My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Episode Guest

Tom Wallis is the Chief Customer Officer at Compare the Market, with a dynamic career spanning consulting, startups, and brand leadership. He's known for blending data-driven thinking with creative marketing to lead iconic campaigns.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:48 Tom’s Early Career and First Job

2:53 Lessons from Temping and the Power of Observation

4:55 Joining Accenture and Consulting Foundations

6:54 ...

Episode Guest

Rhys Degruchy is the Graduate Development and Support Leader at Halo, where he mentors new talent and helps shape the next generation of high performers. With a background in physics and a passion for people, Rhys is driven by trust, autonomy, and a relentless desire to improve.

Ben Thorpe is the Infrastructure Manager at Halo, having grown through the ranks over seven years. Obsessed with progress and delivery, Ben...

Episode Guest:

Tim Mason is the CEO of Eagle Eye and a veteran of British retail, best known for his 30-year career at Tesco where he helped launch the Clubcard. He brings decades of experience in marketing, loyalty, and digital transformation.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:41 Meet Tim – The Duvet Flip Moment

1:56 Tim’s First Job: From Fruit Farm to Boardroom

3:06 What Makes a Great First Employee

4:48 The Power of Enthusias...

Episode Guest:

Matt Callaghan is the Chief Operating Officer at easyJet Holidays, where he leads customer experience, operations, and long-term strategy. With a background spanning Deloitte, British Airways, and frontline leadership at Heathrow, Matt brings a rare blend of operational grit and strategic vision.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:23 Why Matt Said Yes to My Duvet Flip

2:14 First Job at Next: Life Lessons from Retail

4...

Episode Guest:

Sam Sims is the Chief Executive of National Numeracy, with a career rooted in empowering individuals through confidence-building and lifelong learning. His work focuses on supporting those often overlooked to realise their potential with the right tools and encouragement.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:32 Meet Sam Sims, CEO of National Numeracy

1:13 What National Numeracy does

1:54 Sam’s early work and first j...

Episode Guest:

Lukas Kaminskis is the CEO of Boom Training and Turing College, two organisations focused on transforming tech education across Europe. He’s a serial entrepreneur passionate about building learner-first experiences that unlock economic mobility.

Benas Sidlauskas is the Chief Business Development Officer at Boom Training and Turing College. A long-time co-founder with Lukas, Benas is driven by creating scalable educ...

Episode Guest:

Richard Walker is the Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods and a passionate advocate for responsible business. He also founded the sustainable property firm Bywater, blending purpose, grit and leadership to champion people and planet.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:48 Why business is a force for good

1:34 Richard’s first job and early lessons in customer service

3:44 What makes a great communicator?

4:53 Battlin...

Episode Guest:

Nick Bent is the CEO of upReach, a UK-based social mobility charity helping university students from less-advantaged backgrounds secure top graduate jobs. With a background spanning government, business, and the third sector, Nick co-founded upReach to level the playing field for talented young people.

German Bencci is the CEO and founder of CodeYourFuture, a volunteer-driven organisation training individuals from ...

Episode Guest

Briya Campbell is the Senior Data Enablement Manager at Compare the Market, where she champions innovation and inclusion in the data space. With a dynamic background spanning retail and tech, Briya is passionate about mentorship, representation, and driving commercial impact through data.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:23 Meet the Guest: Senior Data Enablement Manager at Compare the Market

1:03 Bria’s Background: ...

Episode Guests

James Turner is the CEO of the Hg Foundation, leading its mission to drive social mobility through technology and education.

Elona Mortimer-Zhika is a Board Trustee at the Hg Foundation and a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and access to tech careers.

Episode Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:49 Meet James and Elona from the HG Foundation

1:27 Why tech access is a social mobility issue

2:29 James’ journey...

Episode Guest:

Matthew Wragg is the CEO at Gattaca Plc. Parent company to Matchtech, Infosec People and Gattaca Projects , where he’s spent over two decades rising through 12 roles to lead the company. Known for his people-first approach and belief in learning through hard graft, Matthew brings deep insight into recruitment, leadership, and resilience.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:20 Matthew’s first job and “get the hel...

Episode Guest:

Tanuja Randery is the Managing Director for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. A passionate advocate for digital skills and inclusive leadership, she has helped train over 31 million learners globally.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:20 From Early Jobs to Self‑Discovery

3:50 Breaking Into McKinsey: Network & Opportunity

6:15 Doing Excellent Work & Beyond the Ask

8:40 ...

Episode Guest

Penny Taylor is the HR Director at Compare the Market, where she leads with a passion for inclusivity, kindness, and commercial impact. Her career journey spans retail, travel, and people leadership, grounded in real-world grit and deep empathy.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction & Why This Chat Matters

1:15 Penny’s Early Years & Academic Setbacks

3:10 The “Floater” Role — Learning Every Part of a Business

5:00...

Episode Guest:

Matt Madrigal is the Chief Technology Officer at Pinterest, where he leads product management, engineering, and infrastructure for the platform. With a career spanning eBay, Google, and Fanatics, Matt is a seasoned e-commerce and tech leader passionate about building positive, high-impact user experiences.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:23 From Chico to Pizza Shop: Matt’s First Job

3:45 Lessons in Work Ethic ...

Episode Guest:

Graham Rogers

Graham Rogers is the Co-CEO of Homes for Students, bringing a decade of leadership experience in student accommodation and a passion for a people-first culture.

Kate Forester

Kate Forester is the Managing Director at Homes for Students, known for her straight-talking leadership style, focus on team development, and deep commitment to delivering on promises.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:41 M...

Episode Guest:

Llorayah Timbou Faucher is a Degree Apprentice at Marks & Spencer who started as a quiet Christmas temp and is now inspiring future leaders. Her story is one of confidence, curiosity, and creating memorable moments for customers and colleagues alike.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:47 Starting as a Christmas Temp at 18

2:05 Nervous Beginnings & Not Knowing the Ropes

3:12 Learning the Power of “Just ...

Episode Guest:

Kayte Houghton is the Payroll Lead at Marks & Spencer, where she’s risen from admin assistant to leading payroll for 65,000+ colleagues. A champion of resilience, Kayte’s journey from council house to career leadership shows what’s possible when passion meets opportunity.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:49 Kayte’s Early Life as a Teen Mum

2:15 Living on Benefits & Hitting Rock Bottom

3:40 The Courag...

Episode Guest:

Kate Goolnik is a Food Business Graduate at Marks & Spencer with a passion for how food gets from supplier to shelf. From night shifts in nightclubs to store openings and sandwich logistics, Kate’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and drive.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:48 Starting Out in Nightclubs During Uni

2:15 Learning to Work With Different People

3:20 The Supermarket Fascination

4:30 Fr...

Episode Guest:

Alice Grennan is a Fashion, Home & Beauty Product Graduate at Marks & Spencer, where she’s building a multifaceted retail career. From lava flows to sustainable fashion, Alice’s squiggly career path is powered by passion, resilience, and confidence.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:48 Alice’s First Job at 13 — The £5 Paper Round

2:05 Hustling for Hospitality Roles

3:15 How Early Jobs Built Resilience...