Resilience, Inclusion, and Reinventing Careers ft. Ollie Thorn

This week on The Career Equation Podcast, Erica Sosna welcomes Ollie Thorn, an accomplished speaker, advisor, and consultant specialising in resilience, culture, and diversity. Ollie’s inspiring career spans the military, professional sports, the charitable sector, and corporate leadership. From an unexpected spinal cord injury that drastically altered his life to becoming a father earlier this year, Ollie shares his incredible story of reinvention and growth.

 

The episode dives deep into Ollie's transition from feeling lost after his injury to becoming a passionate advocate for disability inclusion, leveraging storytelling to drive cultural change, and helping businesses create environments where everyone can thrive. Currently navigating his new chapter as an independent consultant, Ollie opens up about balancing his professional aspirations with fatherhood, building sustainable practices for his career, and championing inclusion for the 24% of the working-age population living with disabilities.

Key Topics Explored

• The Power of Life Events in Career Changes Ollie discusses how becoming a father has reshaped his priorities and inspired him to create a work-life balance that allows him to fully be present at home while pursuing meaningful work.
• Resilience and Reinvention After Trauma Ollie shares his experience navigating life with a spinal cord injury, from training as a military officer to adjusting to life in a wheelchair. His reflection on overcoming society's negative perceptions of disability is both moving and empowering.
• Creating Inclusive Workplaces With 24% of the working-age population living with disabilities, Ollie highlights the importance of building inclusive workplaces where employees feel safe sharing their needs. He discusses how storytelling can humanise disability and help shift corporate cultures towards belonging.
• The Career Equation Framework Erica guides Ollie through the Career Equation framework, identifying his core strengths, passions, and drivers. Together, they map out Ollie’s formula for success, including his skills in forging impactful relationships, passion for storytelling, and mission to drive sustainable cultural change.
• Insights for Leaders and Managers Ollie emphasises the need for career conversations, especially after significant life changes. Managers play a critical role in fostering open dialogue and understanding how an employee’s priorities might shift. Practical tips on maintaining empathy and nurturing high-performing teams are shared.
• Advice for Freelancers Reflecting on his new venture into freelance work, Ollie shares tips on staying focused, the importance of networking, and finding a rhythm when balancing family and professional goals. His candid look at the challenges and rewards of self-employment offers actionable inspiration for anyone considering a similar leap.

Memorable Quotes from Ollie Thorn

• “Going through trauma gave me the ability to see the world from different perspectives and develop empathy. It’s why I focus on building relationships based on trust.”
• “Disability isn’t a deficit; it’s a lens that allows innovation and creativity to thrive in the workplace.”
• “Becoming a father made me reflect deeply on what truly matters in life—and how I can adapt my career to align with those priorities.”

Takeaways for Listeners

1. The Importance of Resilience – Challenges can pave the way for reinvention and growth, whether they arise from personal or professional life.
2. Storytelling as a Tool for Change – Personal stories can create a ripple effect in changing percept