Careers Talk Podcast

Creative Industries - Tony Jones (Part A)

SPORTS PRESENTER AND JOURNALIST - 

In his own words, Tony Jones wasn’t the best student and never went to university.
Back then, it’s not something that many people did.
While Tony enjoyed going to school and he liked English and History, he had no idea about a career path.
Like most, he was probably going to find an apprenticeship somewhere.
So, how does someone with no career-plan end up a prominent TV broadcaster for the last 30 years?
In this episode, Tony reflects on the experiences and opportunities in his early life that led to becoming Sports Reporter for Nine News.

Creative Industries - Tony Jones (Part B)

SPORTS PRESENTER AND JOURNALIST - 

As is common in media roles, your first job is so often in the country - they send you there first to make your mistakes in a less competitive market.
After getting a job as a radio jock in Wangaratta, Tony packed his bags and started his career but he didn’t take to spinning disks naturally.
It wasn’t until his manager gave him a chance in the newsroom that a life-long career started.
In this episode, Tony steps through the jobs and experiences that led to him becoming a 30 year plus news veteran.

Hospitality - Kimberly Tang (Part A)

SOUS CHEF AT SOCIETY

Imagine fighting for space in the kitchen to cook. 

That was the reality for Singaporian born Chef Kimberly Tang who grew up in a family of home cooks.  

Kimberly’s grandmother, father, mother and now Chef brother bonded and sometimes competed over each other’s cooking skills and knowledge. 

It’s no wonder Kimberly took on an apprenticeship at Crown when she was 17. 

In this episode, Kimberly explains life in the family kitchen and how that experience led to her ultimately becoming an award winning chef. 

Hospitality - Kimberly Tang (Part B)

SOUS CHEF AT SOCIETY

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. That’s true of Chef Kimberly Tang’s experience. 

After being knocked-back from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, she tried again later and her attitude got her the job. 

In this episode, Kimberly talks through her career and explains why she felt she needed to have a nursing degree too. 

Engineering - Luisa Panuccio (Part A)

CIVIL AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEER - 

A love of STEM subjects was alive within Luisa Panuccio from a very early age, thanks to her Grandfather. 
But while Luisa was a great student and got really good grades, her education wasn’t without problems that would impact her ability to study. 
In this episode, Luisa reflects on her high school and university education, an eating disorder and explains why she’s on a mission to change how society sees intelligent people. 

Engineering - Luisa Panuccio (Part B)

CIVIL AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEER - 

Chemistry! It’s all about chemistry…well, at least if you want to start a YouTube channel. 
After being asked by relatives if she could help entertain their children during lockdown, Luisa started producing STEM educational videos and social media posts. 
Even in the early stages of her career (and with limited availability), Luisa is finding the time to give back and help the younger generation of students be inspired by STEM. 
In this episode, Luisa talks about how she found her way in her professional career and why the stigma around maths and science being uncool needs to change.  

Hospitality - Chris Milligan (Part A)

CHEF DE PARTIE

With a chef for a father and a mother who was a passionate home cook, it was fait complete for Chef Chris Milligan. 

But his parents didn’t agree as they saw Chris’ caring and attentive nature more suited to teaching. 

However, Chris showed his chef’s attitude by refusing to listen to his parents and pursued a hospitality career pathway. 

In this episode, Chris explains why the appeal of cooking won out and how he shaped his education to achieve his goals. 

Hospitality - Chris Milligan (Part B)

CHEF DE PARTIE

Chef Chris Milligan doesn’t believe in the reality TV show approach to cooking. 

To him, you start at the bottom and slowly but surely work your way up. 

When Chris started his professional career with his chef father, he wasn't given a free-pass to work more glamorous roles within the kitchen. 

Chris started as a dishwasher which is a test to prove yourself to others in the kitchen. 

In this episode, Chris talks through his career and how he went from dishwasher to chef and Vue de monde and Tipo 00. 

Hospitality - Telina Menzies (Part A)

EXECUTIVE CHEF AT AUSTRALIAN VENUE CO

Chef Telina Menzies was only going to do one thing as a career. 

From making pavlova and ginger bread with grandma to having a father and uncles as chefs.

The decision to pursue hospitality as a career was a no-brainer for Telina. 

But that didn’t make Telina the best student as Telina still needed to attend (and study) English, maths and science classes. 

In this episode, Telina explains life as a student and taking on an apprenticeship at the Hyatt Regency in Perth. 

Hospitality - Telina Menzies (Part B)

EXECUTIVE CHEF AT AUSTRALIAN VENUE CO

Working as a chef in Australia was a great life for Telina Menzies, but the right of passage to relocate to London to work in Michelin starred restaurants was too great. 

But while rewarding, working in London was a tough, hard slog and came with other challenges Telina didn’t expect or want. 

In this episode, Telina explains what it’s taken to succeed and how the industry is changing to benefit the next generation coming through. 

Engineering - Alesha Printz (Part A)

GENERAL MANAGER - VICTORIA DIVISION, ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA -

At a young age, Alesha Printz knew the importance of balancing school work with her social life. 
Because in addition to studying, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing sports and even working at a takeaway food outlet and paintball referee. 
Through these experiences, she discovered a zest for life, which later led to an interest in travelling and to her decision to take up a degree in engineering. 
In this episode, Alesha walks us through her high school and university experiences and explains how these moments allowed her to pursue a career in engineering.    

Engineering - Alesha Printz (Part B)

GENERAL MANAGER - VICTORIA DIVISION, ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA -

University graduates know that stepping into the workforce can be nerve-wracking, especially when you consider all the people you’re up against applying for jobs. 
But for Alesha Printz, that wasn’t the case. 
Alesha graduated from university at 24, but didn’t commence professional work until she was nearly 26.
But unlike most new grads, she didn’t feel scared about applying for jobs and she credits this confidence to two things: 
Having past experiences in the workforce and
Having a good support system 
In this episode, Alesha recounts the early days of her career and explains how it led her to becoming a chartered engineer and the general manager of the Victoria Division of Engineers Australia. 

Creative Industries - Cam Trewin (Part A)

FOH. MIXING ENGINEER. TOUR MANAGER. PRODUCER - 

Cam Trewin loved his school days and spent a lot of his time involved with music but didn’t do as well in subjects like maths.
While wanting to be a bass guitarist, Cam eventually caved to the encouragement of his music teacher to play trombone instead.
Little did Cam know it was training his ear for this future career.
It would seem obvious that a career in music was a given for Cam, but it was so straightforward.
In this episode, Cam talks about his education and explains what led him to at first wanting to pursue a military career.

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Industries - Cam Trewin (Part B)

FOH. MIXING ENGINEER. TOUR MANAGER. PRODUCER - 

Leaving education and entering the workforce can be difficult, but it helps if you have the support, knowledge and guidance of a mentor.
That’s what happened for Cam Trewin, when his mentor put his name forward for an assistant engineer role at a recording studio.
Six years later and many lessons learnt, Cam was ready to seek out other opportunities and become a freelance sound engineer.
It was a brave move but one that’s paid off. Now based in LA, Cam jets around the world with electronic music act Rufus Du Sol.
In this episode, Cam explains how he got this awesome opportunity (and how you might be able to do the same).

Hospitality - Wes Lambert (Part A)

CEO - RESTAURANT AND CATERING ASSOCIATION

You name it and Wes Lambert - the CEO of Restaurant and Catering Australia - has given it a go.
From faking his own ID to get a job in high school to leading an organisation representing more than 48,000 restaurants, cafes and catering businesses across Australia.
Wes was a good student and showed a real flair for entrepreneurialism from a young age.
In this episode, Wes shares some great stories about selling pencils to other students and how his education set him on a pathway to success.

 

 

 

 

Hospitality- Wes Lambert (Part B)

CEO - RESTAURANT AND CATERING ASSOCIATION

Innovative thinker and an action taker - arguably the best words to describe Wes Lambert, CEO of Restaurant and Catering Australia.
His career journey is proof that if you apply yourself, offer unique ideas on improvement and commit to being the best you can, you will end up achieving what you want.
In this episode, Wes explains his varied career paths and how he’s viewed every opportunity as a chance to learn and develop more and how that keeps him motivated.

IT - David Leong (Part A)

SENIOR IT EXECUTIVE - 

Back in 1975 David Leong was having a tough time at school,

He had poor grades and his parents couldn’t understand why he wasn’t making the most of the opportunity they'd fought so hard to get. 

But through resilience, David was eventually able to turn his situation around and become a popular school kid and go on to have a successful career in IT.

I’ll talk to David in our second episode about being the Director of IT at a prominent Law Firm, and ditching that to work at a startup at age 56.

But education is the pathway to success, so let’s go back to when David was roaming the schoolyard. 

IT - David Leong (Part B)

SENIOR IT EXECUTIVE - 

It’s a brave move to leave the safety and security of an established career and throw yourself into the hectic and unstable world of a startup. 

In fact, some statistics suggest startup fail rates are as high as 97%. 

Not many 56 year olds - who can see a comfortable retirement in sight - would be prepared to take that gamble, but David Leong was.

Despite being told he was crazy by people he respected and having to spend a lot of time convincing his family that it was what he wanted, David left a prominent CIO position and joined @DOCS as Director of software solutions. 

The risk paid off as @Docs continues to develop, and David’s family now understand his real passion for helping the business grow. 

It comes down to having the right attitude and being able to see what others don’t. So, let’s unpack the mindset of somebody bold enough to do what most people never will.

Hospitality - Chelsea Ford (Part A)

FEMALES IN FOOD - BUSINESS CONSULTANT

Unlike most, Chelsea Ford - a food entrepreneur - knew what she wanted from her career at a very early age.
In fact, Chelsea describes her schooling as bordering on being irrelevant because even as a young student she was directed, motivated and knew what she wanted to achieve.
In this episode, Chelsea explains where her drive comes from and how she used education to work towards her purpose.

Hospitality - Chelsea Ford (Part B)

FEMALES IN FOOD - BUSINESS CONSULTANT

Having the drive to achieve something is one thing, but what happens when things don’t go to plan?
While she’s kicked some major goals in her career, it hasn’t always been easy for Food Entrepreneur, Chelsea Ford.
She’s changed industries, got burnt out because of long hours and even packed it all in to live in Peru with a Shaman.
But these experiences were the catalyst for Chelsea to identify a need within the food industry - to support and encourage female food business owners to achieve their goals too.
In this episode, Chelsea explains what’s required to start a food business that’s set up to succeed.