Episode Guest

Sam Schlimper is Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise, where she works with global organisations to redesign work, unlock human potential, and build future-ready talent strategies. With deep experience across recruitment, financial services, and advisory, Sam is passionate about creating meaningful work that energises people and organisations.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:23 What gives you energy and what drains it at work

1:17 Sam’s duvet flip and why self-reflection matters

2:09 First job lessons and learning what you don’t want to do

3:04 Why trying things is essential early in your career

3:39 How Sam fell into recruitment and talent without a plan

4:12 Confidence, training, and learning on the job

4:46 Building confidence in a hybrid and remote world

5:47 Why job descriptions don’t reflect how work really happens

6:33 Do remote workers really miss out on promotions?

7:39 How to know who you are (and why it’s a lifelong job)

8:16 Being good at something that slowly drains you

9:10 Why fun, energy, and people keep you in a job

10:05 What makes a great recruiter today

11:40 How people really get jobs beyond their CV

12:44 Understanding human potential at its core

14:13 Simple ways to identify your own potential

15:36 Are you stuck in the ‘frozen middle’?

16:29 What it feels like when work slowly erodes you

17:36 Mucky ducks and how bad culture spreads

18:57 What to do if you are the mucky duck

20:04 Knowing when it’s time to leave an environment

22:13 Why human connection matters more than ever

23:14 AI, young people, and the future of work

24:45 Why early careers need new, non-traditional routes

25:46 The beehive analogy and problem-solving talent

26:47 Why AI should be treated like a colleague, not a tool

28:37 The danger of cognitively offloading your thinking

30:08 How to work with AI without losing your edge

32:43 Psychological safety and AI adoption at work

35:40 Confidence, power, and who embraces AI first

38:38 Lessons from Sam’s time at Barclays

40:33 What Randstad Enterprise does and why Sam loves her work

43:49 The red folder quick-fire questions

48:24 Sam’s duvet flip and what really gets her out of bed

Episode Partners

📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Samantha Schlimper, Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise: How People Really Get Jobs (It’s Not Your CV)

My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons