An integral lead in TalkTalk’s Women in Tech employee network, Denise Maskew tells her own career story and how she’s navigated an industry largely dominated by males.

We spoke to Denise for International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is ‘inspire inclusion’ and Denise perfectly embodies both of these terms. She tells us how the power of networks and mentoring have shaped her path, and why everybody’s welcome in the community - regardless of job title and gender. There’s an abundance of opportunities to learn, grow and thrive in the North West tech sector and Denise tells us how to explore some of these to empower each other and build a better future for us and our peers.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is anxiety. The annual campaign is an opportunity for us to open up and start conversations, while increasing awareness and understanding of anxiety. But not just for one week…

TalkTalk’s Talent Acquisition Business Partner, Chris Pope is somebody who stands by this – working to support others all year round. He is a facilitator at one of the Andy’s Man Club groups, which meet every Monday evening, across the UK, at 7pm. Andy’s Man Club is a nationally recognised, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support group with a view to end the stigma around men’s mental health.

In this week’s podcast, we speak to Chris about the power of open conversation, the importance of connection and the benefits of attending one of the Andy’s Man Club sessions.

#ITSOKAYTOTALK >> Who We Are | Andy's Man Club | Andy's Man Club (andysmanclub.co.uk)

This Autism Acceptance Month, we spoke to Ian Kenworthy. Ian is a People Operations Administrator who joined TalkTalk via the Employ Autism programme, which was created alongside TalkTalk’s long-standing charity partner Ambitious About Autism. He tells guest presenter Kacee how the role was recommended to him and the reasons why he chose TalkTalk - due to the inclusive culture.

Employ Autism is programme providing a 6-month placement within the business, which includes various other layers of support including workshops and regular check ins. There are currently five interns working at TalkTalk on the programme and employees managing the interns received training prior to the onboarding to ensure the right support and opportunities were in place for every individual.

For more info, visit: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/employ-autism-network/join

Do you really know your colleagues? Today we learned that Dean, our Enterprise New Business Sales Executive, can read minds… so naturally we’re slightly nervous when he’s around now.

Fresh from the annual Magic Convention in Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens, we spoke to Dean on the latest episode of Walking the Walk to find out exactly what it means to be in the ‘Magic Circle’ and how he juggles life between a full-time career and magic. Something that he describes in great detail, with passion. Dean tells us how everything changed ‘overnight’ during the pandemic, thrusting shows into the online world and tricks into a new format.

Dean co-founded The Factory of Magic - www.factoryofmagic.com – a platform for magicians to find work.

#BeMoreSam – it may have just been a mid-podcast joke, but TalkTalk’s Equality & Future Talent Manager Sam Davys returned from maternity leave to find out she’s been awarded an MBE. In the King’s first ever honours list. And as one of the youngest recipients, what an achievement!

In the latest episode of Walking the Walk, Sam explains how all her hard work, goal setting and goal getting had led to her position as (what some may describe) ‘office royalty’. The driving force of the Government Kickstart Scheme at TalkTalk, Sam has – simply put – changed lives. Recruiting, mentoring and coaching 100 young people into the business for 6-month placements in the middle of a global pandemic was no easy job. But Sam enjoys a challenge and we’re all wondering what she’s wearing for her meeting at The Palace…

Sam shares her story with guest presenter Kacee Fennelly - we’re proud of you, Sam.