At TechPixies and we help people to upskill with modern technology with Social Media, WordPress, Digital Marketing, and we help them get those skills, under their belt so they can return to work, change careers, or start a business.
In this week’s Videocast/Podcast, I’m really fortunate to be able to interview one of our recent alumni, Kerry Glass on her TechPixies experience and life thereafter.
It takes a lot of courage to go live on the internet and know that everybody’s watching, so thanks Kerry for your time!
Kerry’s Story
“I was employed for quite a long time with the same organisation. I started out as full time and I was personal assistant to an HR director and it was great, I enjoyed it, didn’t know where I was going to go with it, and then life took over. So, I bought a house, and we had children, and you know, ten years goes by and you’re like okay… I’m still here and now I’m working part time.
What am I going to do? This is not for me… forever so what’s next? what am I going to do? I’ve been really interested in social media as a concept for a while, and I kept toying with the idea for about a year of doing something. I just didn’t know what the ‘something’ was. I’d heard of a similar training programme.
Probably about three or four times I went through through the process with them, but there was just something holding me back it just didn’t feel quite right for me.
It was a chance conversation, unusually for me, I was quite open with a colleague at work, and just told her how I felt. I just normally keep things to myself, as you do. On the back of that conversation, she recommended TechPixies because she knew someone that had done the course and sent me the link, and that’s where it started!
So I enquired, Juliet was on it, and she got in touch with me right away.
Juliet was really encouraging actually, normally it can be a bit off putting, but she was just to so warm and understanding. “
JOY: What were other things that made you decide that this was right for you?
“I think the timeframe was enough that you know you’re going to get something from it, but not too much that you can’t put things on hold for a bit, or make arrangements so that you have time to actually complete the course. The cost as well… was achievable.
That was quite a big thing, I took the plunge and I just needed to do it at that point. I didn’t have the money saved, but I thought… I can tread this for the period of time that I need to do it and it will be fine.
JOY: Did you have to ask for permission or how did you approach it with your partner?
“Um, no, I didn’t have to ask permission, he was aware of the job that I was doing, you know, he knew this was not something I wanted to do. He was just really supportive and I think he’s really noticed a change as well, since starting it, and starting the journey because it does feel like a journey, which I’m still on. and he was just really encouraging, so that makes it easier.
[On managing the cost] I scaled back, I did it in the three instalments so I just kind of reassessed. What don’t I need in my life that I don’t need to spend more money on and it was just rejigging, rethinking and I think if you want something, you find a way.
You know whatever your situation is, you have to be creative sometimes and take a bit of a chance!
Kerry Glass – TechPixies Alumni
JOY: When you know, you know and sometimes it can feel scary but there’s that quiet confidence that it’s still the right decision.
“Exactly.”
JOY: Versus when you’re like, actually, this doesn’t feel right, it’s not the right time.
“…and with the previous programme that was my mindset with that, it was just something that, yeah, it wasn’t quite right. Where as TechPixies just felt felt right.”
JOY: What has been the biggest impact of the course for you and on your personal life?
“Um, I think my the confidence shift in a self belief sense. That’s from the course itself, and which obviously you [Joy] are a massive part of that, the facilitators and the life coach aspect.
There’s a lot to cover and there’s a lot to learn. However, there is quite a level playing field with people doing it from all different backgrounds. There is that common aspect that you’re wanting to change, upskill, wanting to do something else. It just feels supported, you know, I felt supported in doing it and all of that combined just gave me a massive confidence boost.
I’ve left my job I haven’t got anything to go to, in a traditional sense, but I’ve got so many ideas and options that I’m not worried about that. I’m just moving forward, I’m on the train and we’re going and I’m just going to keep going with it and see you know where it leads.
JOY: I love how you described it as a journey,. Are you doing any social media work at the moment?
A little bit of work experience.
JOY: That’s exciting. Have you learned a lot in that work experience opportunity?
“I have actually, I’ve had exposure to the planning side of things, which you know was completely new to me, starting TechPixies. So seeing it in real life terms. Yeah, it’s completely different. That’s been valuable and it just being able to kind of open your mind up to, ideas, new ideas and learning about new opinions and views, then it’s got to feel like I’m constantly gathering information at the moment.
JOY: Maybe we could talk a little bit about how you felt the online learning went in terms of, you know, bite size chunks.
“So I went in with the mindset that I was going to carve out this time, whether or not I thought I had it and I just kind of had every evening or most evenings between eight and ten. You know, that’s when I’ve got time. That’s the time I dedicated, so it worked.
It just meant I didn’t get sucked into Love Island for the summer. Instead I did TechPixies!
Kerry Glass – TechPixies Alumni
JOY: You know that’s the best quote of the day!
That is fact! Friends would ask me about it and I haven’t watched it. I’m not watching it this year. I’m doing my work!
JOY: Well, and that’s the point, you know, the thing is if you’re going to add something to your life no matter what it is, you’ve got to give something up.
“You have that goal, and it’s where you are wanting to be and what you need to do to get there and yes I know it’s not always easy and sometimes, you know, the time doesn’t happen and you do it last minute. On the whole, it is doable and because it is bitesized, you could tap it in and out so if your child did need something, or they were sick, you could just stop and start again quite easily.
JOY: What I would love to know from you is if you have any parting advice for women who are thinking about going on this journey?
“I think looking back it’s really easy to look across the board and see what other people are doing and then deciding that you are the imposter syndrome type, ‘oh I couldn’t do that, or it’s not really for me. I’m… etc.’
‘…and I would say to that there’s just so much room for anyone who wants to get on board.
I think that was another thing, self doubt and you think it’s not for you, but I think it can be if it’s something you want. It definitely can be. It’s achievable.
JOY: Well thank you for your time I you know you are very brave to come on and be LIVE and be interviewed in front of everybody, go on the podcast and everything, but I’m just so thankful that I got to spend a little bit of time with you talking one on one about how the experience has been for you.
Don’t forget, you can listen on the podcast too! 👇