Actsplore This

Before 2025 clocks out, we’re pulling up the chair (& our mics!) for a cozy, honest, no-filters reflection on the year that flew, stretched us, and quietly changed us in ways we didn’t see coming😌In our final episode of Season 6 for the year 2025, we crack open the Year Compass and reflect about the highs that grounded us, the plot twists we didn’t sign up for, and the lessons we’re choosing to carry (and leave behind).We get into:🌱 The moments of joy that kept us sane💛 Navigating uncertainty, road bumps, and “what now?” seasons🧠 Small wins, personal growth & protecting our mental wellbeing🏃‍♀️ Discipline, resilience, and learning when to push vs. let go🚦 Choosing peace and a more rested, intentional 2026If this episode hits close to home, come reflect with us in person.We’re hosting an exclusive in-person workshop on Building Influence, designed for those who want to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and presence ✨🎟️ Early bird extended til 25/12 so save your spot for our in-person event here 👇🏻 https://luma.com/gikysqau📘 Download the Year Compass here:https://yearcompass.com/ & tag us when you tune into this ep with your own reflections of 2025!CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: @actsplorethispodcast✨Tiktok: @actsplorethispodcast✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Today, we speak to Jimmy McLoughlin OBE , former Special Advisor to the UK Prime Minister on business, technology and entrepreneurship. Jimmy now hosts Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future, one of the UK’s top careers podcasts, and is the founder of Boxlight, a creative video agency.In this conversation, Jimmy shares his remarkable journey: from shaping business policy at No.10 to swapping Downing Street for diapers, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and eventually building a podcast that grew from a few hundred listeners to over 91k subscribers. We dive into:✨ What a day in the life of a Special Adviser to the Prime Minister actually looks like✨ The biggest leadership lessons from his years inside No.10✨ How he built a community and audience from the ground up✨ The future of jobs and the real impact of AI on the workforce✨ How Jimmy would approach building a career if he were starting todayCONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Julia Korn is an executive career coach and the founder of the Women’s Leadership Accelerator, a community dedicated to the growth of female leaders. A self-described recovering people-pleaser, Julia has reshaped the career coaching landscape, earning recognition as a Business Insider Most Innovative Career Coach. She’s also a sought-after Forbes Contributor and was featured on global platforms such as BBC World News and Fox Business News, Her TEDx talk, Break Up With “Should” In Your Career, was named a TED Editors’ Pick of the Year. In this episode, we talk about:  Why the word ‘Should’ can be toxic for ambitious professionalsPivoting with purpose and building a career that feels aligned and authentic Turning off autopilot and how we can shift from passively living to actively choosingHow to build a “personal board of directors to maximize career success So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this really it?”,  this conversation might be the reminder you need that you’re so much more than your job title.Link to Julia’s TEDX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgrcyGWYYPE&t=44sFind out about the Women’s Leadership Accelerator: https://juliakorn.com/CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Is meaning and fulfilment at work a universal need, or just a nice to have? In this episode, Frank Koo, Founder & CEO of Nextplay, joins us to explore what it really takes to design a career that feels both successful and significant.With a career spanning IBM, Oracle, Pearson, and most recently as Head of Asia of Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn, Frank shares how he made the leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, and what he’s learned about purpose along the way.You’ll discover:Why purpose isn’t found overnight but built over timeHow Frank’s SPICE Model (Stimulation, Purpose, Income, Connection, Esteem) can help you find meaning in your workThe trade-offs between income and impact and how to navigate themPractical tips to future-proof your career at any stageWhether you’re a fresh graduate, a mid-career professional itching for change, or a seasoned leader redefining success, this episode will leave you rethinking what fulfilment at work truly means.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

We’ve all heard the career advice: “Find a mentor.” But here’s the twist.Mentorship alone won’t always get you the big opportunities. That’s where sponsorship comes in.In this episode, we sit down with Rosalind Chow, Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon, to unpack what really makes sponsorship such a career game-changer.Rosalind walks us through:🔠 The ABCDs of sponsorship—Amplify, Boost, Connect, Defend📢 Why “good gossip” can supercharge your visibility🎬 How a single story (hello, Sal Khan + Bill Gates) can change your trajectory🏢 The subtle but critical ways sponsorship differs from mentorship🚀 How you can actively cultivate sponsorship opportunities in your own careerWhether you’re a rising professional looking to get noticed, or a leader hoping to lift others as you climb, this conversation will help you see sponsorship in a whole new light.🎧 And stick around until the end: we’re giving away a signed copy of Rosalind’s book The Doors You Can Open to 3 Actsplore This Podcast listeners! CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis