Valerie Michie, CEO at Choice Care Group: Why Care Work Is the Most Underrated Job in Britain

Episode Guest:

Valerie Michie is the CEO of Choice Care Group and a passionate advocate for the power of social care careers. With a background in leadership across multiple sectors, she’s committed to making care more visible and accessible for the next generation.

Careers at Choice Care Group:

https://bit.ly/45epykU

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:42 Why Valerie joined My Duvet Flip

1:44 Valerie’s first proper job at Asda

3:23 Lessons in communication and teamwork

5:00 Becoming a better communicator through listening

7:06 Pushing through discomfort and growing confidence

8:19 From graduate uncertainty to KPMG

9:32 Realising accountancy wasn’t her calling

11:02 When to move on or stay in a job

12:47 The “black circle” diary reflection method

13:44 Worst money mistake Valerie ever made

14:28 The power of saving early: Valerie’s top money tip

16:12 Why reflection matters in your career

18:30 Reflecting as a team in the care sector

20:03 Why young people rush — and shouldn’t

21:29 Valerie on becoming a CEO

23:06 Advice for new starters in any industry

24:11 Give it a year — Valerie’s rule of thumb

25:57 What a CEO actually does at Choice Care Group

27:00 Career paths within care: Support Worker to Manager

28:44 What makes a great care worker?

30:01 Why care is a brilliant industry for young people

31:05 Making care and support more visible

33:00 What young people told Valerie about joining care

34:28 Where Choice Care Group operates

35:09 Why join Choice Care Group?

36:06 What care taught Valerie that corporate life didn’t

37:00 “Choices Got Talent” and holding hope for others

39:45 Valerie’s advice to care job applicants

41:22 Valerie’s life lesson: listen first

43:39 Valerie’s duvet flip: what gets her out of bed

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.

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