lowenna shares her journey of searching and applying for jobs, offering tips on how to stand out in the recruitment process. We also explore the realities of transitioning into the workplace, including adapting to professional communication, managing deadlines and developing effective time management skills.  

Whether you’re approaching graduation or just starting your career, this episode offers valuable insights and honest reflections to help you navigate the shift from student to professional.

Useful Links

• Graduates First - https://www.graduatesfirst.com/university-career-services/business-school-exeter?v=7885444af42e
• Professional Pathways https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/employability-schemes/professionalpathways/
• From Campus to Career sessions (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/events/from-campus-to-career/)
• Exeter Award (ex.ac.uk/exeteraward)

Introducing China Career Ready

In this week’s episode, Simon Allington, Employability and Careers Consultant, is joined by current postgraduate student Gia Yu to discuss career planning across China and the UK. Gia shares her experience of working in China and in the UK and highlights the strengths Chinese students bring to the UK job market. Gia also shares how the China Career Ready programme can help students when making career decisions.

Simon is also joined by Chinese Exeter alumni Stefanie and Eva as they share the importance of workplace communication, how they have strengthened their resilience and how they are using AI effectively in the workplace.  

China Career Ready is a bespoke programme designed to help Chinese students from any degree programme and any level of study explore their options and receive guidance with career planning.

Useful links:

China Career Ready - https://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/careers/china-career-ready/

 

Osmosis in the Workplace: Why Showing Up Still Matters

In this week’s episode we explore the power of workplace osmosis, the often invisible learning that happens from being around others.

From spontaneous conversations to unplanned collaborations and quick check-ins, we explore why a physical presence still matters in an increasingly digital world.

Useful links:

• Planned Happenstance podcast ( https://pod.fo/e/33a7e9) 
• Book onto skills sessions including networking skills on My Career Zone.

Sophia's PhD Journey, Part 2

This week, we catch up with final year PhD student Sophia, to hear how her PhD journey is going. Sophia shares some of her highlights of her studies, the importance of adaptability in research, and the different types of support available to PhD students. 

 

Working in Higher Education: In conversation with Nathan Mayne, Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Climates.

In this week’s episode, Dawn Lees is joined by Professor Nathan Mayne, as he shares his journey from a working class background to a successful career in academia. Nathan explores how he overcame adversity, navigating university life without a roadmap and how he has built a successful career as an academic whilst championing mental health, collaboration and support for current students. 

Nathan is a Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Climates in the Astrophysics Group of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter, U.K, and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow. He is also the Academic Director of Research Computing Infrastructure for the University of Exeter. Nathan is interested in understanding how climates evolve and how life and the planetary climate systems interact. 

Part of the Working in Higher Education mini-series

Benny's PhD Journey, Part 2

Thinking of doing doctoral research? In this episode, Kate Foster, Employability and Careers Consultant, catches up with Benny, a first year PhD student. Benny shares how his PhD is going and what he is enjoying about studying. Benny also shares the different activities he is involved with including teaching seminars, attending conferences and supporting the Mature Access Pathway programme.  

 

We’ll be catching up with Benny regularly to hear how his PhD journey is going. Follow the Career Zone Podcast to stay up to date with Benny’s experiences, insights and reflections along the way.