Episode Guest

Nick Foster is the General Manager for Mars Pet Nutrition in Northern Europe, where he leads with a passion for purpose, people, and pets. With nearly 20 years at Mars, he’s held diverse roles across sales, marketing, and supply chain, always driven by a desire to be a good ancestor.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:23 Meet the General Manager of Mars Petcare

1:00 From RAF Dreams to a Business Career

2:05 Finding Purpose Through Pet Care

3:20 Nick’s Duvet Flip: Being a Good Ancestor

4:10 Lessons from McDonald’s and Early Work Ethic

5:15 Accidental Entry into Mars

6:40 Career Advice: Squiggly Lines & Making Friends

8:10 General Management Explained

9:45 Mars Petcare’s Scale and Purpose

11:15 Changing Law to Help Renters with Pets

13:00 Cancer-Sniffing Dogs & Coral Reef Projects

15:00 Mars’ Family Values and Long-Term Thinking

16:40 Starting a Career at Mars: Advice to Young People

18:00 The Myth of Work-Life Balance

19:30 How to Build a Career with Impact

21:10 Nick’s Leadership Style and Communication Growth

23:00 The Power of Mentorship & Sponsorship

25:00 Fun Q&A: Sloths, Brainstorms & Huskies

28:00 Key Digital Skills for Petcare Careers

30:00 Final Lessons on Career, Purpose & Progression

33:15 What Gets Nick Out of Bed Each Day

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.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Episode Guest

Tom Wallis is the Chief Customer Officer at Compare the Market, with a dynamic career spanning consulting, startups, and brand leadership. He's known for blending data-driven thinking with creative marketing to lead iconic campaigns.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:48 Tom’s Early Career and First Job

2:53 Lessons from Temping and the Power of Observation

4:55 Joining Accenture and Consulting Foundations

6:54 Why Tom Quit Without a Job

8:33 Dealing with Uncertainty and Finding the Next Step

9:57 Getting into Sky and Discovering Marketing

11:45 Breaking Into the Marketing Team

13:34 Landing His First Marketing Role

15:20 Lessons from Startup Life at Now TV

17:13 Facing Rejection — and Proving Them Wrong

18:42 Creating a Sales Surge That Changed the Business

20:01 Learning to Ask for Help and Growing Fast

21:27 Obsession, Flow States, and Finding His Thing

23:03 Tom’s Biggest Money Regret

24:03 Tom’s Simplest Money Tip for Young People

25:20 Transitioning to Gusto and Building Again

26:44 Joining Compare the Market

28:27 The Culture That Drives High Performance

30:04 What a Chief Customer Officer Really Does

31:25 Reviving One of the UK’s Most Iconic Brands

33:09 How to Build a Personal Brand Authentically

36:16 Tom’s Invisible Success

38:06 Tom’s Duvet Flip – Why He Shows Up Every Day

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.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Episode Guest

Rhys Degruchy is the Graduate Development and Support Leader at Halo, where he mentors new talent and helps shape the next generation of high performers. With a background in physics and a passion for people, Rhys is driven by trust, autonomy, and a relentless desire to improve.

Ben Thorpe is the Infrastructure Manager at Halo, having grown through the ranks over seven years. Obsessed with progress and delivery, Ben leads by example and is known for turning ambition into action across high-impact projects.

Episode Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:44 Meet Rhys and Ben from Halo

1:36 Why They Said Yes to My Duvet Flip

2:18 Their First Ever Jobs (Coffee Shops & Sunglasses)

4:23 Early Lessons in Communication and Confidence

6:00 How They Found Halo (and Why They Stayed)

8:19 From Suit & Tie to Shorts & Trust: The Halo Culture

10:35 Why Halo Feels Like a Sports Team

12:24 Obsession at Work: What It Means at Halo

13:46 Why Young People Progress So Fast Here

15:02 Who Shouldn’t Work at Halo

16:28 What Halo Has Taught Them About Life

18:10 The Message to Future Applicants

19:20 Their Duvet Flip: Why They Get Out of Bed

Episode Partners

Check out the latest from Halo:

https://halograduates.com and https://www.instagram.com/halonextgen/

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/