What if the opportunity you wanted didn’t exist yet and you had to create it yourself?

In this episode, I’m joined by social media and content agency founder Kim James to talk about the power of initiative, visibility, and backing yourself before you feel fully ready.

Kim shares how she went from growing up on a macadamia farm and starting out in operations at Reece, to pitching her way into the first content marketing role for one of Australia’s biggest brands at just 24.

At a time when the business had almost no social media presence, Kim identified an opportunity, pitched a strategy directly to leadership, and created her own pathway into marketing.

We also talk about:
• Building confidence through action, not before it
• Reframing rejection, fear, and imposter syndrome
• Why visibility matters for career growth
• Learning through doing and backing your ideas
• The realities of redundancy, reinvention, and starting again
• AI’s real impact on marketing careers
• Why “closed mouths don’t get fed”

Kim also shares her experience moving into AI and data work after the 2022 redundancies. Before realising she wanted to focus on people, creativity, and strategic thinking, ultimately buying out her co-founder and building a business more aligned with her strengths and values.

This conversation is a great reminder that careers are rarely linear, and that some of the biggest opportunities come from putting yourself forward before you feel fully ready.

To connect with Kim:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-elizabeth-james-19216376/
Website: buildwedge.com

Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos

Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:

💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you
💡 Confidently communicate your value
💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network
💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move
💡 Navigate the job market effectively
💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint

🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:
Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/

🎁 Free Resources:
📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice
📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide

📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:
https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call