Is This Room Free?
Welcome to Is This Room Free? In this podcast I will be talking to HR professionals and listening to the stories of their careers. I will be finding out about the journeys they have taken and what they learnt along the way. The purpose is to help others in the profession identify and understand the various paths available and take inspiration from my guest speakers. Whether you are someone who is looking to get that first step on the HR career ladder or an aspiring HR Director, I hope you get value from these conversations.
Is This Room Free?
Katy Walton - over 25 years in L&D, having 3 career breaks, and making career choices based on your values
Today’s guest is Katy Walton who has spent over 25 years in and around L&D. She has primarily worked across the Tourism and Financial Services sectors but worked for some huge brands during her career.
Within all that, Katy has also become a mum of two and we talk about the influence that had on her career and the choices she made. She also took a career break to care for her terminally ill mother and on the same day as she finished work, her husband lost his job, so they had gone from two incomes to none overnight.
Katy has always made career choices based on her values and principles however made a wrong career choice on the one occasion she neglected to do so.
Most recently she has gone self-employed and set up her own consultancy business, Make Real Progress, wanting to have the freedom and autonomy to operate the way she wants. This has also led her to creating a Facebook Group (The Progress Club) to try and offer wider help and support to people.
I thoroughly loved my chat with Katy and could have gone on for hours. I managed to keep it to just over one but really hope you enjoy listening to everything we discuss.