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The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

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Blog Archives

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Empowering Careers, Celebrating Success: What Winning Gold at the SME MK & Buckinghamshire Awards Means for Us

On the eve of our company’s 13th birthday, we received the best early present we could have hoped for: our 13th award. And not just any award. We were honoured with the GOLD award for Best Enterprising Business at the SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business Awards. The synchronicity was almost poetic, but more than that,

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What Will Your Leadership Legacy Be?

Reflections for International Leadership Week Leadership isn’t just about the position you hold or the goals you achieve – it’s about the lasting impact you leave behind. As we celebrate International Leadership Week (ILW) and explore this year’s theme of “Lasting Legacies,” it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the imprint we leave on our

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Take Charge of Your Career – Why It Starts with You

Career management is no longer just about climbing the corporate ladder. Traditional career paths have given way to a more dynamic and self-directed approach. While managers and organisations play a role in supporting career growth, the ultimate responsibility lies with you, the employee. As I wrote in Confident Career Conversations, “Career development starts with the employee.

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Five panellists sit on stage in conversation at a conference celebrating IWD. Four women of different ethnicities and ages, including Antoinette Oglethorpe who is hosting the panel, and one man are seated on sofas, with microphones and water glasses in front of them. A purple backdrop displays event branding.

Accelerating Action: Key Takeaways from the IWD Conference & Expo 2025

The International Women’s Day Conference & Expo 2025 took place at Millennium Point, Birmingham on 25 February 2025, a couple of weeks earlier than International Women’s Day itself for reasons I will explain later. Its aim was to be a powerful catalyst for change, bringing together business leaders, DE&I advocates, and industry pioneers to discuss

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A woman in business attire stands before a wall with a drawn maze, tracing a red solution path—symbolising the strategic navigation of High-Potential Talent from entrance to exit with her finger.

When the Pipeline Overflows: How to Engage High-Potential Talent When Roles Are Limited

Many organisations rightly focus on creating robust talent pipelines to ensure a steady flow of future leaders. However, a challenge arises when there is more high-potential talent in the pipeline than available roles. This can lead to disengagement, frustration, and even attrition among top talent. So, how do you keep these individuals motivated and committed

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Four people sit and one stands around a table covered in notebooks, folders, and sticky notes, collaborating and discussing work. Laptops and pens are visible, showing their dedication to group study or team projects focused on operational excellence.

Realise the Potential of Your Workforce: Balancing Career Development with Operational Excellence

Running lean has become the norm for many large organisations, particularly in the current challenging economic climate. While this operational efficiency brings cost benefits, it can also pose a significant challenge. As one of our readers recently asked: how do you balance the need for career development with the relentless demands of day-to-day operations? The

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International Mentoring Day 2025

Today, Friday 17th January, we celebrate International Mentoring Day—a day dedicated to recognising the transformative power of mentoring and its profound impact on individuals and organisations alike. As someone passionate about mentoring, I see this day as the perfect opportunity to lean into what we love most: sharing wisdom, insights, and experiences to empower others.

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Top 10 Blogs of 2024

Top 10 Blogs of 2024: Career Development and Mentoring Insights

As 2025 kicks off with gusto, we’re reflecting on the top 10 blogs of 2024 that inspired and informed our thousands of readers. From embracing growth mindsets to learning career lessons from Ted Lasso, these posts clearly resonated with people across the globe. They sparked conversations, inspired growth, and helped professionals across industries navigate career

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A hand-drawn infographic shows a timeline of embracing new technologies in workplaces, with colourful cartoon icons and text about resilience, empathy, digital tools, learning, and collaboration. Illustration by Simon Heath.

Embracing New Technologies and the Evolving Workplace: LearnFest 2024

Today’s digital landscape is continually evolving and that means that staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage – it’s essential. On 3 December 2024, Essex County Council invited me to deliver a 60-minute webinar titled “Embracing New Technologies and the Evolving Workplace”, as part of LearnFest 2024. My aim was that this

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