Expert Special: The Skill Seekers, with Niamh O’Connell - Talent Integration Director, Flutter International

In this episode, Erica chats with Niamh O’Connell, Talent Integration Director at Flutter International, about what really makes careers feel fulfilling — and what gets in the way.   They dig into what it means to take ownership of your own development, why traditional frameworks often fall short, and how to build support around people in a way that actually works.   Niamh shares how her team is rethinking career paths, supporting self-led growth, and helping people find the right fit — not just the next role. They talk honestly about what it takes to shift mindsets, give managers the right tools, and create room for people to figure out what they want.   Whether you’re working in people and culture, managing a team, or figuring out your own next step — this one’s full of grounded ideas and fresh ways to think about career growth.   ⸻   In this conversation:   •Why rigid career paths often do more harm than good •Flutter’s “Power Hours” – and why they matter •How to support better career conversations between managers and teams •The role of peer-led learning and expert “accelerators” •Building scalable, capability-based approaches to career development •How Flutter defines and supports their own “skill seekers” — and why naming them matters •Creating flexible development strategies that actually flex across teams and business units •Why environment plays a bigger role than most people realise •Helping people figure out the stage of business they thrive in •Internal mobility, mindset shifts, and learning that sticks   Connect with Niamh on Linkedin Connect with Erica on Linkedin Find out more at The Career Equation website