In this episode of Your Career Journey, Emma Graham chats with Vanessa Lyons, CEO of ThinkNewsBrands. We talk about the bold, intentional steps that took her from marketing to the C-suite, and the mindset shifts and personal battles (like cancer) that helped her redefine success along the way.

🎯 Whether you're a marketer ready to grow, a creative feeling stuck, or a corporate leader exploring your next move, this conversation offers deep, real-world career insights you won’t find anywhere else.

💡 Expect to Learn:

🔹 How to shift from Marketing into Executive and CEO roles

🔹 Why international experience matters (China, NZ, USA)

🔹 Lessons from redundancy, industry changes, and leading small businesses

🔹 The value of commercial thinking for creative professionals

🔹 Resilience through personal adversity (cancer, burnout, reinvention)

🔹 What meaningful work looks like in 2025

🔹 Why defining success on your own terms is key

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Career Origins

00:27 – Graduate Role at Philips

02:27 – International Experience in China

03:55 – Marketing Leadership in New Zealand

07:05 – Telstra & Redundancy

08:41 – Diverse Industry Transitions

12:21 – Small Business Leadership Lessons

14:52 – Transitioning to CEO Roles

23:03 – What Leadership Really Involves

24:02 – Managing Risk & Mental Load

25:28 – Creating Space to Think

26:23 – Career Reflection After Cancer

33:08 – From Purpose to Meaning

40:10 – What Success Means to You

41:37 – Final Advice for Ambitious Marketers

If you'd like to connect with Vanessa:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalyons1/

Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:

💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you
💡 Confidently communicate your value
💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network
💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move
💡 Navigate the job market effectively
💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint

🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:
Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/

🎁 Free Resources:
📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice
📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide

📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:
https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call