After getting to know our Head of Operations: People & Culture, Dip, in our last update, this month we’re meeting Jess, our UK Head of Coaching.
Jess has been with Elevate for 6 years now, starting over in Aus, zipping all over the globe as a presenter, and ending up in London, where she still is now.
As well as overseeing all things coaching, Jess is also the UK 2iC, meaning she supports the UK GM, Leens, in ensuring that everything is running smoothly both in and out of the office.
Now onto Jess to offer a little more insight into who she is, what she does, and what her time at Elevate has looked like so far....
I originally joined Elevate as a presenter in Sydney in 2018; my family friend had been a TL and couldn’t stop singing Elevate praises. After presenting in Aus I then moved to the UK mid-2018 where I presented for 2 years and joined the London TLs before joining the office as the WM, NW, and SW CSM. 4 years later I’m now the Head of Coaching and 2IC for Team UK.
What degree did you study and why?
It’s a rogue one, A Bachelor of Media and Radio with a minor in Circus performance and Macquarie University. I started off doing radio because I’m obsessed with talking and had my own drive time show, however, I was also taking all theatre and dance electives. In my third year, the university came to my dance class and offered us the opportunity to participate in their new circus course and of course, I wasn’t going to say no to that!
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The Head of Coaching role has given me such a great opportunity to understand what it’s like to own a whole product. I’ve learnt so much about sales and how to really make sure you are addressing the right concerns for parents and students so we can provide the best product for them. As coaching is also still new in the UK there is so much opportunity for us to grow and it seems that each quarter something new comes up for us - it just keeps me on my toes!
On the other side of my role, becoming 2IC in April last year has been incredible. My favorite thing to do is help and coach people and this role is constantly showing me how I can support the team, learn new processes outside of my areas and understand how the overall business works as well. It’s a role I never thought I’d end up doing but you’ll have to pry me away from it now!
You travelled a fair bit with Elevate. Which countries did you visit and what was the experience like?
As a presenter I was lucky enough to be selected for the Southeast Asia programme in 2019. I presented in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia which was SO cool, but it cannot compete with the trip I had last year for Global Awards and GM conference in Japan! Climbing Mount Fuji was the highlight (even though we couldn’t summit due to the weather)...
What is your hidden talent that no-one in the office knows about?
I’m flexible enough to walk like the girl from The Grudge. Will only ever showcase this at Halloween to match the Aesthetic .
Go-to karaoke song?
'One Day More' – Les Misérables and yes, I will do all the parts.
Favourite TV series/film?
The Lord of the Rings, Two Towers
Favourite food?
If I ever go missing, make a baked camembert and I’ll appear within 2 seconds.
What are you most excited about at Elevate at the moment?
It’s Q4! Our biggest sales period in the office where we book in everything for next academic year and it POPS OFF.
Thanks for sharing, Jess. We hope we never need to bring out the emergency camembert but we'll make a note just in case.
If you’d like to learn more about the Head of Coaching role, or the other positions within our full-time office teams, click the button below.