Life in Private Staffing

What does it really take to build a career as a traditional Butler at the highest levels of luxury hospitality and private service?In this episode of Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing, Philippa is joined by Tony Jazz, an experienced Butler whose career has taken him through some of London’s most prestigious five-star hotels, including The Connaught, Claridge’s and The Savoy, before moving further into private service, events and consultancy. Tony’s career has been built on hard work, adaptability and a willingness to step into situations he had never experienced before. From arriving at the office at 6am to master a completely unfamiliar role, to luxury procurement, managing Butler teams and creating memorable experiences for high-profile guests, his story is a brilliant example of where saying yes to opportunities can take you. Together, Philippa and Tony discuss the evolution of traditional Butlering, moving between five-star hotels and private service, and why formal training can teach you the fundamentals — but experience, intuition and understanding your Principal are what truly make an exceptional Butler. In this episode, Philippa and Tony cover:🏨 Building a career through some of London’s leading five-star hotels🎩 Traditional Butlering and the standards behind exceptional service📈 Stepping into unfamiliar roles and proving yourself through hard work🥂 Luxury procurement, private dining and high-level guest experiences👥 Progressing into Senior Butler roles and managing Butler teams🏡 Moving from luxury hotels into private households and private service🎓 Butler academies vs learning through real-world hospitality experience💭 Imposter syndrome, confidence and learning to think on your feet🤝 Why every Principal requires a completely different style of service✨ The importance of knowing when to be present — and when to step backWhether you’re an aspiring Butler, already working within UHNW private households, considering a move from luxury hospitality into private service, or simply fascinated by the traditions and standards behind exceptional Butlering, this episode offers a brilliant insight into a career built over decades at the highest level.Resources & Links🌐 Visit: www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📱 Follow us on Instagram: @silverswanrecruitment & @silverswanpodcast⭕ Join the Silver Swan Inner Circle: innercircle.silverswanrecruitment.com

What does it really take to build a career as a Butler at the very highest level of private service?In this episode of Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing, Philippa is joined by Andrii Oliinyk, an experienced Head Butler whose career has taken him from an engineering degree and supermarket job to superyachts, a Royal residence in the Middle East and a UHNW private household in London.Andrii's route into private service was anything but traditional. Rather than starting at a prestigious Butler Academy, he learned on the job, continually upskilled and built an international career through hands-on experience.Together, Philippa and Andrii discuss the realities of working at the highest levels of private service, why no two households are ever the same, adapting between Royal and UHNW environments, and why even the most experienced Butlers never stop learning.In this episode, Philippa and Andrii cover:✨ Breaking into private service without the traditional Butler Academy route🛥️ Starting a career in superyachts and learning luxury service from the ground up👑 Five years working inside a Royal residence in the Middle East🌍 Moving from Middle Eastern Royal service to a UHNW private household in London🏡 Why every private household has completely different standards and expectations🍽️ Silver service, VVIP standards and training other Butlers🤝 Leadership, teamwork and building exceptional private household teams💡 Why adaptability and continuous learning are essential for a successful Butler careerWhether you're an aspiring Butler, House Manager, Estate Manager, Private PA, or already working within UHNW private households, this episode offers a fascinating insight into what it really takes to build a career at the highest level of private service.Resources & Links🌐 Visit: www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📱 Follow us on Instagram: @silverswanrecruitment & @silverswanpodcast💬 Join one of our global private staffing communities: [email protected]

What if leaving private staffing was the very thing that made you better at it?In this episode of Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing, Philippa is joined by Patricia Levinson, a House Manager and Executive Assistant based in Manhattan, whose career has taken anything but a traditional path. From owning and running a hotel in Costa Rica to managing private properties, raising a family, working in financial services and eventually returning to private service, Patricia shares how every stage of her journey has shaped the professional she is today.Together, Philippa and Patricia discuss why transferable skills matter, the realities of stepping away from the industry, and how perseverance helped Patricia secure the role she'd always hoped for.In this episode, Philippa and Patricia cover:✨ Breaking into private staffing unexpectedly🏡 Running a hotel and managing luxury private properties in Costa Rica👨‍👩‍👧 Taking a career break to raise a family💼 Returning to private service after years outside the industry📈 Why transferable skills create stronger House Managers and Executive Assistants🤝 Leadership, team management and seeing the bigger picture🌍 Building a career across Costa Rica, Connecticut and New York💡 Why perseverance is one of the most valuable qualities in private staffingWhether you're an aspiring House Manager, Estate Manager, Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant, or already working within UHNW private households, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections and career inspiration.Resources & Links🌐 Visit: www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📱 Follow us on Instagram: @silverswanrecruitment & @silverswanpodcast💬 Join one of our global private staffing communities: [email protected]

What does it really take to build a successful career as a Private PA?In this episode of Life in Private Staffing, Philippa is joined by experienced Private PA Will Graham, who shares his journey through the world of private households, celebrity support, freelancing and lifestyle management.Having worked with high-profile principals across a variety of sectors, Will offers a fascinating insight into the realities of working behind the scenes for UHNW individuals, navigating discretion, building trust and creating long-lasting professional relationships.Together, Philippa and Will discuss how the role of a Private PA has evolved, the opportunities available within private staffing today, and the skills that truly set exceptional candidates apart.In this episode, Philippa and Will cover:✨ How Will landed his first Private PA role🎭 Working with celebrity and high-profile principals🤝 Building trust and maintaining discretion💼 Freelance vs permanent Private PA opportunities🧠 Why emotional intelligence is a superpower in private staffing📱 Technology, AI and the future of private support roles🌍 Relocating outside London and building a flexible career👔 Being a male PA in a traditionally female-dominated industry🏡 The realities of supporting UHNW households and individualsThis episode is packed with practical advice, career insights and honest reflections for anyone considering a career in private staffing, personal assistance or lifestyle management.Resources & Links:🔗 Visit www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Life in Private Staffing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📱 Follow us on Instagram: @silverswanrecruitment & @silverswanpodcast💬 Interested in joining one of our global private staffing communities? Email [email protected]

What does it really take to manage luxury service at the very highest level?In this episode of Life in Private Staffing, Philippa is joined by hospitality and estate management expert Thibaut Barbé, whose incredible 30-year career has taken him from luxury cruise ships to the world’s largest superyachts, royal palaces in the Middle East and large-scale UHNW estates across the globe. 🌍✨Thibaut shares how he built an international career in private service, eventually managing a 25,000sqm royal palace and leading teams of more than 300 staff across multiple departments and nationalities.Together, Philippa and Thibaut discuss the realities of managing world-class hospitality operations behind the scenes — from recruitment, training and leadership to service standards, operations and building high-performing teams within ultra-high-net-worth environments.They also dive into one of the biggest mistakes managers make in luxury hospitality and private service: micromanagement.In this episode, Philippa and Thibaut cover:⚓️ Working aboard luxury cruise ships and superyachts🛥️ Life onboard one of the world’s largest superyachts🏛️ Managing royal palaces and UHNW estates in the Middle East👥 Leading and recruiting teams of 300+ staff✨ Building exceptional luxury service standards🌍 Working across multiple countries and cultures📈 Why empowering staff creates stronger operations🏡 The realities of estate management and private household leadership💼 Transitioning between yachting, hospitality and UHNW environmentsThis episode offers a fascinating insight into the people, leadership and operations behind some of the world’s most exclusive private environments.Resources & Links:🔗 Visit www.silverswanrecruitment.com🎧 Follow Life in Private Staffing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📱 Follow us on Instagram: @silverswanrecruitment & @silverswanpodcast💬 Interested in joining one of our global private staffing communities? Email [email protected]