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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

March 12, 2025

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.

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.

March 7, 2025

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

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.

February 10, 2025

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

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.

February 5, 2025

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

January 17, 2025

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.

January 12, 2025

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

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.

December 19, 2024

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

A giant pencil draws a bridge between two cliffs as five businesspeople run across, symbolising creativity and problem-solving to overcome the Career Management Gap.

November 14, 2024

Survey Insights: Bridging the Career Management Gap in Organisations

A recent survey conducted by Right Management highlights a critical disconnect between leaders and employees regarding career growth and support within organisations. As companies strive to foster environments where employees can thrive, the findings indicate that many workers feel lost and stranded in their careers, suggesting a need for urgent reassessment of career management strategies,

Two people sit at a desk and video chat with a smiling woman on a computer screen, discussing Managing Careers in a Hybrid Workforce. Papers, keyboard, and office supplies are visible on the desk in this modern office setting.

October 29, 2024

What Companies Can Learn About Managing Careers in a Hybrid Workforce

The pandemic has brought about a paradigm shift in how we work, and the ripple effects are being felt globally. While some countries and organisations have been pushing for a return to the traditional office setup, many others are embracing a hybrid or remote-first approach. Ted Ladd’s article “Employee Retention and Career Growth in a

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