Life in Private Staffing

What if leaving private staffing was the very thing that made you better at it? In this episode of Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by Patricia Levinson , a House Manager and Executive Assistant based in Manhattan, whose career has taken anything but a traditional path. From owning and running a hotel in Costa Rica to managing private properties, raising a family,...

What does it really take to build a successful career as a Private PA? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by experienced Private PA Will Graham, who shares his journey through the world of private households, celebrity support, freelancing and lifestyle management. Having worked with high-profile principals across a variety of sectors, Will offers a fascinating insigh...

What does it really take to manage luxury service at the very highest level? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by hospitality and estate management expert Thibaut Barbé, whose incredible 30-year career has taken him from luxury cruise ships to the world’s largest superyachts, royal palaces in the Middle East and large-scale UHNW estates across the globe. 🌍✨ Thibaut...

What is it REALLY like building a long-term career in the superyacht industry? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by former Chief Stewardess Elle Webster to discuss her decade-long career working onboard luxury superyachts across the world — from busy charter seasons and shipyard builds to global itineraries, UHNW lifestyles and the intense realities of life at sea. E...

What does a 40-year career in private service really look like? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by Steven — an industry professional whose career spans decades, continents, and some of the most prestigious private households in the world. From his early days in the Royal Navy , Steven shares how discipline, structure and opportunity led him into private service — l...

What if running a private household required more than just hiring staff? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by Alice Bournarel, a private household consultant supporting UHNW families with everything from recruitment and training to operations and bespoke event management. With over 13 years of experience across private households, yachts, and international residence...

What if childcare in UHNW households went beyond traditional roles? In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , Philippa is joined by Wesley, a specialist working with children in private households to build confidence, discipline, resilience and fitness through personalised coaching . From his background in sport to launching his own business in Dubai, Wesley shares how he has carved out a uniq...

From working on superyachts to building a flexible career across private residences and luxury hospitality, Maja Novak shares what it really takes to succeed in the private service industry. After more than a decade in yachting, Maja made the transition to contract-based roles in private households, villas and chalets , designing a career that allows her to balance professional opportunities with...

From cooking for world-famous athletes and global touring musicians to navigating extreme dietary requirements inside private households, Chef Joy’s career offers a fascinating insight into life as a Private Chef at the highest level. Originally from New Orleans and now based in Los Angeles, Joy shares how she built her career from professional kitchens into the world of private staffing — travell...

From luxury resorts and private islands to UHNW households in the Middle East, Imran Zulfikar’s career offers a rare insight into one of private staffing’s most discreet and misunderstood roles — the Private Wellness Manager. With a background spanning elite hospitality, private islands (including three years on Necker Island as the first male in the role), and now working within a private househo...

From training at the world-renowned International Butler Academy to running households for aristocratic and UHNW families across the UK, Rhian Thoma’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, professionalism, and the evolving reality of private service . With ten years’ experience across stately homes, formal estates, and high-expectation principals, Rhian shares the truth behind the job — the pres...

From leaving Kazakhstan with no English to managing multimillion-pound estates in Surrey, Marina Grigoryeva ’s story is one of determination, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. With over 20 years’ experience working for UHNW families, Marina shares how she built longevity in some of the most demanding households — often staying with principals for over a decade. She opens up about managing...

This week on Life in Private Staffing we’re joined by Veronica Lajud , an international childcare specialist based in Miami and founder of the Stellar Insight Method . With a background in Montessori education and over a decade working inside UHNW households, Veronica has built a unique approach that goes far beyond traditional nannying. She now mentors nannies, supports families worldwide, and cr...

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , I sit down with Daniela Vasconcelos , a Brazilian-born estate manager and personal assistant who has spent over a decade building her career in Miami’s ultra-competitive private staffing market. From launching her own cleaning business to overseeing 30+ luxury properties , and later managing the lifestyle of a single UHNW principal, Daniela’s journey i...

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , I sit down with David Cannie , senior estate manager of a 15,000-acre private estate in the UK with hundreds of residential properties, heritage buildings, and a team of 100+ staff. Having transitioned from a career in property management into the UHNW private sector, David shares what it’s really like to oversee one of the country’s most impressive la...

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing , I sit down with Sarah Eaton, HR Director at Consensio Holidays , a luxury ski company operating some of the most exclusive chalets in the French Alps. Having placed Sarah in her current role, I knows firsthand the challenges of recruiting and managing seasonal staff in high-pressure, high-end hospitality environments. Together, we dive into: ✨ What it...

In this special episode of Life in Private Staffing , we’re switching it up. I'm joined by New York-based concierge legend Harald Mootz, who shares tales from three decades at the heart of luxury hospitality. From manning the concierge desks at the Plaza Athénée and St. Regis to his current role at the Corinthia’s Surrey Hotel, Harold has catered to the world’s elite—and seen it all. Expect in...

This week we’re joined by Maud, a true powerhouse in the world of private staffing. While many strive for long-term positions, Maud carved her own path – thriving in seasonal roles across Europe, working in chalets, villas, and luxury properties for UHNW clients. Starting as a total newcomer with just 15 minutes’ notice before her first butler shift, she’s now built a reputation as the ultimate fi...

Today we are back! After taking our first-ever break since starting this podcast five years ago, we're back to launch Season 6 of Life in Private Staffing. Uncovering the extraordinary careers available within the private sector. It is always fascinating to learn how different people discover this industry, but more importantly, how they break into it, and today brings a journey Lara made from wor...

After meeting Stacey at one of our networking drinks and laughing for hours at all her stories, she willingly agreed to join us as a guest this week. I love finding people with jobs in the private sector that I never knew existed. Did you know that Harrods can look after your private jet for you whilst you are in London? Whether you are ‘parking’ up for a day or a month, Harrods can take your plan...

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of being joined by Laurie Reese, a Conscious Dying Coach for UHNW clients. If you don’t know what this is, then tune in. It is a unique service that I think everyone should know exists. Laurie spent years working in the entertainment industry before moving into the private sector as a House Manager/PA. She then transitioned her skills and became qualified to...

We’re back!  After a short break whilst we made some fairly significant changes internally here at Silver Swan, we are delighted to be back. Today, Philippa opens up about Silver Swan and the challenges we faced earlier in the year and the changes that were made and why.  We also welcome Lloyd to the show today, an experienced House Manager in Melbourne, Australia. It’s always interesting to see i...

Today, Philippa Smith is talking to Lily who has had a fantastic career to date climbing the notoriously difficult ladder up to Director of Residence. This is a position sought after by many working in the private sector and so today we delve into Lily’s journey to the top. Her passion for the industry and her love for what she does is so obvious and clearly plays a part in her success. Tune in to...

Today we are delving into the wonderful life of a Butler.   The highly reputable Julius Smith joins the show with his decades of experience in the field and shares not only many great stories from his long career but also his thoughts on the emergence of the modern butler, the importance of training and what it is that makes a truly great butler.    Tune in to learn more about this world.

In this episode, Philippa delves into the realm of private staffing in the Middle East alongside special guest Corina Goetz. They tackle prevailing misconceptions surrounding the GCC countries, shedding light on the advantages of working and living in this region for expats and private staff professionals alike. Tune in for some serious myth-busting and our top reasons why Middle Eastern job oppor...