Today, I’m joined by Mark Scott, a sports broadcasting professional who’s carved out an impressive career in an industry not always known for its diversity.

Over the years he has commentated for Global Media, BBC’s Match of the Day, Premier League Productions, the Champions League, Europa League and major international tournaments, while also commentating for BBC Radio Five Live.

In this conversation, we explore Mark’s journey, the barriers he’s had to break, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

So grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s get into it.

Key takeaways:

* Breaks are earned, not given: A chance university connection led to a Capital Radio gig at 19. This experience was the "foot in the door" that enabled his career, highlighting the need to be prepared for and seize unexpected opportunities.

* Authenticity is the only sustainable strategy: The industry is highly subjective, with commentator hiring based on personal taste (likened to music preference). Trying to imitate another's style is a "recipe for disaster" that is unsustainable and ineffective.

* Proactive practice is essential: To overcome the "chicken and egg" problem (needing experience to get work), aspiring commentators must create their own opportunities, such as volunteering to commentate on local club matches to build a showreel.

* Success requires a "one-man band" mindset: A freelance career demands business acumen beyond commentary, including managing finances, marketing, and travel, as well as building strong professional relationships.

Episode resources:

Mark Scott: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-scott-212a8049

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m joined by someone who has devoted her career to guiding people through one of the most important journeys we all take... our financial one.

Mimi Gom, Financial Advisor at Lucerna Wealth, brings deep experience across private banking, wealth management, and holistic financial planning.

She’s known for helping individuals and families understand, protect, and grow their wealth with clarity and confidence.

We get into her path into the industry, the values that shape her client relationships, and the mindset shifts that lead to long‑term financial wellbeing.

If you’re looking to build stability, make smarter decisions, or feel more empowered about money, Mimi has wisdom worth leaning into.

Grab your coffee and let’s sip into that inspiration.

Key takeaways:

* Career Pivot: A Lehman Brothers internship, revealed wealth management as the ideal career path, marrying Mimi's interest in people with the financial markets.

* Mindset for Success: Overcame imposter syndrome by reframing mistakes as a novice's learning opportunity and using tools like journaling and mentorship to build confidence.

* Financial Mindset: Advises clients to shift from fear to purpose by defining their financial "enough" and adopting a long-term perspective to build their financial dream.

* Advice for industry newcomers: Prioritise soft skills like relationship-building and networking, as these human elements are irreplaceable by AI.

Episode resources:

Mimi Gom: www.linkedin.com/in/mimidoo-gom

Speak to Mimi: www.calendly.com/mimi-gom

Lucerna Wealth: www.lucernawealth.com/our-team

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m joined by Robyn K. Bacon, a distinguished trial litigator, investigator, and partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, an American law firm founded in 1962 .

Robyn’s career spans nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, where she tried complex criminal cases, argued appeals before the Ninth Circuit, and led investigations into cybercrime, financial fraud, and organised crime.

Today, she continues to champion justice and has also taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School and volunteered with organisations that empower women and young debaters.

In this conversation, we’ll explore Robyn’s remarkable career journey, the lessons she’s learned from the courtroom to the classroom, and her insights on finding purpose and fulfilment in demanding careers.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s get started!

Key Takeaways:

* Career Path: Robyn's career has been driven by interest and not a rigid plan. Her supervisor's invitation to the cybercrime unit was accepted on the principle of never refusing a chance to learn.

* Confidence: This was built over time by recognising a familiar physical feeling of competence from past successes (e.g., sports, recitals) and actively seeking to recreate it.

* Work-Life Balance: This has been essential for maintaining her humanity in high-pressure jobs. Robyn's tip was to have a life outside of work that creates emotional connections and reminds you that your job is not the only thing that matters.

* Life Philosophy: Define your own "true north" (what you need and want), then build a life where your career and personal interests fit together to achieve it.

Episode resources:

Robyn K. Bacon: www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-k-bacon

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m honoured to have with me Simone de Gale, the visionary architect behind Simone de Gale Architects, celebrated for melding mathematical rigor with striking design, creating unique spaces across London and internationally.

Simone’s story begins with childhood memories of watching her family build and create those early experiences ignited a love for architecture that’s grown into an award-winning career, from redesigning Central London townhouses to master-planning large international projects.

In this conversation, we’ll delve into her roots, what inspired her to stick with architecture in a space where few people might look like her, the challenges and triumphs she’s encountered, and most importantly what listeners can learn about following their own passions and crafting a fulfilling career.

Grab your coffee, sit back, and join us as we journey with Simone de Gale, a force of creativity, resilience, and purpose!

Key Takeaways:

* Founding Strategy: Launched Simone de Gale Architects in the 2009 recession, leveraging a 10-year network to immediately secure projects, including a major international commission in Bangladesh.

* Design Philosophy: Uses mathematical principles (geometry, pattern) to create environments that foster peace and belonging, believing "your environment creates you."

* Business Model: Focuses on building deep client relationships, which leads to repeat work across entire property portfolios (e.g., 10 projects on one street) and minimizes business development costs.

* Team Growth: Scaled to a 12-person firm by hiring for shared design ethos, enabling effective delegation and freeing up leadership time for strategic work.

Episode resources:

Simone de Gale: www.linkedin.com/in/simonedegale

Simone de Gale Architects: www.simonedegale.com

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m joined by Dr Jenny Hewitt, a visionary leader, researcher, and consultant whose career spans academia, health, youth advocacy, and social equity.

Jenny is the CEO of IntoNetZero, a UK-wide not‑for‑profit dedicated to opening doors for underrepresented groups in the renewable energy sector, and founder of Understory Ltd, her consultancy that works on systems change and workforce inclusion.

In this conversation, we’ll dive into her remarkable career journey, the bold steps she’s taken to dismantle barriers, and the practical wisdom she shares for anyone looking to follow their passions and create meaningful impact.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s get started!

Key takeaways:

* Mission: As CEO of IntoNetZero, Jenny Hewitt is building inclusive pipelines to fill the UK's massive green workforce gap (c. 400k–725k by 2050), targeting underrepresented groups.

* Philosophy: Jenny's career is guided by the core values of "equity and sustainability" and an approach of taking calculated risks and trusting the process.

* Leadership Model: Prioritises work-life balance and deep listening to foster genuine inclusion and counter "divide and rule" tactics.

* Call to Action: Jenny encourages young people to confidently enter the "net zero sector", as it is being built now and needs their skills and perspectives!

Episode resources:

Dr Jenny Hewitt: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jenny-hewitt-5023b223

IntoNetZero: www.intonetzero.org

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecaoching.com

Today, I’m joined by Aime Ayrehart, HR leader, author, and founder of the HR & Workers Trade Union, the UK’s only pay-as-you-go union.

Aime has spent her career standing up to workplace injustice, building compassionate solutions, and reimagining how HR can truly serve people.

In this conversation, we’ll dive into her personal story, the bold steps she’s taken to transform adversity into purpose, and the practical wisdom she shares for anyone looking to follow their passions and create workplaces where people can thrive. So grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready for a high speed conversation!

Key Takeaways:

* Aime Armstrong's career is driven by an unwavering commitment to fairness, a principle rooted in her neuro-spicy nature and family's trade union history.

* Her book, Let's Face the Music and Dance, was a pivotal act of vulnerability that built a stronger, more authentic personal brand by connecting with her "tribe."

* Armstrong founded the UK's only pay-as-you-go trade union, Ninja HR, to provide on-demand support for senior professionals, challenging the traditional membership model.

* She is building "AI & Me," an HR-focused AI tool, using a "build the audience first" strategy to avoid the pitfalls of a tech-centric, "hustle culture" startup.

Episode resources:

Aime Ayreheart: www.linkedin.com/in/aimeayrehart

Human Resources and Workers Trade Union: www.hrwtu.wordpress.com

Let's Face the Music and Dance: www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Face-Music-Dance-stories/dp/1399979833

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Pinky Ghadiali, a transformational leadership coach, mediator, and founder of Mindset by Pinky.

Pinky pivoted her career from optometry to helping professionals and entrepreneurs break through self-doubt, navigate conflict, and lead with authenticity.

Pinky’s journey is one of courage, clarity, and continuous growth. Through career she has become a trusted voice in empowerment and mindset transformation, she’s shown that fulfilment isn’t something we stumble upon, it’s something we can consciously create.

Key takeaways:

* Pinky pivoted from optometry to coaching after realising patients sought her for personal, not just medical, advice.

* Over the years she has transformed personal pain into professional power, using her experience to build empathy and confidence as a conflict mediator.

* Pinky advises incremental career pivots (e.g., part-time work), to manage financial risk and build a client base before going full-time.* Hear some great tips for managing burnout with daily habits and firm boundaries in order to stay aligned with one's purpose.

Episode resources:

Pinky Ghadiali: www.linkedin.com/in/bypinkyg

Mindset By Pinky: www.bypinky.com

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com

Today, I’m honoured to share my conversation with Jasmine Richards; author, editor, entrepreneur and founder of Storymix, a purpose-driven children’s fiction studio that is reshaping representation in publishing.

Jasmine has worked on more than 15 books, collaborated with major publishing houses, and built a platform that discovers, develops and launches underrepresented writers into mainstream success, without compromising on joy, excellence, or commercial impact.

What makes Jasmine exceptional isn't just her achievements, it's her vision.

She believes that all children deserve to see themselves as the heroes of their own stories, and she has built a business that turns that belief into a powerful commercial model. She blends creativity with strategy; social mission with scalability; representation with revenue.

Key takeaways:

Origin: A serendipitous encounter with Pearson's graduate program revealed publishing was the career for her developing talent. She found a role had long sought that she didn't know existed.

Business Model: Storymix uses a "book packaging" model, retaining all IP to ensure creative control and commercial viability, while providing a paid development platform for underrepresented writers.

Creative Strategy: Storymix prioritises joyful, commercially viable stories over trauma narratives, "smuggling in" themes like nature connection to normalise representation.

Future Vision: The 3-year plan is to activate Storymix's 24+ IPs into legacy brands (e.g., animation, podcasts), shifting from quantity to quality.

Episode resources:

Storymix: www.storymixbooks.com

Jasmine Richards: www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-richards

Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com