During a recent CIBTAC audit for Developing Educators Academy, one simple conversation with an examiner made me stop and reflect on my role as an academy owner.

We often focus on teaching and assessing, but running a training academy requires more than delivery skills. It also requires a clear understanding of quality systems, compliance, and oversight.

In this episode of I’m No Rookie, I share what that audit highlighted and walk through the key qualifications every training academy owner should either hold or be working towards.

This episode is especially useful if you are a therapist considering starting your own academy, or you already run one and want to strengthen your quality processes.

What you’ll learn

• Which education and training qualifications matter at the academy level
• The different assessor qualification routes and why they exist
• Why the Internal Quality Assurance qualification becomes essential as you grow
• How these qualifications support audits, quality management, and compliance

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If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to I’m No Rookie on your favourite podcast platform. Your reviews and shares help more beauty, spa, and wellness professionals find the podcast and feel supported in their journey.

💬 Follow and connect with me:

• LinkedIn: Ayo Bamgbose
• Facebook: Developing Educators Academy
• Website

Have you ever said yes to something you were excited about, only to find yourself rushing through it because your diary was already packed? I know that feeling well. There was a time when I thought being busy was the same as being successful, but I’ve since learnt the hard way that busyness is no badge of honour.

In 2021, I began a full-time Master’s program in International Spa Management at the University of Buxton, while also working full-time as an international beauty and spa trainer. At first, I thought it was possible. But between flights to places like Hong Kong, jet lag, and long days of training, I quickly realised I couldn’t keep up. My supervisors eventually stepped in and told me to move to part-time study. Without that, I would have burned out completely.

The experience taught me a powerful lesson: overloading your plate doesn’t just exhaust you, it steals your enjoyment. I watched friends take opportunities I simply couldn’t because I wasn’t present enough to grab them.

Fast forward to my PhD journey, and I found myself making the same mistake again. I signed up for a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, completed Functional Skills Maths over the summer, and continued to push myself without a break. Progress, yes, but also frustration, tiredness, and little space to appreciate what I had achieved.

What you’ll learn in this episode

• Why busyness doesn’t equal success.
• The opportunities you miss when you overload yourself.
• How balance sustains confidence and energy.
• Three practical tips for creating more space in your commitments.

If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or found yourself saying yes too quickly, this episode will give you the encouragement and tools to start choosing balance instead.

Listen now and take the first step towards a more enjoyable year.

Subscribe & Share

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to I’m No Rookie on your favourite podcast platform. Your reviews and shares help more beauty, spa, and wellness professionals find the podcast and feel supported in their journey.

💬 Follow and connect with me:

• LinkedIn: Ayo Bamgbose
• Facebook: Developing Educators Academy
• Website

There are two sides to my confidence. One comes from my knowledge, my experience, and the results I help my students achieve. The other comes from how I feel in my own body. For me, education and well-being are inextricably linked. When one slips, the other feels harder.

At the end of 2021, I was at my heaviest. Grief, lockdown, and the busyness of work had left movement at the bottom of my list. One December day, I decided enough was enough. I wanted to take my life back. By the end of 2022, I had lost 98 pounds. Beyond the numbers, I had gained energy, endurance, and the freedom to walk into a room feeling completely myself.

But life isn’t a straight line. In 2023 and 2024, movement started to fall away again. I was deep into my first year of a PhD, overwhelmed, and just surviving each day. By the summer of 2025, I found myself almost back where I started. The difference this time? I knew I could do it again, and I knew I needed stability and routine to make it work.

So I started with baby steps. Walking to the gym. A few minutes on the treadmill. Light weights. Coming back again the next day. And slowly, it became part of my rhythm. As I record this, I’m eight weeks in, fourteen pounds down, and already feeling the shift.

Here’s why this matters for teaching. Education isn’t only about what you know, it’s about how you show up. Whether you’re preparing for your micro-teach, leading a class, or stepping onto a conference stage, the way you feel in your body changes the way you carry yourself. Confidence in your skills matters. Confidence in your skin matters too.

In this episode of I’m No Rookie, I’m sharing the lessons I’ve learnt about pairing education with well-being. We’ll talk about why your presence in the classroom goes beyond lesson plans, and how small, consistent steps in your health can make a big difference to your teaching career.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why your well-being is linked to your teaching presence
• How to rebuild confidence step by step
• Simple ways to keep yourself motivated for the long term

Subscribe & Share

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to I’m No Rookie on your favourite podcast platform. Your reviews and shares help more beauty, spa, and wellness professionals find the podcast and feel supported in their journey.

💬 Follow and connect with me:

• LinkedIn: Ayo Bamgbose
• Facebook: Developing Educators Academy
• Website