Season 1 | Episode 21: Abigail Langridge on life as an Online Private PA with good advice for those looking for work 

Today, I am talking with Abigail whose quality of life improved drastically when she made the change from Personal Assistant to a freelance Virtual Assistant. We discuss what the role of a Virtual Assistant entails and the highs and lows of working for yourself. There are many links between how Abigail has to present herself within her market to find new clients and how an unemployed candidate should also present themselves when looking for a new role.

If you are currently in the job market this is not one to miss!

Length: 55:00

Season 1 | Episode 20: Paul Smith on entering the private sector late in his career and how difficult job hunting has been during the pandemic

Today, I am talking with Paul who has been severely affected by the pandemic as he happened to be looking for work at the start of 2020 and so therefore has been in the job market for most of the year. He talks openly and honestly about his frustrations of job hunting in such a slow market and what his observations have been on the market as a whole.

We also talked about his unusual route in the private sector as he joined the industry fairly late in his career, which is notoriously hard to do, but how he is so glad he made the move when he did as it is an industry he now absolutely loves.

Length: 51:00

Season 1 | Episode 19: Carolyn Emole on life as a celebrity PA/Estate Manager in the heart of Los Angeles

Today, I am talking with Carolyn, an experienced PA/Estate Manager based in Los Angeles. In classic LA-style, she found her first role in the private sector through her hairdresser. We talk about how the industry has changed over the years and the things that have, and always will, stay the same, making it an incredibly rewarding line of work.This fantastic work ethic and devotion is why he has built such a successful career for himself.

Carolyn shares her experience, what has helped her to progress and how adaptive and autonomous you have to be. Comparing it to the corporate world, she finds she gets so much back, from personal satisfaction to little notes of thanks from the family.

Length: 1:08:00

Season 1 | Episode 18: Rien Thoma on the importance of formal Butler training and how his role has evolved to Estate Management

Today, I am talking with Rien, an experienced hands-on Estate Manager with a huge passion for formal service. He worked hard to build a career within the private sector, entering the industry with zero experience but with a recognised Butler qualification under his belt. He talks about how there is only so much you can learn on a course, however good the course, and that so much is learnt within your first role. He is a truly committed member of staff, always looking to upskill and bring more value to his Principal and the home. He is completely dedicated to his role and ensures his boss knows to call him 24/7, any day, any time should his services be needed.

This fantastic work ethic and devotion is why he has built such a successful career for himself.

Length: 54:00

Season 1 | Episode 17: Simeon Rosset on his career as a Butler and his passion for training and sourcing the best Butlers for his clients worldwide 

Today, I am talking to Simeon, owner of Rosset Bespoke Butlers who is a professional, formally trained traditional Butler who has worked for some incredibly high profile clients over the years. He has adapted his style to suit a new generation of UHNW who were looking for a modern Butler who can do much more than just the traditional service. A modern Butler can turn their hand to anything required by the Principal. His passion for training has led him to set up and run a highly reputable Butler School based in Scotland and soon Bermuda which offers a fantastic foundation to new Butlers entering the industry alongside experience Butlers looking to upskill.

Simeon exudes passion for the private sector. His wealth of experience working himself as a Butler now lends itself perfectly to being able to help others have a similar career. He is a prime example of giving back to an industry that has given him so much.

Length: 1:00:37

Season 1 | Episode 16: Roger Watson, a college dropout, who worked in the UK’s top restaurants before privately cooking for America’s top UHNW’s

Today, I am talking with highly experienced Private Chef Roger who has had a really impressive career having struggled in school and dropping out of college. He proves that experience can trump qualifications within the catering industry and if you get your head down and work hard in some of the highest level Michelin kitchens then you can learn all you need to know. He transitioned into the private sector and hasn’t looked back since, his first private chef role being in the most expensive private residence in London.

Roger certainly proves that a solid education is not always required to be successful and his stories of some of the things he has seen in some of his previous roles is just unbelievable!

Length: 46:30

Season 1 | Episode 15: Lara Ayrton on starting her career in the States working as a Nanny and working her way up to managing the most well-known mansion in Sydney

Today, I am talking to Lara, who has been working in the private sector for the last 20+ years. She started working as a nanny for numerous families across the USA and being a naturally very organised person her role soon started to incorporate many PA and House Management duties.

She was soon working for a UHNW managing multiple homes across the States gaining fantastic Estate Management experience before moving back to Australia where she now looks after one of the most well-known properties in Sydney.

Length: 44:13

Season 1 | Episode 14: Clara Circu on moving to America with an Engineering degree and building a 15-year career within the private sector

Today, I am talking to Clara, who is an experienced Estate Manager based in New York. She arrived from Columbia with zero experience within the industry and very humbly stepped from a high powered role in the telecommunications industry where she travelled extensively into an Au Pair role.

This was a very sensible way to work her way up from the bottom, gaining experience on the job as she went, working her way up to managing multiple homes for VVIP families. Clara is open to new Estate or House Management opportunities.

Length: 42:17

Season 1 | Episode 13: Mason Haynes and his fascinating story of life as a Professional Bodyguard protecting A-list celebrities

Today, I am talking to Mason, who has spent 22 years in the security industry. Working his way up from the pub and club security scene working as a bouncer to protecting some of the most high-profile people in the world. His career has taken him to 115 different countries including 22 across Africa.

His story is amazing and gives a real insight into the do’s and don’ts of working as a Celebrity Bodyguard. He is now open to new opportunities whether that be security-related or Estate Management.

Length: 1:04:00

Season 1 | Episode 12: Hannah Morley on transitioning from a corporate career to the private sector and creating a role which she can do from anywhere in the world

Today, I am talking to Hannah, who transferred from a corporate career in HR to Estate Management/PA in Mallorca. She tells of how the job change also changed her and she’d find herself at home polishing, dusting and placing things with an OCD level of detail. She certainly started her career in the private sector at a high and demanding level and has gained fantastic longevity working 5 years in the same role.

(Apologies for the poor sound quality – the banging does stop!)

Length: 57:08

Season 1 | Episode 11: Anna Williams on building the dream career where she works in the mountains during the winters and in the UK for the summers

Today, I am talking to Anna, who fell in love with the mountains and worked her way into the private hospitality industry by moving up from budget to 5* chalets and then developing her cooking skills. She now works for a family that has one of the most luxurious chalets in Switzerland and multiple homes in the UK, overseeing all residences at all times.

Length: 51:00

Season 1 | Episode 10: Nathalie Faude on preserving traditional values while also moving with the times and how she worked for the same family for 22 years

Today, I am talking to Nathalie, who started as a lady’s maid and worked her way up over 20 years with the same family. She talks about why longevity is important to her and how growing with the job gives the best job satisfaction.

Length: 52:52

Season 1 | Episode 9: Helen Grundy on making the transition from cruise ships to super yachts and then becoming a mentor and trainer for yacht and private hospitality staff

Today, I am talking to Helen, who began her career as a masseuse on cruise ships, developed a passion for service and housekeeping on super yachts, worked a temporary contract Saudi Arabia and now mentors and trains Pursers and other Private Hospitality staff.

Length: 35:47

Season 1 | Episode 8: Kelly Watkins on what it’s really like to be a Hollywood House Manager and work your way up the Private Household ladder

Today, I am talking to Kelly Watkins, who started out cleaning houses and now runs an estate in Beverly Hills, California. She tells of the importance to get stuck in, try your hand at anything and look at the positives to any job.

Length: 41:26

Season 1 | Episode 7: Joy Middleton on what it’s really like to work on a yacht and how she transitioned into the industry

Today, I am talking to Joy, who started her private hospitality career in a ski chalet and then headed to the South of France in the summer. Since getting her break in the yachting world, she has worked her way up the ranks, on a variety of incredible super yachts, and is now a Purser.

Length: 39:33

Season 1 | Episode 6: Sam Drakard on getting into cheffing and the differences between the private sector and fine dining restaurants

Today, I am talking to Sam Drakard, a good friend who talks about his experiences as a Chef. Having already had a fascinating career, spanning many parts of the chef world, Sam’s first Private Chef role was in a luxury ski chalet in the French Alps. From there, he’s gone on to working in private residences all around the world.

Length: 31:07

Season 1 | Episode 5: Shada Lambert on why she still loves nannying as much as she did 18 years ago when she started

Today, I am talking to Shada, who explains the role of a nanny and just how much goes into planning and organising in her role. As well as looking after children of all ages for a host of families around the world, she has a mentoring program, teaches potty training and simply LOVES what she does.

Length: 39:26

Season 1 | Episode 4: John Galleymore on going from bricklaying to building some of the most expensive homes in the world

Today, I am talking to John, who started as a bricklayer, went through the special forces and has since worked for an array of rich and famous people, building and running their houses in some of the most beautiful parts of the world.

Length: 49:53

Season 1 | Episode 3: Anna Coquelin, from poorest school in Scotland to Governess around the world

Today, I am talking to Anna, who started as a teacher at the poorest school in Scotland and worked her way up to travelling around the globe as the private governess for some of the top ultra-high net worth (UHNW) families in the world.

Length: 29:39

Season 1 | Episode 2: Steph Deidda on how she got into the private aviation industry

Today, I am talking with Steph Deidda, who had a very successful career in aviation. Working her way up from a commercial airline to a business only airline onto a solid career working on private jets.

Length: 27:05

Season 1 | Episode 1: Russell Orford on how he transitioned from the army into a Private Household

Today, I am talking with Russell Orford, an experienced House Manager based in London. This is an inspiring story having never worked in hospitality before with stories that are just unbelievable.

Length: 30:52