What if school had taught us that confidence isn’t about having all the answers, but about finding your voice, staying curious and having the courage to do what feels right?

In this episode of The School Run Podcast, Jane chats with Jack Mellor — CEO of Personnel Checks (PC Group), parent to a two-year-old, and someone she has worked alongside through Little Voices for many years.

Jack shares his journey from wanting to become a chef, to studying French, living and working in Paris, and eventually returning home to lead the family business. Together, Jane and Jack explore confidence, communication, leadership, parenting and why life rarely follows the path we imagine at sixteen.

They also discuss the importance of recognition, building a positive workplace culture, learning through practical experiences and how becoming a parent has given Jack a fresh perspective on curiosity, communication and lifelong learning.

This conversation is full of wisdom for parents, young people, business owners and anyone who has ever wondered whether they really have it all figured out.

Episode Highlights: Confidence, Leadership, Communication and Curiosity

● Why life and careers are rarely linear

● Following what genuinely interests and excites you

● The value of learning languages and embracing new experiences

● Returning to lead a family business

● Building a positive workplace culture through recognition

● What confidence really means in leadership

● Why communication is such an important life skill

● The importance of curiosity and lifelong learning

● Why practical experiences can help learning stick

● Finding your voice and having the courage to speak up

● Reflections on parenting a two-year-old and seeing the world through a child’s eyes

● The lessons Jack would share with his younger self

● Why some of our most valuable memories are made on the school run

Favourite Quotes

“Confidence is having the courage to do what you know is right.”

“I was never chasing a particular job. I was just chasing the skill of learning to speak French.”

“You can teach yourself so much today if you stay curious.”

Guest Links

Connect with Jack Mellor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmellor/

Find out more about Personnel Checks (PC Group) at:https://www.personnelchecks.co.uk/

Marketing@personnelchecks.co.uk

Listen to Jane’s guest appearance on Jack’s podcast through the links in the show notes.

Support The School Run Podcast

If you’ve loved this episode and would like to support the podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here:www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

It helps us keep bringing these uplifting, honest and inspiring conversations about confidence, leadership, communication and parenting to life.

Connect With Us

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @theschoolrun_officialFollow Jane: @mrsjanejamesEmail Jane: jane@littlevoices.org.uk

About Little Voices

This podcast is brought to you by Little Voices, where we nurture confidence and big futures through drama and singing.

Find out more about our classes, school partnerships and franchise opportunities at:www.littlevoices.org.uk

Disclaimer

The conversations shared on The School Run Podcast are based on personal stories, experiences and opinions. They are intended to inspire, encourage and open up meaningful conversations, but they should not replace professional advice where needed.

Editing Credit

This episode was edited and produced by Mike Roberts from Making Digital Real. We are so lucky and privileged to work with Mike and highly recommend him.