portfolio career examples

Hayley Monk’s guest blog about her portfolio career

January 23, 2020 By // by Rachel Brushfield

This is a guest blog by Hayley Monks about her portfolio career.

I am an associate consultant of Hayley’s company ‘Think Inspire Create’ and invited her to share her story about her portfolio career. Thanks to Hayley for making the time for this.

Biog

Hayley is a highly motivated, professional, passionate, inspirational and energetic individual who sets high standards in all that she does. With a strong commercial acumen combined with creative thinking, she thrives on driving and delivering transformation through strong leadership and by creating effective follow-ship and positive engagement. Combined with agility and a ‘can do’ attitude, she can contribute significantly at every level from strategy to delivery. Having worked in senior executive roles, she understands what ‘good’ looks like. In 2015, she founded Think, Inspire & Create, a people centric training and consultancy company using her experience and capability to lead a hand-picked team who work with businesses across the UK, helping them to optimise their organisation. As an experienced facilitator, Hayley works with leadership teams in organisations that are going through change, helping them to positively work through the change, to develop innovative solutions and refine delivery plans that can transform their business. She is also passionate about people development – believing this is the key to success in organisations and always looks at opportunities to coach new and up-coming talent, as well as continually reflect on her own development and personal growth.

The rest of this blog is in Hayley’s own words.

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?

Running my company Think Inspire Create Limited (‘TICL’).

Founding member of the Women’s Utility Network https://thewun.co.uk/, a not for profit group that support women’s development in the utilities sector.
Non-exec role for a Utility tech start-up – 1 day per month.
Public speaker on female leadership.
Mentoring & Coaching.

How did your portfolio career come about?

Organically! Having left full time corporate work, I was asked to help businesses, to speak and also volunteer. Having had so much personal sponsorship and support myself in my career, I wanted to ‘pass it on’.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

At first I wanted to ‘yes’ to everything and had the time to do so. After 4 years, I simply can’t do that, I just get too many requests! It’s difficult to choose what to do and where to help – I don’t have a method, I just go on instinct.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

I run my own business, helping other people.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

As above – organically.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Being in control of my time and what I do. I say ‘yes’ to what and when. It’s a sort of freedom that is liberating!

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

Spinning plates! Sometimes my mind can ‘whirl’, as the things I am involved with can be quite diverse.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

Being organised helps and technology these days provides excellent aids for expediency. I also have a virtual PA who can help with the things that need to be done, but I don’t need to do myself. I was once told, only do what only YOU can do. I am not the only one who can iron in my house ?!

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

Through networking – largely word of mouth but also taking opportunities to put myself in front of the right people. It means doing paid and unpaid work. It’s all about choices.

What advice would you give to someone considering a portfolio career?

Fully understand your purpose for choosing a portfolio career. Is it lifestyle, financial, desire for variety and new learning, to create a future-proof career etc.? You can better plan your approach and choices if you are clear on your purpose for having a portfolio career.

What benefits do portfolio careers bring specifically to women and mothers, rather than to men?

I think this depends on who the primary carer is. A portfolio career can bring flexibility, so if you have children, it can be really useful for either gender.

What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?

1 Have a clear purpose

2 Plan

3 Be prepared for it to be a challenge / uncomfortable at times

4 Be patient – it can take time to develop

5 Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’, ‘not yet’, ‘not now’ etc.

More

View Hayley’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-monks-mcicm-grad-4262a817/

Browse the Think Inspire Create web site: https://www.thinkinspireandcreate.co.uk/

Interested in creating a portfolio career for yourself?

E mail Rachel Brushfield for a free 20-minute telephone consultation and to receive your copy of our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’. https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

An event to celebrate International Women’s Day #IWD2020

I will be facilitating an interactive session at the Think Inspire Create event celebrating International Women’s Day, 8am to midday on Friday 6 March 2020 in Cowley Oxford.

Book your early bird ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-womens-day-2020-tickets-90922171663

Funke Abimbola guest blog #1

May 29, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is part 1 of a 2 part guest blog by Funke Abimbola, Managing Counsel, Roche Products Ltd. UK & Ireland.

Funke is a practising solicitor and currently Managing Counsel at Roche UK, leading the legal team supporting Roche’s pharmaceutical operations in the UK, Ireland, Malta and Gibraltar. She is also Data Protection Officer for the UK. Her career began in private practice before moving in-house. Funke undertakes a lot of work to support diversity & inclusion in society as a whole and within the legal profession in particular. An award winning lawyer and diversity champion, she was most recently a finalist for ‘Diversity Champion of the Year’ at the inaugural 2015 Excellence in Diversity Awards and won the ‘Career Woman of the Year’ award at the 2015 Women4Africa awards.

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.)?

I have a full time job as a lawyer leading the UK & Ireland legal team for a large pharmaceutical company. In addition, I hold a number of voluntary roles within diversity and education. I am also a regular speaker at various conferences and to students both at school and at University.

How did your portfolio career come about?

My portfolio career came about out of a genuine desire to make a positive difference within the legal community and my local community. I was particularly frustrated by the ongoing diversity issues in the legal profession and once I realised that I was in a position to make a positive impact in this area, I decided to devote more and more of my spare time to diversity initiatives.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

Because of the limitations on my spare time (I am a working mother), I have had to re-prioritise this year. For example, this meant resigning as a school governor simply because I did not have enough time to do that together with other schools-related work and my diversity work and speaking engagements.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

I tell them that I wear many hats! I often reply by saying I am a lawyer, leader, diversity champion, mentor and very proud mother.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

It certainly was not planned but came about by chance as various opportunities to make impactful changes came up. I was approached about specific diversity initiatives, for example, and things have snowballed from there. Also, the school governor role came about due to a genuine need to get involved in the school’s development at the time.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

The ability to meet people that I would not have met otherwise; also the chance to broaden my experiences and change my perspective. I have been able to apply some of the new skills learnt from my voluntary work into my work as a lawyer/leader and this has made the experience all the more rewarding.

This was the first part of a two part guest blog by Funke Abimbola for Energise LLClub.

Follow Funke Abimbola on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/diversitychamp1

Are you a woman lawyer interested in a portfolio career? Download your free LLClub report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’:
http://www.llclub.org/discover-portfolio-careers/

To book your place at the Law Society Women Lawyers Division Portfolio Careers event on 12 June, click on this link:
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=1077&orgId=1&guid=45fb5b5b-61ae-421d-84e4-3ccb65a5c20b

Funke moved from private practice to an in-house role. Did you know that The Law Society (all divisions) are having a Changing career direction event on 20 October (evening)? Save the date. See link for details:
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=1092&orgId=1&guid=f18e5ce0-e39c-4e5d-9f6a-4915fa3c27fc

Simon Strong’s portfolio career #3

May 4, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is the third in a series of 6 blog posts by Simon Strong about his portfolio career. Reading how people have created their own portfolio career can be useful to inspire you to create one yourself.

In case you missed them, here is part 1:

https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-1/

Here is part 2:

https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-2/

The rest of this blog is in Simon’s own words.

How did your portfolio career come about?

It certainly wasn’t intentional. In part it came about because I find it hard to say no. In part because I’m always having daft ideas (my outdoor cinema for the football world cup was an unmitigated disaster!). And partly because I started to give myself permission to do things if I thought they were interesting.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

It started with a business focus underpinned by the arts. I left advertising and got involved in using improvisational comedy as a tool to facilitate creativity, professional development, culture change, and branding workshops. I discovered there was this world of amazing people who did extraordinary business work: horse whisperers who did leadership development, a poker player who taught risk assessment and decision making, a Tai Chi master who taught negotiation skills etc.

For a short time I drifted away from a business focus to a more arts based interest with a business underpinning, partly due to the impact of the recession when the budgets dried up and companies found it difficult to justify working with someone like me!

I have now come back towards the business world and seem to be finding a way to combine my interests in really productive ways. I feel creatively potent and productive at the moment.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

Ummmmm…

My mum is really happy about the coffee shop – it means that she actually has an answer! But it is something that I have struggled with and angst over. Probably unnecessarily. It has been especially difficult at networking events when I think I should have something smart and concise to say.

Really, it depends who asks. Sometimes I say I am a barista or that I run a coffee shop or cafe. Other times I say I run a creative consultancy. Mostly I laugh and say I do stuff, for people, for reasons!

Part 4 of Simon’s 6 part guest blog series coming soon.

View Simon Strong’s LinkedIn profile:
http://https//uk.linkedin.com/in/simonstrong

View the Human Zoo web site:
http://www.humanzoo.biz/

What could your portfolio career be made up of? Find out what your transferable skills are by downloading our free report:
http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

Simon Strong’s portfolio career #2

April 16, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is the second in a series of 6 blog posts by Simon Strong about his portfolio career. Reading how people have created their own portfolio career can be useful to inspire you to create one yourself.

In case you missed it, here is part 1:
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php

The rest of this blog is in Simon’s own words.

How have some of the projects in your portfolio career come about?

Engaging students in learning

A couple of years ago, an ex-colleague from advertising days contacted me. She’d started teaching German at Radley College (boys public school just outside Oxford) and was intrigued as to how we could do something creative with her students. So for the last couple of years we have run the Radley Business Challenge in which we give the students a real business issue (Stabilo pens in the inaugural year and the German National Tourist Board last year) so that the students have to learn about German culture in order to create a marketing campaign. Last year another 6 schools took part in the challenge and I got the former Head of Sales and Marketing for Diesel UK and former Brand Communications Director of Orange Mobile to run workshops. Last year, for the first time, all her ‘A’ Level German students got A*, and more students have signed up for German than ever before. This year we hope to get extend the project to even more schools.

Coffee shop

My wife commutes to London every day for her job (CSO at ad agency Ogilvy and Mather) and she wanted a decent coffee on the train. So, because I love her, I opened a coffee shop at our local train station. The Zoo Café at Milford Train Station opened just over 6 months ago, and it’s just doubled in size when I took on my first member of staff three weeks ago. We serve 100’s of cups of awesome every day with clients including Lord Seb Coe and my very happy wife. I plan to develop a deli for commuters to pick up their evening meal on the way home, and also offer a dry cleaning service so they can drop off on the way in and pick up and the way back out. I’ve also go permission to set up a semi-permanent photographic exhibition on the platform, and I also want to run a pop-up restaurant out of the café (I’m in contact with Kerstin Rodgers of the Underground Supper Club who I met at a KFC workshop a couple of years ago who I hope to entice to cook at the café).

River of lights

A couple of years ago I organised an event in Guildford I called River Of Lights. It was inspired by a memory I had as a child of watching an event on TV (probably John Craven’s Newsround!) where tens of thousands of candles were thrown off a bridge like a waterfall, and which then floated down a river. In 2010, and again in 2011, I invited the community around Guildford to celebrate the winter solstice by floating candles on the River Wey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvdBbMqy6NQ

It got flooded off in both 2012 and 2013, and last year I took a break. Next year I am planning to do it in the village of Witley where I live.

Other projects

I chaired the PTA for our local infant school where my two boys went (Lucas is still there). Although I stepped down almost 2 years ago, I still run the annual fireworks event that I initiated, as well as dad’s poker night!

There are lots of other projects that are simmering in the background (a community energy project, Shakespeare in the park, something to do with pants, a Quidditch tournament, “hats for cars”, and I have a strange desire to direct ‘Waiting For Godot’…). And I’m sure other stuff will crop up…

Part 3 of Simon’s 6 part guest blog series coming soon.

View Simon Strong’s LinkedIn profile:
http://https//uk.linkedin.com/in/simonstrong

View the Human Zoo web site:
http://www.humanzoo.biz/

What could your portfolio career be made up of? Find out what your transferable skills are by downloading our free report:
http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

Simon Strong’s portfolio career #1

April 11, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is the first in a series of 6 blog posts by Simon Strong about his portfolio career.

Reading how people have created their own portfolio career can be useful to inspire you to create one yourself.

The rest of this blog is in Simon’s own words.

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?

I don’t really have components as such. More a load of stuff that I’m doing. Some I get paid for. Some I invest in. Some is just because I want to. Interestingly, it’s often the stuff I do just because I want to that leads to the most satisfying and lucrative work opportunities. Probably the easiest thing to do is tell you what I’ve been doing recently and what I’m up to now.

I ran Pecha Kucha Night in Guildford for a couple of years which allowed me to connect with so many amazing creative people and their stories. This led to being asked by Ellen Dowell (who runs Einstein’s Garden at the Green Man Festival, and whose academic work is based on interdisciplinary collaboration) to help set up Bright Club Guildford – where University Academics do stand-up comedy based on their research. Ellen and I ran Bright Club for 3 years before we stepped down in January this year. We have handed over to a fresh committee who we hope will be able to take it on to the next level.

I run a creative consultancy, Human Zoo, named after a book by the amazing Desmond Morris with whom I had the great honour of working when in advertising. We work with our clients across a broad range of projects including branding, innovation and culture change, running lots of seminars and facilitating workshops and conferences. We act as Ambassadors for the University of Surrey Business School and are involved in delivering seminars on their MBA and executive MBA programmes. I’m currently consulting with a global print company and am about to go out to Dubai to run a conference.

Last year my business partner in Human Zoo and I got bored of expending so much energy on client projects that went nowhere, so we decided to start investing time in our own innovation projects. We’ve got three projects currently underway:

1) We won a funding competition from the Technology Strategy Board (now Innovate UK) under ‘Re-Imagining The High Street’ for a feasibility study on an innovation we developed and we’ve just been asked to apply for phase 2 funding for a market test which we are just about to submit.

2) We are working on developing an accelerated learning platform which has been proven to deliver the same learning outcomes as 27 hours of traditional classroom based learning in just 1 hour. We are working with the University of Surrey Business School to run a learning tournament to compare different learning techniques in one of the largest studies of its kind – and we are engaging the top 1,000 businesses in the UK on how this will impact on engaging Gen Y and creating ‘Business Ready Brains’.

3) We are working with one of the University MBA students to take a charity start-up idea to market. We are about to go into a funding round…

Part 2 of Simon’s 6 part guest blog series coming soon.

View Simon Strong’s LinkedIn profile:
http://https//uk.linkedin.com/in/simonstrong

View the Human Zoo web site:
http://www.humanzoo.biz/

What could your portfolio career be made up of?
Find out what your transferable skills are by downloading our free report:
http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

Portfolio careerist – Jonathan Green #1

March 12, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog by one of our clients. Jonathan Green. We coached Jon to create his second career – a portfolio career. The rest of this blog is in Jon’s own words.

My current portfolio career

I am a musician, a writer, a speaker and I also work for a national faith based organisation on a part-time basis. When I met Rachel in 2007, I described myself as a “songwriter trapped in a church planter’s body” and the songwriter in me didn’t know how to escape! Even then, I instinctively knew that a portfolio career would allow my various “vocations” to dance together rather than constantly fight for position, but I was stuck; I didn’t know how to move forward and make that dream a reality. Eight years later and I am finding my groove and learning how to flow with a portfolio of meaningful work.

Before my portfolio career

Back in 2007 I was working 65 hours a week doing the thing I had felt called to do for such a long time. However, I had a problem, I had many things I wanted to do and I didn’t want to wait until this work was over to begin all of the other things! My job, the thing that paid out money and provided a house in Central London was developing fast – some might say too fast – and although it provided some space for music and writing, it was all connected to that role and the role was all consuming.

How coaching helps

Coaching provided me with the space to reflect and think, it gave me time to articulate things that I didn’t even think I was allowed to say, to want, to desire. Coaching gave voice to the writer in me and helped me to formulate a plan to break the songwriter out of prison. Rachel helped me to focus upon my deepest values and to see myself from many different perspectives – all of which were valid and needed to find an expression if I was ever to feel whole. For instance, one of my core skills is knowing how to start with a blank sheet of paper and create something meaningful which has the potential to change the world for good. I had confused that gift with church planting and severely restricted myself in the process. ‘Church planting’ means starting a church in a new community by the way! As I have worked with and understood that specific talent, I have realised that it works brilliantly far beyond just starting churches and this insight has served me well in recent years and made me more flexible, versatile, dynamic and responsive.

Career transition

18 months of coaching sessions helped me to set some firm boundaries which allowed me to scale back my paying job in order to write more and record and release my songs – this involved some conflict with my boss which coaching also helped me to navigate successfully. The money that I was going to spend on a PhD – the obvious “next step” for me, which would “open doors” – was shelved and I set up a recording studio in a spare bedroom instead. I submitted a song to a national song writing competition and ended up winning it, which led to the song being played on the radio.

Keep an eye out for part 2 of Jon’s story.

You can listen to lots of my music over at www.soundcloud.com/recreativemedia for free and you can buy my first Single – Rest in My Love from every online store and streaming service in the world! I live on Twitter @recre8ivemedia