What She Did Next

Hello and Happy 2025 to you! It's been a while between episodes but today we're bringing you a special conversation from our friends over at the Mumbition podcast, featuring our very own Jacqui Ooi. This episode takes you behind the scenes of our work with career-changing women, with lots of great insights and inspiration for anyone on the cusp of a new chapter. Hope you enjoy it!Welcome to the Mumbition Summer Series! This week, we're excited to feature Jacqui Ooi, the founder of What She Did Next and creator of the Career Change Kickstarter course. Jacqui is dedicated to helping women navigate career changes and build fulfilling careers they love. Through her podcast and courses, she shares inspiring stories and proven strategies to empower women at all stages of their career journeys.Join the Mums & Co community to connect with amazing women like Jacqui and gain access to fantastic resources and expert support for your business. Visit mumsandco.com.au to join today!Don't miss this inspiring episode with Jacqui Ooi, and let her journey motivate you to achieve your own career goals. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the conversation!Find out more about the Career Change Kickstarter course at whatshedidnext.com.auCreditsProduced by – Lucy KippistEdited by – Morgan Sebastian Brown‍‍Interviewers – Carrie Kwan and Lucy Kippist‍Guest – Jacqui Ooi‍Are you ready to join a movement of business owning women? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Mums & Co today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you at a career crossroads and thinking about ‘what’s next’ for you? Then you’ll want to dive into this mini episode, to find out how our Career Change Kickstarter course can help you! If you’re feeling the niggle (or roar) of needing a change, but you’re not sure what you want to do next or what steps to take, this course is for you. Applications are now open for our April program (get in quick!). Join the waitlist on the ‘Our courses’ page at whatshedidnext.com.au to receive the course info.  CONNECT WITH US Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast  CREDITS Creator, host and producer: Jacqui Ooi What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you want to make a difference in the world without leaving your corporate career? Are you passionate about using your skills for good? This has been a driver for Malini Raj throughout her working life, as she’s built a successful career in financial services. Malini started out on a more traditional path in investment banking. But she soon discovered a passion for working with people and creating positive change… which steered her into the social impact space. Today Malini has a multifaceted career, working as Head of Community Engagement at a large bank and lending her skills to an array of not-for-profit boards. She’s also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, not to mention a long-time volunteer. In this episode, Malini talks about how she reshaped her corporate career to align with her values and be a voice for change – through a series of career transitions, rather than a big leap. If you’re wanting a more purposeful career or curious about stepping into a board role, you’ll love this conversation.  CONNECT WITH MALINI Follow her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/malini-raj  CONNECT WITH US Interested to make a career change of your own? Sign up to our newsletter or check out our new online courses at whatshedidnext.com.au Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast  CREDITS Creator, host and producer: Jacqui OoiProduction support: Perk Digital What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you in a career that has an expiry date? And soon, you’ll have to figure out ‘what’s next’ for you? This was the case for Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane, who started out as an athlete in the world of swimming, going all the way to the Beijing Olympics representing Papua New Guinea. But after more than 12 years competing internationally, she retired from the sport in 2015… and has retrained as an accredited counsellor. Now running her own practice in Brisbane, she’s using her new skills to give back to the sporting world and support her fellow athletes. In this episode, Anna-Liza talks about how she made her career change into counselling and her best tips for others who might be thinking about a similar move. She also talks about the other role that’s keeping her busy right now, as a guest presenter on ABC TV’s That Pacific Sports Show. If you’re figuring out your next career move (or a fan of women’s sport!), you’ll love this conversation.  CONNECT WITH ANNA-LIZA Visit her website: annalizamopiojane.comFollow her on Instagram: instagram.com/annalizamopiojaneFollow her on YouTube: youtube.com/@Anna-LizaMopio-Jane  CONNECT WITH US Interested to make a career change of your own? Sign up to our newsletter or check out our new online courses at whatshedidnext.com.au Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast  CREDITS Creator, host and producer: Jacqui OoiProduction support: Perk Digital What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love the idea of packing up your life to go travelling? Just stepping off the daily treadmill and seeing where it takes you? That’s exactly what Evie Farrell did back in 2016 and her travel buddy was her young daughter, Emmie. As a solo mum, Evie had been struggling to balance her busy corporate career with spending enough time with Emmie and she decided an overseas adventure together was the answer. But what was intended to be a year-long trip away, exploring Asia, has turned into a whole new way of living and working. Gaining a huge following on her Instagram account, Mumpack Travel, a raft of unexpected opportunities came her way. And now Evie runs her own travel company called Mumpack Trips, providing fun and thoughtful travel experiences for women, and for mums and kids, in some of her favourite countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. In this episode, Evie talks about how she created this life and career of travel for herself – and her best career change tips for other women. If you love to travel or are simply feeling the need for a different kind work life, you will love this conversation.  CONNECT WITH EVIE Visit her website: mumpacktravel.com or mumpacktrips.com.auFollow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mumpacktravel or www.instagram.com/mumpacktrips  CONNECT WITH US Interested to make a career change of your own? Sign up to our newsletter or check out our new online courses at whatshedidnext.com.au Join us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast  CREDITS Creator, host and producer: Jacqui OoiProduction support: Perk Digital What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re wrapping up Season Four of What She Did Next with our always popular highlights episode. If you’re new to the show, this is where you can get a little taster of the stories we’ve shared and if you like what you hear, you can scroll back through the feed to find the full episodes. This season, we’ve been chatting to women who’ve made all sorts of inspiring career changes at all different stages of their careers. Some of these women have redesigned their careers in some way – by going freelance or starting a business – while others have completely changed industries. If you’re thinking about making a career change but you’re not quite sure what you want to do next or whether you’re making the right decision, these stories are for you. We’re all about women making brave choices in their careers, so we hope you hear something in these conversations that inspires your next move. For more inspiring career change stories, tips and resources, sign up to our newsletter: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/  CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiAssociate producer: Catherine Cavill Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Webster worked in the IT industry for 30 years, spruiking software for some big tech firms until her first child started school. Needing more flexibility in her work, Jen shifted to a part-time role running her organisation’s corporate social responsibility program… which opened her up to the world of charities. It was a role she loved for many years until suddenly she was faced with redundancy – a daunting prospect in her early 50s, but also paving the way to make a career change and follow her dream of working for a not-for-profit. Jen soon discovered that was easier said than done, but her determination paid off. She’s gone on to work in what she describes as the ‘gritty’ end of the charity sector, in areas like HIV, homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction. Now the Marketing Manager at Odyssey House NSW, Jen has found a great sense of meaning in her work and loves using her marketing skills for good. Inspired by her frontline worker colleagues, she’s also become a qualified social worker and is studying to be a counsellor. In this episode, Jen chats with host Jacqui Ooi about: ·      Why she loved working in IT and what drew her to the charity space·      Going through a redundancy and the rollercoaster of job-searching and interviews·      The challenges she faced and overcame in moving to not-for-profits·      What she’s learned from working at different charities helping marginalised people·      Her best tips and recommendations for aspiring career changers For more inspiring career change stories, tips and resources, sign up to our newsletter: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/  JEN’S RECOMMENDATIONS Working Wisdom – a Facebook page set up by Jen offering practical tips to help women on the job hunt: https://www.facebook.com/workinginwisdom/  CONNECT WITH JEN Learn more about Odyssey House NSW: https://www.odysseyhouse.com.au/Follow Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennwebster/  CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiAssociate producer: Catherine Cavill Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dervilla McGowan had always loved science, ever since she was a kid. She went on to study microbiology at uni and even completed a PhD. But at the end of her studies, she realised a career in academia wasn’t for her… and instead she wanted to use her scientific skills to make craft gin! Derv and her hubby launched Anther in 2016, an award-winning gin brand that celebrates Australian botanicals and employs mostly women. More recently, they built their own distillery and bar at the historic woollen mills in North Geelong. Derv is now a leader in Australia’s craft distillation industry and is passionate about supporting and empowering more women to join her. In this episode, Derv chats with host Jacqui Ooi about: ·      What drew her to study science and why she eventually gave it up·      How her early days as a bartender in London developed her palate and interest in spirits·      The process of making a career change in her 40s and starting a business with no formal training·      Why she loves making gin and championing women in the distillation industry·      Her best tips and recommendations for aspiring career changers and business owners For more inspiring career change stories, tips and resources, sign up to our newsletter: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/  DERV’S RECOMMENDATIONS Read, listen or watch:Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/ Inspired by:Marie CurieBrittany HigginsGrace Tame  CONNECT WITH DERV Visit her website: https://www.anther.com.au/  CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiAssociate producer: Catherine Cavill Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tamara Pitelen had worked in the media industry for 25 years in jobs that took her all over the world, before her growing concern about the climate crisis led to a major career change. The thought had been brewing for a few years as she started to tire of endless magazine deadlines. And looking back, she says, it was also around the time menopause was kicking in – a big transition time for many women. The turning point came when Tamara’s best friend Erin phoned her with an idea to launch their own sustainability consultancy… and as the COVID pandemic sent the world into lockdown and everyone turned to Zoom, Tamara took the opportunity to throw herself into online study. Tamara and Erin have since gone on to launch Greener Matters, a consultancy that helps businesses get started on their sustainability journey and takes them through the B Corp certification process. In this episode, Tamara talks to host Jacqui Ooi about: ·      Getting her start as a print journalist and working in different countries around the world·      The key steps she took to retrain as a sustainability consultant·      What it took to build a consultancy from scratch during a global pandemic·      How she managed the financial transition and her own self-doubt·      Her best tips and recommendations for aspiring career changers For more inspiring career change stories, tips and resources, sign up to our newsletter: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/  TAMARA’S TIPS Study:Cambridge Institute for Sustainability LeadershipIEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment)Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps Read:‘The Art of Happiness’ by The Dalai Lama‘Your One Wild, Precious Life’ by Dr Maureen Gaffney Watch:‘Changing Your Life Is Easy with Marisa Peer’ on gaia.com‘RuPaul's Drag Race’ on multiple streaming networks Inspired by:Anita Roddick, founder of The Body ShopCindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn  CONNECT WITH TAMARA Visit her website: https://www.greenermatters.com/  CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiAssociate producer: Catherine Cavill Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma McMillan loved many things about her job as a high school teacher but 12 years into her career, she was burnt out. As head of the drama and dance department, the additional night-time and weekend rehearsals on top of a heavy day-to-day workload had simply become unmanageable. When she fell pregnant with her son, a year of mat leave was the perfect opportunity to explore what else might be out there for her… and when she couldn’t find a job that she wanted, she decided to create it herself. Dreaming of a more flexible work life, Emma enrolled in some short courses to learn about copywriting and starting a business, before deciding to make the leap to work for herself.   Six years on, she’s built a successful business as a freelance copywriter and copywriting coach, helping people become more skilled and confident writers. In this episode, Emma chats with host Jacqui Ooi about: ·      How she knew teaching wasn’t her ‘forever’ career·      The steps she took to make her career change·      How she financially planned for the change and got her business off the ground·      Navigating the identity shift that can come with making a career change·      Her best tips and recommendations for aspiring career changers and business owners For more inspiring career change stories, tips and resources, sign up to our newsletter: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/  LINKS Australian Writers’ Centre – Copywriting Essentials course: https://www.writerscentre.com.au/store/courses/copywriting-essentials/   She Mentors: https://www.shementors.com.au Emma’s book recommendations:‘Passion Purpose Profit: Sidestep the #hustle and build a business you love’ by Fiona Killackey‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear  CONNECT WITH EMMA Visit her website: https://www.emmamcmillancopy.com/   CREDITS Creator, host and producer: Jacqui OoiAssociate producer: Catherine Cavill Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-she-did-next-podcast What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is made, the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights from our third season of conversations with some truly inspiring women. This episode will get you across the kind of stories we share... and if you like what you hear, you can scroll back through the feed to find the full episodes. As regular listeners will know, the conversations we feature are with women from a whole range of backgrounds who have navigated some pretty big changes in their lives and careers. These are women in business, in leadership, in the not-for-profit sector and in creative industries, who share the very personal journeys they’ve been on and the turning points that sparked a new chapter. For some, these moments inspired a career change; for others, it’s been the catalyst to start their own business or passion project or movement for change. The one thing you will notice is that all of these women are doing something pretty purposeful and impactful… so if you are looking for inspiration to have a positive impact yourself, you will definitely find it among these stories. Thank you so much for being with us for another season – and a big thank you to Women’s Agenda for their support of the show.  CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiJoin us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastVisit our website: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/ What She Did Next is proud to be a part of the Women's Agenda Podcast Network. Visit https://womensagenda.com.au/ What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is recorded and produced, the Cammeraygal people of the Eora nation and the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today is Kylie Flament and she’s the General Manager of Green Connect, an award-winning social enterprise that does incredible work helping young people and former refugees into employment, while leading the way in growing fair food and diverting waste from landfill. These days Kylie loves nothing more than spending time at the Green Connect farm on the outskirts of Wollongong in NSW, or utilising her impressive array of skills to generate funds and interest in their work. But when the job was first offered, Kylie nearly didn’t say yes, worried that after her big-city roles in the corporate and government sectors, it might be a step backward – or worse, she might be bored. Three years on, she’s discovered that to be far from the reality… and inspired by the ripple effect of Green Connect’s work in the local community, she’s become a fierce advocate for the power of social enterprise to create positive change for people and the planet. In this episode, Kylie talks about making the leap to the not-for-profit sector, what being a social enterprise actually means, the hardest and most rewarding aspects of her work, and why she’s happy to let the Greta Thunbergs of the world do their thing, while she does hers. LINKS Find out more about Green Connect: https://green-connect.com.au/  Find out more about the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT: https://secna.org.au/Find out more about Social Traders: https://www.socialtraders.com.au/Follow Green Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenconnectau/Follow Green Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenconnect_/Follow Green Connect on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenConnect_ CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiJoin us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastVisit our website: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/ What She Did Next is proud to be a part of the Women's Agenda Podcast Network. Visit https://womensagenda.com.au/ What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is recorded and produced, the Cammeraygal people of the Eora nation and the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today is Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe and she’s a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and the environment. She’s also a proud Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, who takes inspiration from a long line of strong matriarchs in her family. In 2017, Lidia made history by becoming the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the Victorian Parliament. And in 2020, she made the leap to Federal Parliament as the first Aboriginal Senator for Victoria. But Lidia’s path into politics has not been typical. Growing up in public housing, she left school early to start working and her professional experience covers everything from Aboriginal services to running her own businesses. As an activist, Lidia spent years fighting the system from the outside. Now she’s in the halls of power, determined to use her lived experience as a catalyst for change. In this special episode to mark International Women’s Day, Lidia shares the story behind her move into politics, the hardest and most rewarding aspects of her work, what she hopes to achieve in her role as a Senator and why we need more women from diverse backgrounds in public office. LINKS Find out more about Senator Lidia Thorpe: https://lidia-thorpe.greensmps.org.au/ Follow Lidia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lidiathorpegunnaigunditj/Follow Lidia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lidiathorpe/Follow Lidia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lidia__thorpe CREDITS Host and producer: Jacqui OoiJoin us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatshedidnextpodcast/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshedidnextpodcastVisit our website: https://whatshedidnext.com.au/ What She Did Next is proud to be a part of the Women's Agenda Podcast Network. Visit https://womensagenda.com.au/ What She Did Next acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which this podcast is recorded and produced, the Cammeraygal people of the Eora nation and the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.