What does it take to build a successful design, build, and facilities management company from scratch?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace speaks to Matt about creating MWA, a company that designs, builds, and maintains commercial spaces for major global brands including Nike, Converse, Jimmy Choo, Net-a-Porter, and more.

Matt shares the reality of building a business over 24 years in one of the toughest industries out there, including surviving recessions, COVID, rising costs, and the constant pressure of winning work.

He explains:

• What a design, build & facilities management company actually does
• How commercial office and retail fit-outs work
• Why facilities management became a huge part of the business
• What it’s really like working with global brands

He also shares:

• Dropping out of university after 6 weeks
• Finding his career path almost by accident
• Starting his business through redundancy negotiations
• How referrals and relationships built the company organically

Plus, we get into:

• Winning huge projects for Net-a-Porter, Nike & Jimmy Choo
• Why construction is such a high-risk industry
• Hiring the right people and building strong teams
• Writing his book Made With Ambition and opening up about personal struggles

If you’re interested in:

• Entrepreneurship
• Construction and design careers
• Commercial interiors
• Starting a business
• Facilities management
• Business growth and resilience
• 
  

This episode is an honest look at the highs, lows, risks, and ambition behind building a company that lasts.

https://www.mwaprojects.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Made-Ambition-Build-Legacy-Honesty/dp/B0G26N2WVW

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become a Nike Coach?

In this episode of How To Become A..., I sit down with Harriet Wright, Nike Coach, women's health advocate, marathon runner, founder of the Like A Girl community, and full-time market researcher.

Harriet shares her unconventional career journey, from studying Business & Management and building a successful corporate career, to becoming a qualified running coach, personal trainer, and one of the faces helping women feel stronger, more confident, and better supported in sport.

We talk about:

🏃 How Harriet became a Nike Coach

💪 Women's health, fitness and the gender research gap

🧠 Living and working with ADHD

👟 Building a running community from scratch

📈 Balancing a full-time job with multiple side projects

🌎 Marathon running, Nike campaigns, and unforgettable running experiences

✨ Why you don't need to have your entire career figured out

This episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections, and inspiration for anyone looking to create a career that combines passion, purpose, and impact.

Follow Harriet's journey and discover why sometimes the best opportunities come from simply doing what you love.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become a plastic surgeon and what actually happens behind the scenes?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace speaks to Shan Shan about building a career in plastic surgery, from trauma reconstruction to cosmetic work, and the years of training, discipline, and resilience it takes to get there.

Shan Shan breaks down:

• What plastic surgery actually involves beyond the TV stereotype
• The difference between reconstructive and cosmetic work
• Why so much of her role is about service, precision, and patient care
• How plastic surgery can improve both function and confidence
• She also shares:
• Growing up in a family of doctors and academics
• How her creativity showed up early through art and doodling
• Why she chose to explore charity missions in Africa
• The long and demanding training pathway to becoming a plastic surgeon

Plus, we get into:

• Working across the NHS and private cosmetic care
• Why some procedures once funded by the NHS now end up in cosmetic practice
• How she approaches surgery with empathy and careful planning
• Why honesty, trust, and patient education matter so much
• If you’re interested in:
• Medicine and surgical careers
• Plastic surgery and reconstruction
• Cosmetic surgery explained
• Medical training in the UK
• Female doctors and career journeys

This episode is a fascinating look at one of the most demanding and rewarding careers in medicine and the human stories behind it.

@drshanshanjing

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become a hairdresser and how do you turn a passion for hair into a career?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace speaks to Jomelyn about building a career in hairdressing, specialising in colour, and creating a private one-to-one hair experience for clients in Hackney Wick.

From doodling hairstyles in school books to running her own hair suite, Jonalyn shares the reality of breaking into the industry and carving out her own path.

She explains:

• What a day in the life of a hairdresser really looks like
• Why trust and client experience matter so much
• How apprenticeships helped her learn hands-on
• What it’s like to specialise in Asian hair and colour
• Why creativity and confidence go hand in hand in hairdressing

She also shares:

• Her early interest in theatrical hair and makeup
• Why she changed direction from makeup to hair
• How she learned through trial, error, and YouTube
• What it was like working in salons, wigs, and with cancer and alopecia patients
• How she built her own business around calm, personal, and ethical service

Plus, we get into:

• Starting again after COVID
• Growing a client base through word of mouth and social media
• Why finding your niche can change everything
• The importance of creating a space where clients feel seen, relaxed, and cared for
• If you’re interested in:
• Hairdressing careers
• Creative jobs and beauty careers
• Apprenticeships and specialist training
• Salon life and entrepreneurship
• Building a business in the beauty industry

This episode is an inspiring look at what it really means to become a hairdresser and how much artistry, patience, and personal connection sits behind the chair.

@jomelynferrashair

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a policy advisor actually do and how do you get into the civil service?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace speaks to Adam about building a career as a policy advisor in the UK civil service.

From working on Brexit to shaping tech regulation, Adam breaks down what policy work really looks like behind the scenes and why it’s one of the most impactful (and misunderstood) career paths out there.

He explains:

• What the civil service is (and how it differs from politicians)
• What policy advisors actually do day-to-day
• How policies are researched, designed, and turned into law
• Why policy can take years to develop and implement

He also shares:

• His journey from a sports degree → economics → civil service
• The Fast Stream application process (and how competitive it is)
• What assessment centres are really like
• How to break into government roles without a traditional path

Plus, we get into:

• Working on Brexit and major national decisions
• Balancing personal opinions with apolitical work
• Why curiosity about politics and society really matters
• How to build a meaningful career that impacts real lives

If you’re interested in:

• Civil service careers
• Government jobs UK
• Policy, politics, or economics
• Grad schemes and Fast Stream
• Meaningful, purpose-driven work

This episode is a fascinating look at how decisions that shape the country actually get made and the people behind them.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to build a career in football as a woman?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace speaks to Priyanka about working in football, from her role at Sky Sports to her powerful work tackling sexism in the game.

Priyanka shares how she combined a corporate marketing career with her passion for football, and how that passion led her into advocacy, public speaking, and real change within the sport.

She talks about:

• Breaking into Sky Sports through marketing
• Turning a love of football into real opportunities
• Building networks and getting your foot in the door
• Balancing a full-time job with passion projects
• She also opens up about:
• Experiencing sexism and racism in football
• Why representation matters, especially for women of colour
• The importance of speaking up and creating safer spaces
• Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome

If you’re interested in:

• Working in sport or football
• Marketing & media careers
• Side hustles with purpose
• Women in male-dominated industries
• Building confidence and visibility

This episode is honest, inspiring, and a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities come from simply putting yourself out there.

Resources:

@priyankajasraj

@villa.bellas

@hergametoo

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is a somatic coach and how do you actually become one?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Hannah to explore the world of somatic coaching, a fast-growing field focused on healing the nervous system and creating real, lasting change.

From studying criminology to travelling the world, discovering Pilates, and eventually finding somatic work, Hannah’s journey shows how following curiosity can lead to a completely unexpected career.

Hannah shares:

• How travel and personal healing led her to this work
• The connection between the body, stress and the nervous system
• Why traditional methods don’t always create lasting change
• Training as a somatic coach and what it really involves
• Building a coaching business from scratch

She also opens up about:

• Doing the deep personal work required to help others
• The emotional challenges of working in this space
• Navigating self-employment and social media
• If you’re interested in:
• Wellness careers
• Coaching or therapy
• Nervous system healing
• Personal development
• Starting your own business

This episode is for you.

Where to find her:

@hannahblackburncoach

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Nikki, a DJ, producer, music director and founder of Mums That Rave, to unpack what a career in DJing actually looks like behind the scenes.

From playing illegal raves as a teenager to touring the world and working with global artists, Nikki shares the reality of building a long-term career in music, and why being a DJ today is more about entrepreneurship than ever before.

Nikki shares:

• Starting DJing at 15 and breaking into clubs early
• Why DJs need multiple income streams (radio, production, content, events)
• The reality of money, streaming and the modern music industry
• How working in advertising helped her build business skills
• Balancing creativity with motherhood and building Mums That Rave
• Why nightlife, culture and community matter more than ever
• She also opens up about:
• Misogyny in the music industry
• The pressure of social media and content creation
• Burnout, resilience and staying relevant over decades

If you’re interested in:

• Becoming a DJ
• Music industry careers
• Creative entrepreneurship
• Nightlife & culture
• Balancing creativity with real life

This episode is for you.

Resources:

@djnikkibeatnik

@mumsthatrave

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at hello.howtobecomea@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.