Episode Guest:

Prashant Narula is Managing Director of Ciklum UK, where he helps organisations use technology and AI to build better products and experiences. He is passionate about leadership, resilience and helping people grow through honest, values-led careers.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:19 Why success is about what you give, not what you get

1:00 The true traits of a great leader

1:55 Meeting Prashant Narula

2:14 Prashant’s first job on the factory floor

3:09 The importance of a great manager early in your career

4:31 How honesty landed Prashant his first role in tech

5:28 Why honesty, resilience and reliability matter most

7:21 Why resilience is more important than ever today

8:41 Build a multi-skilled support network

10:08 How to network by giving value first

11:24 From beginner to leadership roles in hypergrowth companies

12:30 Leading teams through tough times

13:04 The leadership principles that actually work

14:48 Enabling teams vs micromanaging

15:02 Can everyone become a leader?

16:21 Career advice that changed everything

17:02 Make your work visible to leadership

18:52 When careers feel messy and chaotic

19:42 Why chaos early in your career is a good thing

20:22 Lessons in resilience from Ukrainian teams

22:51 The importance of understanding different cultures

24:05 Why learning never stops

25:02 The power of 30 minutes of daily learning

27:30 Why you shouldn’t compare your career to others

27:39 Inside Ciklum and what they do

31:01 The risks and opportunities of AI

32:09 Why now is the best time to join Ciklum

33:29 The invisible habits behind success

34:22 Stop worrying about what others think

36:23 Final thoughts

36:47 Prashant’s duvet flip

Episode Partners:

📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Episode Guest:

Alan Vallance is Chief Executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a role he took up in April 2024. He is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and an experienced leader of major professional bodies, having previously led the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Royal Institute of British Architects and held senior roles at the Law Society.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:23 Meet Alan Vallance, CEO of ICAEW

1:03 The Power of Networking in Your Career

1:18 Why Networking Is Non-Negotiable

1:22 What Gets Alan Out of Bed (His Duvet Flip)

1:56 First Jobs and Early Career Lessons

3:08 The Importance of Teamwork Early On

3:46 Passion, Cars and Career Direction

5:07 Rejection vs Redirection

6:28 Why Getting a Job Is a Full-Time Job

7:02 Why Personalised Applications Matter

8:00 How to Be Authentic in Interviews

9:25 Biggest Job Application Mistakes

10:36 The Reality of Today’s Job Market

11:41 60,000 Applicants for 2,000 Jobs

12:25 Why You Shouldn’t Apply for Too Many Jobs

13:12 Lessons from EY and Becoming an Accountant

14:46 Accountancy vs AI: Is It Future Proof?

16:24 How AI Is Changing the Profession

18:21 Why Accountancy Is Still a Great Career

20:10 Moving to Australia and Global Opportunities

22:49 Leadership, Crisis and the Weather Bureau

24:23 The Power of Your Network

26:29 How to Grow Your Career the Right Way

27:54 What ICAEW Does and Why It Matters

30:22 Building Careers and Changing Lives

32:18 Alan’s Duvet Flip

Episode Partners:

📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Episode Guest

Andrew Hawkins is Technology Director at Compare the Market, where he focuses on building world-class engineering capability and helping teams embrace AI-led transformation. He is known for his thoughtful, people-first approach to leadership, with a strong emphasis on curiosity, impact and continuous learning.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:22 Andrew’s first job and early career lessons

2:14 Taking risks and stepping into the unknown

3:40 The failure that changed Andrew’s career

4:39 Failure is framing: a powerful mindset shift

5:34 Using failure to build resilience and confidence

6:06 Curiosity, open-mindedness and career growth

7:22 How to become more curious in your career

8:17 Dropping fear and leaning into new opportunities

9:20 Why AI feels like the early internet

10:04 How to think about AI in business and problem-solving

11:02 Why AI won’t replace engineers

12:27 Andrew’s non-linear career journey

13:09 Do what makes you happy and plays to your strengths

14:11 Why traditional career advice is broken

15:03 Transferable skills from unexpected jobs

15:37 Why having fun at work matters

16:31 Handling periods when you don’t enjoy your job

17:14 Self-awareness and taking responsibility for change

18:10 When to adapt vs when to move on

19:05 How Andrew joined Compare the Market

20:07 The role of AI in business transformation

21:04 Why company values matter when choosing a job

22:46 Top interview tips to stand out

24:07 Building rapport and being yourself in interviews

26:15 The best question to ask in a tech interview

27:34 How companies should approach AI transformation

29:20 Becoming a world-class engineering organisation

30:19 Why now is the most exciting time in tech

31:38 Lessons from the early internet boom

32:32 Will AI replace human conversations?

32:50 What keeps Andrew motivated at Compare the Market

34:11 Why technology is all about people

34:44 The best career advice Andrew follows

36:12 Andrew’s duvet flip: making an impact every day

37:05 Final thoughts and reflections

Episode Partners

📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/