Life in Private Staffing

From leaving Kazakhstan with no English to managing multimillion-pound estates in Surrey, Marina Grigoryeva’s story is one of determination, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.With over 20 years’ experience working for UHNW families, Marina shares how she built longevity in some of the most demanding households — often staying with principals for over a decade. She opens up about managing difficult personalities, setting emotional boundaries, and why counselling training has completely transformed the way she approaches leadership, communication, and staff wellbeing.In this episode, Philippa and Marina dive into:💼 What it really takes to become a trusted House Manager🧠 How to protect your mental health in high-pressure households🌍 The resilience needed to start again in a new country🏠 Why empathy and emotional intelligence are your strongest tools in private staffingA thoughtful, insightful conversation that highlights the human side of life behind the gates.Resources & Links:🔗 Visit www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Life in Private Staffing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts📱 Join our Silver Swan Communities – email enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com💬 Follow us on Instagram @silverswanrecruitment, @silverswanpodcast, and LinkedIn Silver Swan Recruitment

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing, I sit down with Daniela Vasconcelos, a Brazilian-born estate manager and personal assistant who has spent over a decade building her career in Miami’s ultra-competitive private staffing market.From launching her own cleaning business to overseeing 30+ luxury properties, and later managing the lifestyle of a single UHNW principal, Daniela’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Together, we explore:✨ Her transition from recruitment into private staffing – and what her HR background taught her about leadership✨ The reality of Miami’s luxury market and why personality fit is more important than skills alone✨ How to balance resilience, discretion and heart when managing UHNW households✨ The challenges of returning to work after a career break – and why candidates deserve respect in the recruitment process✨ Some of the quirkiest client requests she’s ever received (including sourcing a lion 🦁)Whether you’re curious about breaking into household management, navigating a career in the US luxury market, or simply fascinated by what life looks like behind the scenes of billionaire lifestyles, this episode is packed with honesty, advice, and motivation.Resources & Links:🌐 Find out more about Silver Swan Recruitment: https://www.silverswanrecruitment.com🌐 Looking for your next role? Register your CV with us today.Follow us on Instagram & TikTok – @silverswanpodcast 🦢

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing, I sit down with David Cannie, senior estate manager of a 15,000-acre private estate in the UK with hundreds of residential properties, heritage buildings, and a team of 100+ staff.Having transitioned from a career in property management into the UHNW private sector, David shares what it’s really like to oversee one of the country’s most impressive landed estates. Together, we dive into:✨ The day-to-day reality of managing a vast estate with multiple departments, tenants, and heritage properties✨ Building relationships with UHNW families and navigating their unique expectations✨ How to keep large in-house teams motivated and collaborative✨ The quirks of life in private staffing – including the time David was asked to move 80-year-old oak trees 🌳✨ The skills, resilience, and “thick skin” needed to thrive in this industryWhether you’re an aspiring estate manager, already working in the private staffing world, or simply curious about what happens behind the gates of the UK’s most exclusive estates, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.Resources & Links:🌐 Find out more about Silver Swan Recruitment: https://www.silverswanrecruitment.com🌐 Looking for your next role? Register your CV with us today.Follow us on Instagram & TikTok - @silverswanpodcast 🦢

In this episode of Life in Private Staffing, I sit down with Sarah Eaton, HR Director at Consensio Holidays, a luxury ski company operating some of the most exclusive chalets in the French Alps.Having placed Sarah in her current role, I knows firsthand the challenges of recruiting and managing seasonal staff in high-pressure, high-end hospitality environments. Together, we dive into:✨ What it takes to run a 70+ strong seasonal team in some of Europe’s most sought-after ski resorts✨ The key qualities Sarah looks for when hiring chalet managers, private chefs, chauffeurs and hosts✨ How Brexit has changed ski season recruitment and staffing dynamics✨ Staff retention, morale and keeping a team motivated through 18 guest-packed weeks✨ How working a ski season can shape careers – and why it’s not just about skiing every daySarah also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the world of luxury chalets – from immersive Frozen-themed kids’ parties to guests flying in their own fine wine collections. Whether you’re thinking about working a ski season, hiring chalet staff, or simply curious about what it takes to deliver world-class service in a demanding environment, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.Resources & Links:🌐 View Consensio Holidays’ vacancies: https://www.consensiochalets.co.uk🌐 Find out more about Silver Swan Recruitment: https://www.silverswanrecruitment.comIf you’re considering a ski season, or looking to hire outstanding chalet staff, don’t miss this episode!

In this special episode of Life in Private Staffing, we’re switching it up. I'm joined by New York-based concierge legend Harald Mootz, who shares tales from three decades at the heart of luxury hospitality. From manning the concierge desks at the Plaza Athénée and St. Regis to his current role at the Corinthia’s Surrey Hotel, Harold has catered to the world’s elite—and seen it all.Expect insider insights into the world of ultra-high-net-worth guests, wild requests, and how genuine service, global networks, and discretion define true luxury. Whether you’re in private staffing, hospitality, or simply curious about the lives of those behind the velvet rope, this episode offers a unique perspective on what it really takes to serve at the top.

Today we are back! After taking our first-ever break since starting this podcast five years ago, we're back to launch Season 6 of Life in Private Staffing. Uncovering the extraordinary careers available within the private sector. It is always fascinating to learn how different people discover this industry, but more importantly, how they break into it, and today brings a journey Lara made from working as an Au Pair to House Manager, and she is still only in her early 20s.To anyone out there at the start of their career and perhaps feeling that a career working with UHNW families is too far out of reach, then this is the episode for you. Lara's story is truly inspiring.

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of being joined by Laurie Reese, a Conscious Dying Coach for UHNW clients. If you don’t know what this is, then tune in. It is a unique service that I think everyone should know exists. Laurie spent years working in the entertainment industry before moving into the private sector as a House Manager/PA. She then transitioned her skills and became qualified to offer a pre-, during, and post-death service.    Imagine your Principal is elderly and only has a few months left. The family doesn’t live close by and are very busy, so they are not around as much as they would like to be. Who is there not only to start arranging their affairs for them but also to be that companion by their side on a daily basis? Who is responsible for the aftercare, the sorting through an entire household of belongings? This companion/PA service brings the entire family a lot of comfort and support. I am really passionate about this topic. Preparing someone for their end of life is such a delicate and sensitive time, but someone like Laurie is perfectly suited to the role and can make the process so much more comfortable for all involved. Please tune in to learn so much more about what she does.

Today, Philippa Smith is talking to Lily who has had a fantastic career to date climbing the notoriously difficult ladder up to Director of Residence. This is a position sought after by many working in the private sector and so today we delve into Lily’s journey to the top. Her passion for the industry and her love for what she does is so obvious and clearly plays a part in her success. Tune in to learn how to break through ceilings, how to manage large teams of staff and what to look for when hiring.

Today we are delving into the wonderful life of a Butler.   The highly reputable Julius Smith joins the show with his decades of experience in the field and shares not only many great stories from his long career but also his thoughts on the emergence of the modern butler, the importance of training and what it is that makes a truly great butler.    Tune in to learn more about this world.

In this episode, Philippa delves into the realm of private staffing in the Middle East alongside special guest Corina Goetz. They tackle prevailing misconceptions surrounding the GCC countries, shedding light on the advantages of working and living in this region for expats and private staff professionals alike. Tune in for some serious myth-busting and our top reasons why Middle Eastern job opportunities aren't one to miss, giving misconceptions the boot once and for all!

Interviews. Yuck. Possibly the most daunting part of the hiring process, and one that we don't really get much education on 🤢. This episode, Philippa is joined by Latricia Friend and Russell Orford as they discuss how to navigate perfecting the résumé and finessing a private staff interview. From how to dress all the way up to post-interview etiquette, this episode has got you covered.

We've given our podcast a fresh lick of paint, have invested in a second microphone, and are now officially back for our fifth season (Whew😮‍💨)! As 2024 kicks off, we wanted to run over the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of using a recruitment agency when looking for your next role or employee. Philippa is joined in the studio by Silver Swan's very own Laura and Chris as they discuss how to get the most out of a recruitment agency... and perhaps how not to.

This week, Philippa is chatting with one of our UK House Manager Community members, and past Silver Swan candidate, Georgina Gallagher! Philippa and Georgina talk about the importance of a good work-life balance, and how this coincides with high demands from UHNW principals. Philippa also asks Georgina about her own route into the private staffing industry, from working in hospitality in her teenage years all the way up to her current role.

Today, Philippa is joined by Helen Mann, all the way from San Fransisco, California. Helen talks about her career journey so far- from studying her master's degree in film journalism to working in all sorts of UHNW roles which have managed to remain relevant to her prior studies, and how she's found trying different roles within the private staffing industry to be beneficial in both personal and career growth. Philippa and Helen discuss a healthy work-life balance, the often inevitable trial and error that comes with finding the perfect position within the UHNW sector, and the importance of being open to opportunities in order to find a role that you are truly happy with.

We're back! After a short hiatus, Philippa is back with a new episode of Life in Private Staffing, and this week she's joined by the fabulous Jennifer Laurence. Since interning at a record label at the age of 17, Jennifer has devoted her whole professional career to private service; earning her master's degree in hospitality, spending a decade working as a member of private staff, to opening her own private service consulting practice in 2010. Jennifer shares her wealth of knowledge on the sector, and expands on the benefits of training and coaching for private staff, whilst touching on the importance of creating an educational safe space for high-end hospitality staff- An insightful and important discussion, and not one to miss!

Today is a quick shout out from Silver Swan’s MD, Philippa to let you all know that we are taking a short podcast break whilst some of the team travel to the US. We’ll be back with more guests in a couple of weeks!  We use this opportunity to give you an update on Silver Swan and what we are up to; Our first workshop with the fabulous Tracey Jones takes place on Monday (7pm BST) which is focused on Active Listening & Effective Questioning – which will be a fantastic session. Get in touch for the link to book your ticket! We also discuss our US tour plans and hope to see as many of our US based clients, candidates and community members as possible.   For now though, have a fab couple of weeks and we’ll be back in early October!

Today I chatted to the fabulous Jean-Francois about the fascinating world of aviation. We have not delved into the world of flying yet on this podcast, so it was such a pleasure to hear Jean-Francois’ story. Starting his career working as a cabin steward with British Airways then led onto a 25-year career with the airline working his way up through to the ranks till he was the man in charge of the entire cabin, responsible for a team of 22 crew. Having done it all with BA, from training to product development to working on the royal flights his time came to a natural end.   What was a daunting prospect after such a long career, he used his time after wisely with plenty of training and networking with people who helped him move into his current role which is working in the middle east managing the private travel of VVIP’s. This is a perfect role, combining all his previous skills and experiences whilst still providing new daily challenges.   If you are interested in how to shift from commercial airlines to private airlines, come and have a listen!

In preparation for our upcoming trip to the USA, we wanted to sit down and chat all things US! I somehow managed to convince Jess, our US consultant and Chris, our Community Manager to join me today for a chat. We discuss how we are finding the American market at the minute and what roles we are currently recruiting for. Chris then provides an insight into our 5 communities across the US, reminding us the purpose of these groups and why people should join.  We then move on to discuss our plans for our trip – from where we’re going, when and who we hope to meet. As a reminder, this is our itinerary:   Sun 24th Sept – Wed 27th:              New York Wed 27th – Fri 29th:                          San Francisco  Friday 29th – Mon 2nd:                     Los Angeles  Tues 3rd – Thurs 5th:                         Palm Beach, Florida Thurs 5th – Fri 6th:                             Miami, Florida    Keep an eye out for where we’ll be once in town! Email chris@silverswanrecruitment.com.

It was an absolute pleasure to have Michele on the show today. He has been a friend of Silver Swan for years and we have been able to help him secure his last couple of positions so I was thrilled when he agreed to come and share his story.    He is one of the most passionate chefs I know who worked his way up through a number of excellent Michelin restaurants before moving into the private sector a few years ago. It is evident that he adores his job and his enthusiasm is infectious.    He has some good tips for others starting out in the industry and is a lovely guy to listen to. Definitely visit his LinkedIn page to see some of his incredible food photos!  

Melanie is a valued member of our UK House Manager community and joins us today to talk about her fairly recent transition into the private industry. It’s just as inspiring chatting to guests who have entered this world more recently as can actually be more relevant to those listeners looking to secure their first role themselves also. Mel discusses how all her previous experiences have come together and made her a competent house manager and what she has learned since starting her role.   Her story just goes to show that it’s never too late to find a job you love!