The Secrets of Learning & Development

Jacqueline Rogers: Creating the Room She Once Needed

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/fan_mail/new] Jacqueline Rogers didn’t set out to build a networking organisation. She simply noticed that the rooms she was being told to walk into were not working for her, or for many other women. In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we speak with Jacqueline Rogers, CEO and founder of The Athena Network, about the experiences that shaped her journey from military community life, through corporate learning and development, to creating one of the UK’s most recognised women’s networking organisations. Jacqueline shares the reality behind her career transition, including the exhaustion that told her something had to change, the quiet planning that helped her move forward and the early networking experiences that left her questioning whether there had to be a better way. What follows is a warm, honest and insightful conversation about confidence, reinvention, connection and the difference between transactional networking and genuinely relational business relationships. Jacqueline also gives us a glimpse into Athena’s next chapter, including international growth and the launch of the Athena Networking Companion, an AI tool designed to support women with their networking strategy. This is an episode for anyone who has ever walked into a room and wondered whether they truly belonged there, and for anyone interested in what can happen when frustration becomes the starting point for creating something better. Key Learnings Networking is often happening before we ever call it networking. Jacqueline’s story shows that connection is not just about walking into formal business rooms or delivering a polished pitch. It can begin with someone recommending you for a role, sharing a useful contact or simply helping another person move forward. One of the key messages from the episode is that women are often already networking instinctively, but may not recognise the value of what they are doing. Career transition rarely happens in one dramatic leap. Jacqueline’s move from corporate life into entrepreneurship was not instant. She made the decision to leave, but then spent time learning, preparing and building what Julia described as a “parallel plan”. The learning here is that once you know something needs to change, even small actions can restore a sense of direction and help you move towards what comes next with more intention. Guest Information: Jacqueline’s profile linkedin.com/in/jacquelineybrogers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelineybrogers/] theathenanetwork.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etheathenanetwork%2Ecom&urlhash=kCXr&mt=j6TZF3YCHuYiwj9ZYxzDzoBC6inwanptXR73muHYpdZp8Iy7QqL-WRSzWibLUgmfII1PDajYHUnmH-NOCYlgYBN0&isSdui=true] athenafranchiseuk.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eathenafranchiseuk%2Ecom%2F&urlhash=LGzj&mt=jXlE-2xZoj7cwzsNf_yCEovre4og9DGMxKgP3d_z1MK8PI2hrPqfEaEF17uuDVVoxNU2f0gDFY-VT2e2MZLd8QgD&isSdui=true] jacquelineybrogers.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ejacquelineybrogers%2Ecom&urlhash=nxot&mt=adRsE6vY-mKPlRhfyWDFivNZH4NMRaDUDtZXlbSXZptf0AavVGK43ErBury4Y5lWg80I5lFT0MwCvXUsRTFRcQsf&isSdui=true]  We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development'  Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support.  It means the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support] Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Season 4 Round-Up

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/fan_mail/new]  A look back at some of the most memorable moments from Season 4, as Julia and Valerie revisit the guest insights, standout quotes and thought-provoking reflections that stayed with them. From leadership and confidence to identity, resilience and growth, this round-up offers a rich snapshot of the conversations that shaped the season.  We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development'  Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support.  It means the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support] Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Finding Your Voice: Sarah Clay on Reinvention, Confidence and Starting Before You’re Ready

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/fan_mail/new] Sarah Clay is the kind of guest who makes you laugh, think, and then quietly reassess the way you have been doing your own career. She began in law, chasing approval and a “proper” path, until her body started telling the truth before her mouth could. What followed was not a neat plan, but a series of bold moves that only make sense when you hear how she thinks: film industry work in Soho, building marketing from scratch by learning on the job, getting businesses onto Instagram before most people knew what it was, then losing clients overnight during the pandemic and reinventing herself as a LinkedIn trainer almost immediately. In this episode, Sarah shares what it was like growing up as the only girl among six brothers, why that shaped her relationship with confidence and voice, and how her career has always been guided by one rule: she has to enjoy what she does. We also get into the less talked-about side of LinkedIn, the identity work, the clarity, and the confidence that comes before the profile polish. If you have ever felt like you are good at what you do but not sure you are saying the right thing, or you are due a shift but you cannot see the plan yet, this conversation will land. Clarity and voice come before tactics Sarah makes it clear that LinkedIn is not a checklist exercise. The real work is getting clear on what you want to say, who you are speaking to and where you are heading. When that clicks, the profile and posts become easier and more effective. Reinvention is built through action and fast learning, not perfect planning Across every shift (law to film, marketing to social, social to LinkedIn training), she moves by getting stuck in, learning on the job and using what is in front of her. When circumstances changed overnight during the pandemic, she adapted quickly by repositioning herself and upskilling. Guest Information: Link to my free analytics tracking chart https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y6q5d7 [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=https:%2F%2Flanding.mailerlite.com%2Fwebforms%2Flanding%2Fy6q5d7&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c] Website: www.sarahclaysocial.com [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=http:%2F%2Fwww.sarahclaysocial.com&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-clay [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=http:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fsarah-clay&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c] LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/linkedinsimplified-with-sarah-6864462831719342080 [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=https:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fnewsletters%2Flinkedinsimplified-with-sarah-6864462831719342080&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c] Free monthly webinar: https://sarahclaysocial.com/freewebinar [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=https:%2F%2Fsarahclaysocial.com%2Ffreewebinar2025%2F&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c]/  Speaker reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFGJbh_QTDk [https://128-sarahclaysocial.trakqit.com/?u=https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkFGJbh_QTDk&e=b2f03f7b3387ddf0a9ec6ceab8ab964c] We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development'  Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support.  It means the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support] Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Bonus Episode: Unlock the Strengths You're Already Using

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/fan_mail/new] Most of us rely on our strengths every day without naming them. But what happens when a strength goes into overdrive? In this bonus episode, Valerie interviews Julia on how character strengths shape the way leaders make decisions, handle pressure and respond to change. They explore what it really means to ask, “What are you leading with?”, how strengths can become overused and quietly lead to burnout, and why sometimes the missing piece isn’t more capability, but better balance. If you’re feeling stuck, stretched or questioning your next move, this episode will help you spot the patterns driving your working life. Includes a free tool to help you identify your own strengths. We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development'  Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support.  It means the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support] Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Why coaching still matters in the age of AI

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/fan_mail/new] In this bonus episode, Julia Bend explores why coaching still matters in a world where AI can offer ideas, prompts and polished answers in seconds. Together with Valerie Merrill, she unpacks the difference between information and insight, showing why career crossroads are rarely just about options and far more often about identity, values, self-trust and the version of success someone is no longer willing to chase. It is a thoughtful conversation about discernment, human presence and why, when the stakes feel personal, honest reflection still matters more than fast answers. We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development'  Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support.  It means the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support] Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support