Life Without Barriers’ Post

New interview alert: In 2022 I made the decision, after a 20 year gap to go back to university to study food policy. I wanted to pursue a career change, find more meaning and focus on the right to nutritious food, especially for the vulnerable and the young. In this interview with City, University of London I talk about: 👶 The importance of showing my children that I can be a mother and have a career and study at the same time – challenging as that may be. 🏢 My decision to leave Mayor of London and the world of comms planning & strategy consulting to go back to university. 🏆 How when I was growing up, my focus was on finding a job that earned you a lot of money and brought promotion. And how now, my definition of success has shifted to not only finding a job that’s meaningful but one that I feel happy doing. (And one that also allows me to be a good role model for my children and have a healthy work-life balance.) 👩🏼🏫 My personal experience with no longer being the expert in the room, and building up after shifting lanes. 🏢 Finding my home at Bremner & Co working alongside four City alumni, Cecily Darling, Cressida Pidgeon, Rob Kidd and Rosie Osborne. 🍲 The brilliant course that is Food Policy at City, nods to Christian Reynolds, Christina Vogel and Rebecca Wells who amongst many others make the course what it is (which is, brilliant). And finally, every day I went to uni, my kids sent me in with a teddy bear, and insisted I sent photos of them ‘doing uni’, - check out the photo in the article. Redefining success has shown me that it's never too late to pivot and invest in a purpose-driven future. #CareerChange #Motherhood #SuccessRedefined #FoodPolicy https://lnkd.in/eMtVcdCf

Alumna Decinta Tuohey never saw herself as a future Chief Executive. But that’s exactly where her Master of Social Work eventually led. Now the CEO of Thrive Wellness and Consulting, a mental health and wellbeing consultancy in regional Victoria, Decinta shares some valuable insights from her own experience: 'The social work field has so much versatility, more than some of the other industries that I've worked in. It’s quite eye-opening – even when I'm supervising students on placement, they often don’t realise all the opportunities they have: HR, leadership, supervision, case management, advocacy, policy writing and therapy, to name a few. It’s just about finding out what works for you.' She feels strongly that putting yourself out there and exposing yourself to different people and work environments is the key to building confidence and career success. 'Getting experience, whether it’s working with people that have a disability or providing direct support to somebody, is of great benefit when you’re fully qualified. It opens a lot more doors.' Of her time at La Trobe, her memories are fond. 'It was an amazing experience. The lecturers nurtured and supported you as a person, not just as a student.' Discover the rewards—and opportunities—that come with studying Social Work at La Trobe 👉 https://lnkd.in/gP8NWb_8 #leadership #careeradvice #latrobeuni

Let’s be honest— sometimes we push our kids in areas where we feel we missed out. I invested so much time in my daughter’s track career because I didn’t have those opportunities growing up. Watching her compete, I realize how essential team sports are for teaching valuable life skills. Team sports provide more than just physical fitness; they instill discipline, resilience, and teamwork. They teach kids how to work collaboratively toward a common goal, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Through these experiences, my daughter learned to celebrate victories, navigate losses, and support her teammates, all of which are crucial life skills. We focused on her goal of securing a scholarship, I also wanted to give her the tools to manage that success financially. It’s not just about excelling on the track; it’s about preparing her for the future. Understanding financial wellness is key to building a secure life—one where she can confidently manage her finances, make informed decisions, and create opportunities for herself. For women especially, building community is vital. The bonds formed through team sports can lead to lifelong friendships and networks that support each other in both personal and professional pursuits. We need to empower our daughters not only to excel in their individual pursuits but also to cultivate a strong sense of community that will uplift them throughout their lives. By equipping her with both athletic skills and financial knowledge, I hope to help her become a well-rounded individual who knows how to navigate both competition and life’s challenges with grace and confidence. FYI… this is not the university she committed too. #MotherhoodJourney #BuildingCharacterAndWealth #FinancialWellness #HealingThroughParenting #EmpoweredFuture #WomenSupportingWomen #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #CommunityMatters

As I celebrate the last official week of my freshman year at SDSU, I want to reflect on some of the skills and lessons I have learned over the past 9 months: 1. Independence & Adaptability. As someone who has never lived away from their parent for more than a week to go to summer camp, I found being independent harder than I had imagined. I soon learned that to be more content with my new surroundings, I needed to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I have become more flexible and resilient to change, big or small.  2. Critical Thinking & Self-advocacy. As a child, I was lucky enough to never have to think or advocate for myself. However, that quickly changed when I moved into college. These skills are vital at a university and also in the workforce, and I am glad to have learned them and will be using them for the rest of my adult life. 3. Health & Wellness. I have learned, which might have been the hard way, that prioritizing physical and mental health, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, and stress management, is key to thriving in college. It is OK to prioritize yourself sometimes. This year has been a whirlwind of growth and self-discovery. Each challenge has shaped me, each success has fueled my ambition. Here's to the lessons learned and the journey ahead. #FreshmanReflection #GrowthMindset

Congratulations on your incredible achievement to all the recent social work and counseling graduates! As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, you may wonder about the best path forward. I've put together some advice in the video linked below to help guide you through this transitional period and set you up for success in your post-graduation life. Feel free to check it out, and let me know if you have any other questions! #mentalhealthprofessionals #careertips https://lnkd.in/eVuu-eAZ

For National Exercise Day, our #StaffSpotlight is on Savannah Antoine - Active Campus Co-ordinator. Starting at West College Scotland last August, Savannah’s role is to promote and facilitate the delivery of sport and physical activity on campus, contributing to the health and well-being of students, staff and the community. When asked what she loves most about working at West, Savannah gave a simple two-word answer: the people. 🧡 “From the moment I joined the college community I have been warmly welcomed. Everyone I've met has been helpful while I've settled into this new role, and without the people that buy into the things I'm offering, it wouldn't be possible.” Savannah shared her top 4 tips for entering a new workplace: 1. Take the time to look after yourself. To provide your best at work, you need to look after your own wellbeing. For me, this tends to be physical activity, but I know this isn’t for everyone. For others it could be reading a book. Find what makes you feel good. 2. Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable, constantly challenge yourself to try new things out with your comfort zone. 3. Listen completely – make sure someone feels heard when communicating. Alongside this, when surrounded with so much experience, really value the amount that you can learn from talking to colleagues. 4. You either win or you learn. If we don’t experience any difficulties in our life, we will not grow. Challenge yourself to think differently and overcome any barriers you face.

💼💭 Inspiring sessions, expert advice, and endless growth! Mission Admission 2025/26 lit the path to brighter futures. ✨ . . #MissionAdmission2025 #FutureReady #InspiringGrowth #PathToSuccess #BrighterFutures #ExpertAdvice #DreamBigAchieveBig #CareerGoals #NextGenLeaders #AdmissionJourney #IMSDelhi

Happy Workiversary Month, Kevin Purnell! 🎉 At FGP, we don’t just celebrate years. We celebrate the people behind them. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Kevin Purnell for the positive impact he brings to our team every day! Kevin’s got some words of wisdom for anyone looking to succeed in finance (or any field, really!) ✨ Embrace Lifelong Learning: Stay curious, keep growing—there’s always more to learn. ✨ Build Strong Relationships: The value of genuine connections? Priceless. ✨ Adaptability is Key: Flexibility helps you stay strong through any changes that come your way. ✨ Integrity Matters: Trust is our foundation, and honesty makes it unbreakable. ✨ Be Proactive: Opportunities are out there—don’t wait, go get them! ✨ Seek Balance: Life outside work matters, too! Finding that balance fuels success. ✨ Stay Positive: A positive outlook can go a long way, even during the tough times. Kevin, we’re so lucky to have you on our team. Here’s to many more achievements together! 🙌 And a special shoutout to the amazing colleagues who make the journey meaningful—thank you Matt Gunter, Gibson Vaught, and Carole Miller, for being part of Kevin’s story here at FGP. Everyone else: What's a piece of advice or value you swear by at work? Drop it in the comments or tag someone who embodies it! Let’s celebrate the people who make every day a little brighter. 🌟 #Workiversary #TeamFGP #ValuesThatLead #GrowthTogether

"Aspire Indiana Health is incredibly excited to partner with the Pursuit Institute to offer a pathway to human services to high school students interested in this career. We believe in the growth and development of individuals in the community we serve and look forward to providing robust educational and experiential opportunities to students within this program." ✨ We couldn't be more excited to partner with Aspire and offer a larger number of opportunities for students to explore these important careers. #CollegeAndCareer #CTE #Education

The folks in the Division of Student Affairs at #Dartmouth received an extended #weekend. We were off starting July 3 until today July 7. This (along with several other #privileges) allowed me to take a hiking trip to Gros Morne National Park in #Newfoundland. I am writing about this because too often we ask #candidates (and each other), how we’re going to #prioritize our #health and #wellness. “How do you keep a work-life balance?” I’ve had interviewers ask me over & over, just as I’ve been on committees where my #colleagues have asked this of candidates. The truth is, a #work-life balance (or work-life harmony) isn’t just the #responsibility of one person. When I’ve been asked this question, I’ve answered with the #truthful but blazay responses (i enjoy the outdoors, i have two dogs that keep me active, i realize that some days work will be the priority and somedays those around me will have to realize that life takes priority), but what I’ve always wondered is, how is this #institution allowing me to take care of myself? Am i allowed to switch off? Am i allowed to stay #offline and not be given grief the next day? Is it okay for me to put things on hold (without repercussions) until I have #recharged? To me, this extended break was one way that institutions can be more #supportive of their staff. And while some folks are quick to criticize #leaders and #institutions, I believe it’s important to give #credit where credit is due. I for one, am #grateful to Dartmouth & its #leadership team for providing me with this time to #rest and #recharge, and for being able to revisit what it is I work so hard for: #adventuring, #exploring, and making #memories.