The Student Sessions

Facing a setback or problem can really derail us.  In today's session, Tonia talks with Nikita, Cristian, Bogdan who share their experience of dealing with setbacks and finding the best way to approach and overcome them. We talk about some of the unexpected setbacks our guests have had to faced and they give advice on how to prepare for the worst, and identifying positive outcomes through the...

In this session we find out why volunteering is so important. Join Tonia as she talks with Lauren and Chido who discuss what volunteering is, what it was like for them, and the value that it can bring. We talk about the pros and cons of volunteering and how, ultimately, it has helped Chido and Lauren gain skills through new experiences which have improved their CV’s and chances of getting their dr...

The world has changed a lot. With more work being undertaken online, now is the best time to start learning what it is like to work from home. In this session Tonia talks to Katie and Reagan about what it has been like to work remotely during a global pandemic. They discuss the difficulties they faced while working on their internships and adapting to a home working environment, and the best way t...

There is a strong demand for individuals with skills in STEM, however the job market remains competitive.  But what is like when you’re the minority? In this session, Tonia talks to Sonia about what it was like to get into a  STEM career as a black female and how she was able to stand out in a competitive environment often dealing with strong personalities. Sonia also discusses why it is so import...

What is like getting into Tech? In this session Tonia talks to Ola, Andre and Bernard who share their experiences of trying to get into the Tech industry.  They also discuss the struggles of being an ethnic minority in the industry and share advice on how to stand out from the competition. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up...

Being stuck in a career that's not right for you can be a daunting thought. That's why Cynthia joins Tonia today to talk about changing careers and returning to university to study as a mature learner. Cynthia shares some of the challenges she faced and gives some great advice on how to adapt to new environments. Want to know more about careers or recruitment? Why not check out S1Episode...

What is a brand? And how can you get your personal brand out there online? In this session, Tonia talks to Jack and Aleysha who share their top tips on building a strong personal and online brand, as well as the do's and don’t's. They also discuss the importance of managing your digital footprint and how to develop a brand that is right for you.  Want to learn more? Check out Episode 14:...

In this episode Tonia is joined by Anna and Nero, who both relocated to the UK to undertake student programmes at the University of Greenwich.  Anna and Nero discuss the challenges they have faced and also provide advice on navigating the UK recruitment and education system.

In this episode, Tonia is joined by Yessica who discusses the importance of face2face and online networking and the benefits to career progression.  Yessica also shares some hints and tips to make the most out of networking scenarios. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previous episodes, then follow us on Faceb...

In this episode Tonia is joined by Chloe and Ally who share their experiences of the mental health issues they have faced.  They talk about their journey and the mechanisms they have put in place to help them succeed with their studies, careers and beyond. 

In this episode, Tonia is joined by Nicolo, Giulia and Rimila who have all just completed their undergraduate degrees.  The new graduates talk about the work experiences they have undertaken, and how these experiences have helped to shape their career paths and equip them with essential skills for the future world of work. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us...

In this episode, Tonia talks to entrepreneurs Andre, Kimberley and Aleksandr who share their stories, together with their motivations for setting up their own businesses and the challenges that they have faced along the way.

In this episode, Tonia talks to Vera who shares her experiences of relocating to the UK and how she adapted to her new surroundings.  Vera shares some of the challenges she has overcome and talks about some of the mechanisms she has put into place to help her build her confidence and push herself out of her comfort zone. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a...

In this episode, Tonia is joined by Naomi and Yongpian who talk about diversity and their experiences of moving to the UK, and some of the challenges they have faced.  They also address some of the current issues around inclusion in the workplace and how diversity has impacted their careers to date.

In this episode Tonia talks to Amy and Joshua, who share their experiences of experiential learning, and working in a multidisciplinary team.  They reflect on the challenges of adapting to a new way of working and how the learning has enabled their development. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previous episod...

In this episode Tonia talks to Cody and Hannah, who reflect on how they have worked to stay ahead of the competition in an often competitive environment.  Hannah and Cody also talk about the challenges and setbacks they have faced and overcome.  

In this episode Tonia talks to Anup and Adnan, who talk about the realities of working for an SME and help to dispel some of the myths students have around SME opportunities.  Adnan and Anup discuss how their experiences in SMEs helped to prepare them for their careers.  If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previ...

In this episode Tonia talks to Jordan and Zafirah from Aston University, who give their advice on managing your time effectively and adapting to different environments with differing expectations.   They also share examples of when things haven't gone to plan!

In this episode Tonia talks to Bethany and Phillip from Nottingham Trent University, who reflect on their first two years of university and how they have been able to make the most of personal and professional development opportunities.  They also share some of the challenges they have overcome. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to cat...

In this episode Tonia talks to Lamin and Maariya from Birmingham City University, who share their experiences of doing an industrial placement, and dispel some of the myths surrounding these opportunities. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previous episodes, then follow us on Facebook and Instagram @StudentSes...

In this episode, Tonia talks to Heather Tymms, a mathematics student at the University of Hertfordshire.  Heather discusses her determination to secure an industrial placement and how she ensured her disability wasn't a barrier in the recruitment process. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previous episode...

In this episode, Tonia talks to Daniel and Naomi, who 7 years after graduating from Kingston University, reflect on making the most of university life and the challenges they overcame as students. If you enjoyed our Podcast, please recommend to your friends, and leave us a review! If you want to catch up on any of our previous episodes, then follow us on Facebook and Instagram @StudentSessionsPodc...

In this final episode of series 1, Tonia talks to Damian Hughes about The Winning Mindset.  Damian brings his experiences of working with sports champions and high performing sports teams, to talk about how students can take some of these insights and apply them to develop their own winning mindset. Professor Damian Hughes is an international speaker and bestselling author who combines his practic...

Tonia is joined by Maximillion Simon, an Elite Life & Performance Coach. Maximillion talks to Tonia about imposter syndrome and lessons learned from his professional sporting career in how to overcome feelings of self-doubt and more. Maximillion graduated with a degree in BA (Hons) Creative Music and Technology from Brunel University before starting his sports career as a professional basketba...

In Episode 14, Tonia Galati talks to Hannah Salton about nudging comfort zones and learning from rejection.   Hannah Salton worked in corporate HR & recruitment for 8 years, including 5 years at BT and 3 years leading UK graduate recruitment at law firm Allen & Overy .  She later became a career coach and consultant, delivering career coaching programmes for graduates looking to develop th...