#61 Creating Your Own Role: Podcast Industry Leader Valentina Kaledina's Insights

Have you ever thought about your ideal role and approached the company to create it for you?

Well, that’s what Valentina Kaledina - Director of Business Development at Castbox did.

Having had a career spanning journalism and headhunting, Valentina found her true passion in podcasting, and is now a prominent figure in the industry.

She runs key markets for Castbox - a podcast platform which has revolutionised the way we discover new podcasts.

Valentina and I share some similarities, both having grown up in the former Soviet Union and having experienced running executive search businesses.

We talk about taking professional risks and challenges, like building a new career from scratch and creating your own role.

As a podcaster, I (of course) had to ask Valentina for some tips!

We talk about:

- What makes an excellent podcast
- Starting your podcasting journey
- Understanding your audience
- Monetising your podcast
- The future of the industry

What I admired most about Valentina was her entrepreneurial spirit. She is a woman who recognised her skills and interests, and wasn’t afraid to create her own role that aligned with them.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, if you’re keen to find your niche, or whether you’re inclined towards entrepreneurship, this episode is for you!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Trailer

01:52 - Who is Valentina Kaledina?

10:15 - Executive Search in Business Management

12:50 - Headhunting: Keeping Secrets, & Building Trust

16:06 - Growing Up in the Soviet Union

23:13 - What Makes an Excellent Podcast?

25:20 - Embracing the Visual Dimension in Podcasting

27:50 - How to Make Listeners Listen for Longer

29:09 - Monetising Your Podcast

35:00 - Getting Your Audience Involved

45:17 - Future of Podcasting

52:51 - Risks, Rewards, and Reflection

Valentina Kaledina:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinakaledina/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinakaledina/ 

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/ 

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