How To Become A...

What actually happens after filming wraps?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Holly to explore the world of post production, the part of film and television that shapes the final story you see on screen.
From editing and sound design to ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording), grading, music, and delivering shows to Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV. Holly shares what it really means to be a Post Production Coordinator.

We talk about:
• Growing up wanting to be an actor
• Musical theatre and auditioning for drama school
• Rejection and losing her agent
• Working in restaurants while chasing creative dreams
• Hitting rock bottom in 2019
• Therapy and rebuilding confidence
• Falling into post production unexpectedly
• Working in Soho — the UK’s post production hub
• What ADR actually is
• How editing changes a storyline
• The magic of music and score
• Freelance life in film and TV
• Long contracts vs downtime between projects

Holly also shares:
• Why being organised is everything
• How to break into the industry without connections
• The reality of working on Apple TV, Amazon & Netflix productions
• Why post is where the magic really happens

If you’ve ever wondered how a script becomes the show you binge, this episode reveals the hidden world behind the edit.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path
📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]
📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become a head chef?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Andy — Head Chef at ROVI (part of the Ottolenghi group), to unpack the real journey behind running a high-performing kitchen.

From growing up in a hospitality family (with a dad who owned nightclubs and restaurants) to working his way up through kitchens in Australia and London, Andy shares the truth about the industry — the highs, the burnout, the pirate-ship energy of kitchen culture, and the leadership skills no one talks about.

We cover:
Starting out in a family restaurant
Culinary school vs on-the-job training
Moving from Australia to London without a job lined up
Working your way from chef de partie to sous chef to head chef
What being a head chef actually involves (hint: it’s not just cooking)
Managing big teams under pressure
Menu development, seasonal produce & working with a kitchen garden
Cooking for 200+ guests in Sicily & Ibiza
The harsh realities of the hospitality industry
Why supporting independent restaurants matters

Andy also shares the mindset you need to survive in kitchens:
✔️ Work ethic
✔️ Resilience
✔️ Thick skin
✔️ Passion for food
✔️ Leadership under pressure

If you’ve ever dreamed of running a kitchen, opening a restaurant, or just want to understand what happens behind the pass, this episode is for you.

Resources:
https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/locations/rovi
🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path
📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]
📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you turn years in the classroom into a business that actually helps kids?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace talks with Ramita, a former middle-years teacher who founded Elevate, a curriculum and mentoring platform that supports pre-teens (especially girls) with resilience, confidence and social skills.

Ramita walks us through:
Her original path (pre-med → genetics → a life-changing volunteer teaching stint)
Why she loved teaching and why teacher burnout is real
The moment she decided to build something outside school: designing an 8-week curriculum for tweens
How Elevate launched in Singapore, then pivoted online during COVID to reach kids worldwide
What the Elevate workshops and school programmes actually cover (resilience, social skills, transition support, online wellbeing)
How she built the Elevate Festival, turning curriculum pillars into hands-on experiences for girls
Business realities: juggling teaching + entrepreneurship, finding funding/customers, and dealing with feedback
Practical advice for educators who want to start a venture: test ideas, lean on your network, iterate, and accept that “failure” teaches you the next move

Resources:
https://www.elevate-ra.com/
🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path
📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]
📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become a fashion designer?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Alethea, a designer at Next, to break down the reality of working in fashion, from high street accessories to predicting next year’s trends.

From growing up on a council estate with dreams of becoming a designer, to working for Vivienne Westwood, to designing pieces you’ve probably seen on the high street, Alethea’s journey proves there’s no single route into fashion.

Alethea shares:
Always knowing she wanted to be a fashion designer
The teacher who helped map out her path
Studying fashion at university and foundation year
Working for Vivienne Westwood and Lulu Guinness
Why she moved from designer brands to the high street
How fashion really makes money
The difference between designer labels and commercial fashion
What it’s like seeing your designs out in the real world
The pressure of development trips to factories
How trends are actually predicted
Why macro trends (like politics and economics) shape what we wear
Navigating feedback and rejection in creative roles
The realities of working in fashion production

She also opens up about:
Why you don’t need to be “fashion crazy” to work in fashion
How to break into the industry without connections
Why you should make your mistakes working for someone else
The importance of developing thick skin
Why creativity and commercial awareness must work together

If you’re interested in:
Becoming a fashion designer
Working in high street fashion
Trend forecasting
Creative careers
How to get into the fashion industry
Commercial design roles

This episode is for you.
🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path
📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]
📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a Brand Manager at Marriott actually do?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Kel to unpack what it really means to shape, launch and scale hotel brands across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

From moving countries as a teenager, to working front-of-house in a five-star London hotel, to landing a graduate role at Marriott, Kel’s journey proves that brand leadership isn’t about advertising alone. It’s about building the full guest experience.

Kel shares:
Why he originally wanted to work in social services
Moving to the UK at 15 and navigating cultural change
Studying Business & Hospitality at university
Why working in hotel operations was essential
The importance of emotional intelligence in hospitality
How he discovered brand management through a VP coffee chat
Completing a Master’s in Advertising & Marketing
Landing Marriott’s graduate programme
Navigating redundancy during COVID
Rebuilding her career internationally
Moving back to London for a second chance
Launching new hotel brands across EMEA
What brand management actually means (and how it differs from marketing)

She also opens up about:
Cultural differences between working in Asia and Europe
The hierarchy of hotel operations
Influencing stakeholders in corporate environments
Balancing ambition and personal life
Taking leaps of faith in your career

If you’re interested in:
Hospitality careers
Working for Marriott
Brand management roles
Corporate marketing
International careers
Travel and tourism jobs

This episode is for you.
🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path
📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]
📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.