My Duvet Flip by Jackson Parsons

Hosted by Jackson Parsons

Business Careers EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

230

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

My Duvet Flip is the UK's leading careers show, created and hosted by Jackson Parsons. Join Jackson as he delves into an enthralling discussion with people and their careers, where he explores some of their most memorable instances of making mistakes and the valuable lessons they gained from them.

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60 recent

August 20, 202624 min

Robert Berkeley, CEO at EKCS: What 20+ Years in Business Taught Me About Careers

Guest Bio Robert Berkeley is the CEO of EKCS Group and a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of experience building and leading businesses across technology, creative production and marketing operations. His career has been driven by curiosity, calculated risk-taking and a belief that the best opportunities often come from taking the less obvious path. EKCS Group Bio EKCS Group is a global provider of outsourced, technology-enabled creative production and marketing support services. With more than 500 people worldwide, the business supports brands, agencies and creative teams around the clock. Chapters 0:00 Robert Berkeley on 20+ Years in Business 1:25 Meet Robert Berkeley, CEO of EKCS 1:55 Robert’s First Job and Early Career 3:42 Why Robert Chose the Lower-Paying Job 6:07 How a Credit Card Bill Sparked His Entrepreneurial Journey 9:24 Turning Curiosity Into Career Opportunities 11:07 Taking the Leap and Starting a Business 12:30 Robert’s Advice for Becoming a Better Networker 15:09 Why Curiosity Is Your Networking Superpower 16:26 Inside EKCS and What the Business Does 18:27 What 20+ Years in Business Taught Robert 18:44 Why Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Chase the Money 20:45 Robert’s Biggest Lesson About Leadership 21:18 The Invisible Secret Behind Robert’s Success 22:26 What Gets Robert Out of Bed Every Morning 23:37 Robert’s Final Advice for Success Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

August 13, 202620 min

Suzanne Speak, Managing Director UK&I at Radisson Hotel Group: What 30 Years in Hospitality Taught Me About Success

About Suzanne Suzanne Speak is Managing Director for UK & Ireland at Radisson Hotel Group, with 30 years of experience in hospitality. From her first job at 13 to leading across the UK and Ireland, Suzanne is passionate about people, networking and creating career opportunities for the next generation. Radisson Hotel Group Radisson Hotel Group is an international hospitality group with hotels and career opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, from hotel operations to finance, legal, marketing and sustainability. The group focuses on memorable guest experiences while developing talent and creating opportunities for people to build long-term careers in hospitality. Chapters 0:00 Meet Suzanne Speak 1:13 Suzanne’s Journey into Hospitality 1:46 Building a Strong Work Ethic from a Young Age 3:54 Why Networking Is Essential for Career Success 5:18 The Importance of Being Authentic 7:08 The Sacrifices Behind a 30 Year Hospitality Career 9:10 Why Hotels Offer More Careers Than You Think 10:37 Suzanne’s Journey to Radisson Hotel Group 12:13 What Does a Managing Director Actually Do? 13:08 Building a People First Company Culture 13:54 Why Suzanne Became a Managing Director 14:31 Learning from Difficult Leaders and Experiences 15:16 Suzanne’s Advice for Young People Looking for Work 16:49 What Suzanne Would Tell Her 18 Year Old Self 17:33 The One Skill Suzanne Would Never Give Up 18:27 Suzanne’s Duvet Flip 19:32 The Quote That Perfectly Defines Suzanne’s Career Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

July 28, 202624 min

Julia Klein, Director of Performance Marketing at Compare the Market: How to Start a Career in Marketing

Episode Guest Julia Klein is Director of Performance Marketing at Compare the Market, where she leads the teams responsible for driving digital customer acquisition across paid media, search, SEO and content. Originally from Germany, Julia has built an international career by combining analytical thinking, curiosity and people-first leadership. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:25 Meeting Julia Klein 2:00 Julia's first job in Germany 2:52 The communication skills every career needs 5:13 Why every job teaches transferable skills 6:39 Moving from Germany to the USA and Scotland 8:00 Changing career plans from law to business 10:24 Why Julia chose marketing over consultancy 11:44 The confidence to apply before you're ready 12:48 Falling in love with performance marketing 13:26 What paid search actually is 14:06 Do you need to be good at maths? 15:13 Career advice for aspiring marketers 15:50 What is a T-shaped marketer? 17:13 How AI is changing marketing forever 19:47 Becoming Director of Performance Marketing 20:20 Leading high-performing marketing teams 22:19 Win or bin: Julia's leadership mindset 22:33 Why Compare the Market stands out 23:49 Julia's Duvet Flip 24:27 Final thoughts Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

July 23, 202624 min

Kate Hayward, UK Managing Director at Xero: How to Build a Network When You Know Nobody

About Kate Kate Hayward is the UK Managing Director at Xero, where she leads the company's mission to empower small businesses, accountants and bookkeepers through technology. Passionate about entrepreneurship, financial education and inclusive leadership, Kate is a strong advocate for helping people realise their potential regardless of their background. About Xero Xero is a global cloud accounting platform that helps small businesses, accountants and bookkeepers manage their finances more efficiently. Its software and educational resources are designed to simplify business finances and support sustainable growth. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:15 Kate's first job and the power of asking for feedback 2:42 Why you should build your own network 3:24 How to build a network when you know nobody 4:27 What "putting into your network" really means 5:34 How to demonstrate effort on your CV 6:25 Growing up with a self-employed dad 7:02 Perfectionism, resilience and believing anything is possible 8:46 Introversion, imposter syndrome and earning your place 9:57 Kate's journey to becoming UK Managing Director at Xero 11:15 Why you can't do it all and why that's okay 12:33 Dyslexia, AI and turning challenges into strengths 14:09 Why small businesses are struggling right now 15:49 Who teaches you to be an entrepreneur? 17:06 The one financial skill every business owner needs 18:02 What Xero does and supporting 1.3 million UK businesses 20:06 Breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship 20:49 Would Kate ever become an entrepreneur? 21:39 The quote that defines Kate's leadership 23:29 Kate's invisible success 24:13 Kate's Duvet Flip Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

July 9, 202628 min

Jeff Cleaven, Field Service Technician at Virgin Media O2: Why Customer Experience Is the Best Career Skill

Episode Guest Jeff Cleaven is a Field Service Technician at Virgin Media O2, helping customers across London stay connected by installing, maintaining and troubleshooting broadband, TV and phone services. Originally from South Africa, Jeff brings a people-first approach, a passion for learning and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Episode Partner This episode is part of My Duvet Flip's Choose Customer series, produced in partnership with Virgin Media O2. Virgin Media O2 is one of the UK's largest and most recognisable connectivity brands, delivering mobile, broadband, TV and business services to millions of customers across the country. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:28 Meeting Jeff Cleaven 2:48 Jeff's first job teaching children to swim 4:22 Why Jeff walked away from becoming a pilot 5:20 Changing careers and taking risks 6:05 Jeff's advice for anyone starting their career 7:06 Finding mentors by showing up 8:19 A day in the life of a Virgin Media O2 Field Service Technician 9:34 Installing broadband and solving customer problems 11:04 How every career taught Jeff something valuable 12:13 Why customer experience matters more than ever 13:46 How to deliver exceptional customer service 16:32 The technical skills behind the role 17:30 Dealing with difficult customers 20:12 Lessons from protecting wildlife in South Africa 22:10 Becoming a Field Service Technician at Virgin Media O2 23:01 Career opportunities and apprenticeships at Virgin Media O2 25:01 Learning, training and support at Virgin Media O2 26:27 Jeff's Duvet Flip 27:42 Final thoughts Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counselling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

July 2, 202623 min

Dom Burrows, Team Manager at Virgin Media O2: Why Customer Service Is the Best Place to Start Your Career

Episode Guest Dominic Burrows is an Executive Team Manager at Virgin Media O2, leading teams that resolve complex customer issues while developing future leaders. He is passionate about customer trust, resilience and helping people grow through great leadership. Episode Partner This episode is part of My Duvet Flip's Choose Customer series, produced in partnership with Virgin Media O2. Virgin Media O2 is one of the UK's largest and most recognisable connectivity brands, delivering mobile, broadband, TV and business services to millions of customers across the country. Chapters 0:00 Why I Wanted to Be a Millionaire 1:29 Introduction 2:37 Studying Marketing and Landing My First Sales Job 4:22 Why Money Isn't Everything 5:08 The #1 Skill You Need in Sales 5:59 Starting at Virgin Media O2 6:42 Why Customer Service Builds Great Leaders 7:59 What It's Really Like Managing Customer Complaints 9:03 How to Build Customer Trust 9:51 How I Got Promoted to Team Manager 10:49 What Makes a Great Leader? 11:50 The Book Challenge 12:19 Going Above and Beyond for Customers 14:35 Skills You Need to Succeed in Customer Service 15:22 Why I Chose a Career in Telecoms 16:12 Why Telecoms Is a Great Industry to Join 17:20 What Customer Trust Really Means 18:01 Helping Hundreds of Customers 19:56 Staying Positive When Every Day Brings Complaints 20:43 Why Every Complaint Is an Opportunity 21:05 My Duvet Flip 22:02 Final Thoughts Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counselling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

June 25, 202625 min

Samreen Khan, Store Leader at Virgin Media O2: How I Went From Student to Store Leader

Episode Guest: Samreen Khan is a Store Leader at Virgin Media O2 with over seven years' experience in telecommunications, progressing from sales into leadership. She is passionate about developing people, coaching high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Episode Partner: This episode is part of My Duvet Flip's Choose Customer series, produced in partnership with Virgin Media O2. Virgin Media O2 is one of the UK's largest and most recognisable connectivity brands, delivering mobile, broadband, TV and business services to millions of customers across the country. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:42 Meet Samreen: From Student to Store Leader 3:22 Starting Work at 18 and Finding an Unexpected Career 4:32 Why Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone Matters 5:59 Learning to Deal with Customers Every Day 7:15 Building Resilience While Living with Anxiety 8:28 Why Great Customer Service Is About How People Feel 9:50 Falling Into a Career in Telecoms 11:04 The Skills Every Young Person Needs at Work 12:15 The Family Story That Built Samreen's Drive 13:28 The Book That Changed Samreen's Perspective on Failure 14:47 Turning the Region's Worst Store into One of the Best 16:18 Leading a Team Through Consistency 18:17 Why Caring About People Makes You a Better Leader 20:10 Why Samreen Loves Working at Virgin Media O2 21:11 Helping Young Team Members Grow 22:11 Career Progression at Virgin Media O2 23:13 Samreen's Duvet Flip 24:25 Final Thoughts Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counselling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

June 23, 202631 min

Sam Collier, Group COO at Achieve Together: I Started as a Support Worker. Now I Lead 6,500 People

About Guest Sam Collier is the Chief Operating Officer at Achieve Together, one of the UK's leading social care providers. Having started his career as a support worker, Sam has spent more than 25 years championing high-quality care and creating opportunities for people to live their best lives. About Achieve Together Achieve Together supports people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, and complex health conditions to live independently in their communities. With more than 6,500 employees across England and Wales, the organisation helps people lead ordinary lives in ordinary homes with the right support. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 2:06 Sam's First Jobs and Early Lessons 3:09 Why Social Care Became Sam's Purpose 5:32 Sam's Advice for Anyone Considering Social Care 7:46 How to Be Your Authentic Self in Interviews 9:42 How Values Evolve Throughout Your Career 11:02 Why Social Care Is a Professional Industry 12:42 Young Sam Never Planned to Become a COO 15:07 Inside Achieve Together and Its Mission 17:07 What a Group COO Actually Does 18:26 How Sam Manages 6,500 Employees 19:34 The Skills Needed to Become a COO 21:45 What Sam Loves Most About Leadership 23:19 Opportunities Across Achieve Together 24:53 Apprenticeships and Career Progression 26:35 How AI Is Transforming Social Care 28:22 Sam's Invisible Success: Never Give Up 29:46 Sam's Duvet Flip Episode Partners: Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK's most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they're on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

June 18, 202631 min

Josie Parmee, Head of Social Equity at Virgin Media O2: What I Learned After 14 Years of Changing Lives

Episode Guest Josephine Parmee is Head of Social Equity at Virgin Media O2, where she leads initiatives focused on digital inclusion, online safety, and helping people thrive in an increasingly connected world. With a background spanning human rights, consumer rights, and social impact, she is passionate about using business as a force for positive societal change. Episode Partner This episode is part of My Duvet Flip's Choose Customer series, produced in partnership with Virgin Media O2. Virgin Media O2 is one of the UK's largest and most recognisable connectivity brands, delivering mobile, broadband, TV and business services to millions of customers across the country. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 2:04 Meeting Josephine Parmee 3:18 How Josephine's Career Started 4:50 Advice for Speaking to Senior Leaders 5:58 14 Years in Human Rights and Social Impact 7:28 Adapting to New Organisations and Roles 9:02 The Skills Needed to Influence Change 11:43 What Does a Head of Social Equity Do? 13:07 Why Digital Inclusion Matters 13:44 The Reality of Digital Poverty in the UK 15:13 Tackling Digital Wellbeing and Online Safety 16:25 How Virgin Media O2 Supports Digital Wellbeing 19:31 Connecting People to What Matters Most 21:38 Why Josephine Chose Telecoms 22:20 The Side Project That Changed Her Career 23:55 Why You Should Create Opportunities Outside Work 25:31 Finding a Career in Digital Consumer Rights 26:29 What Virgin Media O2 Taught Josephine About Trust 27:30 Why Career Paths Are Never Linear 28:04 The Power of Following Your Passion 29:22 Josephine's Duvet Flip 30:40 Final Reflections on Digital Inclusion Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counselling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

May 29, 202642 min

Host of Countdown Rachel Riley: How I built my career in TV

Episode Guest Rachel Riley is an English television presenter. She co-presents the Channel 4 daytime puzzle show Countdown and its comedy spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She is a mathematics graduate. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 The #1 Predictor of Success 00:25 Meet Rachel Riley 02:11 Rachel's First Job Paid £25 a Week 04:14 Why Rachel Has Never Been Able to Waste Money 05:01 From Oxford Maths to the Financial Crisis 06:39 How Rachel Accidentally Got the Countdown Job 08:23 Rachel Ate One Shreddy Before Her Interview 09:54 The Call That Changed Rachel's Life 11:44 How Rachel Spots Good People 13:26 How Rachel Stayed Grounded on TV 15:07 Why Rachel Believes Everyone Has Imposter Syndrome 16:37 The CBT Lesson That Changed Rachel's Life 18:16 What 250 Stages Taught Rachel About Confidence 19:51 Why Rachel Thinks Learning to Fail Matters 21:05 Rachel's Obsession With Puzzles & Numbers 22:12 Why Rachel Wants More Girls in STEM 23:08 Why Rachel Believes Numeracy Changes Lives 25:59 Encouragement Comes Before Confidence 27:01 Rachel's Growth Mindset Formula 28:43 Rachel on AI, Technology & Future Careers 29:06 The Film Rachel Thinks Every Young Girl Should Watch 31:06 The Teacher Who Believed in Rachel 32:43 Why Rachel Supports National Numeracy 34:50 Rachel's Best Money Advice 37:03 Why Schools Don't Teach Real-Life Money Skills 38:49 Rachel's Invisible Success Habit 39:38 Rachel's Take on "Fake It Till You Make It" 41:16 What Gets Rachel Out of Bed Every Morning 42:15 Final Thoughts Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/