The graduate job market has never been more competitive, with up to 150 applicants per role, but that doesn’t mean opportunity has disappeared.

In this episode, we sit down with Kristie Brookes and Liv Roden from Aston University to unpack what it’s really like to be a student right now, and what employers might be getting wrong.

We explore the growing gap between education and employment, why “entry-level” roles now expect experience, and how students can stand out in a world of AI-generated CVs and identical applications.

From “power skills” and emotional intelligence to hiring for potential over perfection, this is a practical, honest conversation about the future of work - and how both students and employers need to adapt.

If you’ve got kids heading into the world of work, or you’re hiring the next generation, this one matters.

Key Takeaways

The graduate market is tougher than ever — but opportunity still exists

Differentiation is everything (and it’s not just about grades)

Employers should hire for potential, not just experience

AI is changing entry-level work, but human skills matter more than ever

“Power skills” (leadership, AI, innovation, emotional intelligence) are the real advantage

Students aren’t lazy - they’re navigating a completely different world

Your personality, passion, and story are what set you apart

Themes

• Future of work

• Early careers / graduate market

• AI & employability

• Emotional intelligence

• Identity & confidence

• Social mobility

• Hiring & leadership

Keywords

graduate jobs, early careers, Aston University, employability, Gen Z workforce, hiring graduates, AI in recruitment, power skills, soft skills, student careers, internships UK, graduate market UK, career advice, emotional intelligence at work, leadership skills, entry level jobs UK

Chapters

00:00 Meet the Employer Engagement Officers

01:40 Current Student Experience and Market Challenges

05:44 Understanding the Role of Employer Engagement Officers

08:56 Career Journeys of Kristie and Olivia

13:48 Aston University: Opportunities and Offerings

16:45 Power Skills and Student Preparedness

20:02 Perceptions of Young People in the Workforce

21:50 Emotional Intelligence in the Job Market

24:57 Demonstrating Passion and Personality

28:55 The Value of University Experience

33:10 Overcoming Self-Doubt in Career Paths

Lewis Matthews has pushed himself to extremes - from international water polo to Ironmans, ultramarathons and rowing the Atlantic for 38 days.

But this conversation isn’t just about endurance.

It’s about what happens when life pushes back.

Lewis opens up about losing his brother and his mom, how grief reshaped his perspective, and why success now looks very different. From “purposeful discomfort” to fatherhood, identity and resilience, this is a raw, honest conversation about what really matters, and how we carry life when it gets heavy.

Key Takeaways

• Happiness is a choice - even when life isn’t easy

• Have a “why” - it gets you through the hardest moments

• Purposeful discomfort builds resilience

• Endurance teaches control - focus on what you can influence

• Grief doesn’t go away - but it changes

• Empathy often comes from pain

• Have a “thing” - something that grounds you outside work and life stress

• Success changes - especially when you become a parent

• You don’t need to be the best - just keep learning and growing

• Remember tomorrow - most things pass

Keywords

Lewis Matthews, rowing the Atlantic, endurance mindset, resilience, grief, loss, fatherhood, mental strength, stoicism, ultramarathon, Ironman, water polo, personal growth, emotional resilience, mindset, discipline, adversity, purpose, mental health, perspective, Wit and Grit podcast

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Lewis Matthews' Background

00:55 20 Days into the Atlantic Row: Challenges and Mindset

02:09 Dealing with Storms and Ocean Conditions

03:49 Big Storms and Boat Spinning Crisis

06:01 Building Mental Fortitude and Stoic Principles

08:28 Lewis' Origin Story and Water Polo Journey

09:50 Transition from Water Polo to Endurance Sports

11:52 Lessons from Ultras and Ironmans

14:07 Why Endurance Challenges? The Mindset Behind the Why

20:26 Personal Losses and Grief: The Impact of Family Tragedy

24:56 Grief vs Physical Endurance: Comparing Challenges

30:40 Lessons from Grief and Moving Forward

32:37 Jiu Jitsu and Community as a Source of Resilience

36:36 Redefining Success and Priorities

38:09 Consciously Unlearning and Embracing New Identities

42:21 Rowing Record and Scenario Planning

44:38 Future Goals and Three-Year Vision

45:37 Wit and Grit: The Balance of Intelligence and Grit

47:14 Who Was Lewis Matthews? What Broke and What He Became

In Episode 32 of Wit + Grit, we are joined by Marcus Dimbleby - former Royal Air Force aerospace battle manager turned leadership and critical thinking specialist.

From the military to major corporate transformation, Marcus shares what he’s learned about leadership, human behaviour and why so many organisations are still getting it wrong.

This is a wide-ranging conversation covering disengaged workforces, the dangers of promoting people without training them, why young talent is leaving organisations so quickly, and how leaders can unlock the capability already sitting inside their teams.

Marcus also breaks down critical thinking, red teaming, adaptive leadership, shadow boards, and why AI is only useful when paired with human judgement.

There’s loads here for leaders, parents and anyone thinking about how we prepare the next generation for a world that’s moving fast.

Key takeaways

• Most leaders are promoted without being trained to lead.

• Only 21% of the workforce is engaged.

• Leaders don’t need to do it all themselves.

• Slow down to speed up.

• Critical thinking is not automatic — it has to be deliberately applied.

• Every kid is a natural red teamer until the system squeezes it out of them.

• Diversity of thought is the diversity that unlocks performance.

• Young talent leaves when you recruit them for fresh thinking but don’t let them use it.

• A group of high performers is not automatically a team.

• Shadow boards are one of the smartest ways to bridge generations.

• AI is a tool, not the answer.

• The real future is AI plus collective intelligence.

• What got you here won’t keep you here.

Keywords

Marcus Dimbleby, leadership, critical thinking, red teaming, adaptive leadership, workforce engagement, Gen Z, parenting, AI, collective intelligence, shadow boards, team dynamics, military leadership, Royal Air Force, aerospace battle manager, business transformation, disengaged employees, innovation, future of work, human skills, opportunity, Wit and Grit podcast

Chapters List

00:00 Introduction to Marcus Dimbleby

02:45 Leadership Challenges in the Modern Workplace

05:16 The Importance of Critical Thinking

08:21 Red Teaming and Its Applications

11:33 The Role of Parents in Fostering Critical Thinking

14:24 The Disconnect Between Leadership and Talent

17:14 Navigating Change in Organizations

20:18 The Need for Adaptive Leadership

23:09 Understanding the Real Problems in Organizations

31:59 Unveiling Leadership Challenges

34:20 The Importance of Tailored Solutions

36:31 The Role of Shadow Boards in Leadership

37:21 Navigating Military Insights and Youth Engagement

46:07 The Impact of AI on Leadership

53:44 Advice for the Next Generation

01:01:50 outro1.mp3