Welcome to Working Lives, where CareerActually shares interesting, inspiring, and sometimes surprising career stories. Working Lives is a series of specially-commissioned career stories, offering our readers insights into the surprising challenges and opportunities which can shape a career. The Working Lives series is written by journalist and CareerActually contributor Emily Brown.

David Finlay

For the first of our series, we shine the spotlight on David Finlay, a British PE teacher turned big shot banker. Throughout his career, David has sought a balance between his work, and his roles as a husband and father. His story speaks to the value of being proactive, seizing opportunities, and looking at problems in terms of their potential. Read more …

Katrina McKinnon

Our second profile in the Working Lives series focuses on Katrina McKinnon, founder of Motive Media, McKinnon Group and Small Revolution. With resilience and an enterprising outlook, Katrina has been making her way in technology and eCommerce since those industries first took off in Australia, some 20 years ago. Read more …

 Karen Carey

For the third profile of the Working Lives series, Career Actually tells the inspiring career story of  music education innovator Karen Carey. A country girl who won a place at Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music (COM), Karen went on to hold the position of Director of Music at MLC School, Burwood, for 24 years. She was the focus of Bob Connolly’s much-lauded documentary film Mrs Carey’s Concert.With unfaltering strength of will, determination, and passion, Karen has given thousands of students the privilege of a musical education. Read more …