Wednesdays with James

07/08/2026

For years I couldn't quite make sense of a Japanese idea: hataraku (the work that pays) and ikigai (the work that feeds your soul).

When I started in the NHS, they felt like one and the same. Looking after patients gave me both. But as I moved up, they started to feel like two different things.

I found my ikigai again in the roadshows I ran across five Southwest trusts with two amazing colleagues, Mark Doblas and helping staff navigate their own journeys. And it turned out the ripple went further than I ever expected, all the way to patients.

When that role came to an end, I went looking for that same feeling again. Couldn't find it anywhere. So I built it myself, and that's how the 90 Day Career Challenge through Wednesdays with James came to be.

If you can't find it, build it. 💛

Read the full story here 👇

Hataraku and Ikigai: Why I Stopped Trying to Make Them the Same ThingFor years I had a quiet argument with a Japanese concept.Hataraku and ikigai. One is the work that puts food on the table, the other is the work that feeds your soul. On paper the idea is that they intersect, that there's a sweet s...

03/08/2026

🌍✨ Your greatest superpower is Resilience. 💪

Think about it: you packed your entire life into a 23kg suitcase and left home. A new country. A new community. A new workplace. You didn't know a single person.

And yet, you built yourself, your future, and your home all over again, from zero.

That takes a kind of strength that doesn't show up on a CV, but it should. It's the reason you can walk into any room, any interview, any challenge, and know you've already done the hardest part.

So this Monday, remember: resilience isn't just something you have. It's your unique selling point.

👉 Tag someone who needs this reminder today.

31/07/2026

🚀 We Started. The Founder Cohort is Officially Underway!

What if the next 90 days could completely change the direction of your nursing career?

This week, we welcomed the Founder Cohort of the 90 Day Career Ready Challenge by Wednesdays with James, and I couldn’t be more excited for the journey ahead.

For the next 12 Wednesdays, this amazing group of internationally educated nurses will be investing in themselves through:
✅ Leadership development
✅ Career coaching
✅ Accountability partnerships
✅ Practical NHS career strategies
✅ A supportive community that grows together

A huge thank you to our very first guest speaker, Mark Doblas, who inspired the cohort with his honest story of resilience, growth, and career progression in the NHS. He reminded us that success isn’t about luck. It’s about preparation, consistency, and staying true to your values.

This is exactly why Wednesdays with James exists:
To help internationally educated nurses build confidence, unlock their potential, and accelerate their careers.

The energy, openness, and willingness to learn from this Founder Cohort tells me something special is happening.

💙 This is only Week 1.
Imagine where they’ll be in 90 days.

👇 I’d love to hear from you:
If you could invest 90 days in one area of your career, what would you focus on?

Share your answer in the comments.

And if you’re an internationally educated nurse who wants to join the next cohort, comment “READY” or send me a message. I’d love to tell you more.

06/07/2026

Leadership is not about position, it’s about creating opportunities for others to thrive.

Today, I had the privilege of joining colleagues from across the Southwest at the Southwest BME Strategic Advisory Group, where we reflected on our progress in delivering the Ethnic Minority Action Plan and, more importantly, listened to one another’s stories, challenges, and hopes for the future.

What struck me most wasn’t just the presentations, it was the shared commitment to making the NHS a place where everyone feels they belong.

There were so many inspiring examples:
✨ Intentional leadership supported by executive teams.
✨ Inclusive recruitment that opens doors for talented colleagues.
✨ Grassroots initiatives proving that one person’s courage can inspire organisational change.

One reflection stayed with me throughout the day.

Several years ago, I attended a leadership programme as a participant. Today, I have the privilege of helping design and deliver leadership workshops that support internationally educated colleagues across different NHS organisations.

That moment reminded me that when someone believes in you, you eventually become someone who believes in others.

I also believe we are overlooking one of our greatest assets our internationally educated nurses. Every day, they coach, mentor, and support colleagues, often without recognition or formal training. Imagine the impact if we intentionally invested in developing them as coaches, mentors, and leaders. The ripple effect would transform teams, organisations, and patient care.

One of my favourite quotes from St. Augustine says:

“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

For me, leadership is about service. It is about using our influence to open doors, amplify voices, and create spaces where others can grow with confidence.

Real change doesn’t begin in boardrooms.

It begins with conversations.
It grows through courage.
It succeeds when ordinary people choose to serve others.

Thank you to everyone who continues to inspire me, challenge me, and remind me why leadership matters.

Who has invested in your growth, and how are you paying that forward for someone else?

I’d love to hear your story.

03/06/2026

🚨 COMING SOON — The 90 Day Challenge is almost here! 🚨

Right now, we're running an exclusive invite-only pilot with our Founder Cohort who are starting soon. 🙌

But here's the thing… the waitlist is already building, and I don't want YOU to miss out.

📌 Here's what the 90 Day Challenge includes:

✅ Live Zoom Coaching Calls — real-time sessions with James every week
✅ Weekly Workshop Guide — step-by-step resources to implement fast
✅ Personal Career Strategy — a roadmap tailored to YOUR goals
✅ Founder Community Access — an exclusive circle of driven professionals

💡 In just 90 days, you'll walk away with:
→ A compelling personal brand that gets you noticed
→ Confidence to interview, negotiate & own your story
→ A clear 90-day action plan you can measure
→ Tools to navigate career transitions with ease

⏳ Only 10 spots available when we open to the public.

👉 Want in? Two ways to join the waitlist:
📧 Email me: [email protected]
💬 Or simply comment READY below and I'll add you!

Don't wait — spots will go fast! 🔥

31/05/2026

🏥 Internationally trained NHS nurse? Ready for your next promotion — but not sure how to get there?

Wednesdays with James is your dedicated career navigation service, designed specifically for internationally trained NHS nurses who are ready to step up.

Here's how James can help you:
✅ Stand out in NHS job applications
✅ Nail your promotion interviews
✅ Translate your international leadership experience for UK panels
✅ Build a clear 90-day career strategy

You've already done the hard part — moving to a new country and thriving. Now let's get you the career recognition you deserve.

📲 Book your session now: www.wednesdayswithjames.com
📧 Get in touch: [email protected]

Explore NHS promotion as an internationally trained nurse t with Wednesdays with James for tailored solutions.

29/05/2026

Our medical services group matron, James Eslayer, has recently taken to the global stage at the UK Global Health Summit in London, joining leaders from across the world to shape the future of healthcare. And if you know James, you’ll know he brought both passion and perspective with him!

Representing the trust alongside his roles with the Philippine Nurses Association UK and the Filipino Senior Nurses Alliance UK, James helped shine a spotlight on the incredible contribution of internationally educated colleagues, taking part in powerful conversations with health ministers and global leaders, and sharing insights from the unique perspectives held by internationally trained colleagues.

Reflecting on the event, James shared how inspiring it was to see the growing recognition of internationally educated professionals: “It showed a real shift in how internationally educated colleagues are being seen, not just as contributors to the NHS, but as people who hold unique insight into global healthcare.”

From Taunton to the world stage, we think that’s pretty amazing 💙 Well done, James!

30/03/2026

Cambridge Career Navigation Event 🎓✨

Still reflecting on this incredible space filled with purpose, passion, and possibility. Being surrounded by individuals committed to growth, impact, and lifting others was truly inspiring.

I was amazed by the brilliance, tenacity, and excellence of the speakers — each one bringing not just knowledge, but lived experience and a deep sense of responsibility to give back. I went home energised by their dedication, not only within their organisations but in the work they continue to do beyond.

A special mention to Margaret — your heart for supporting initiatives back home that create real, lasting change for our Filipino community is powerful and deeply inspiring 🇵🇭

Spaces like this remind us why we do what we do — to grow, to serve, and to create pathways for others.

This events really drives our spirits.

FilipinoCommunity DiasporaImpact Networking Inspiration LeadershipDevelopment WednesdaysWithJames PurposeDriven Mentorship CareerGrowth

27/03/2026

Attended the Pathways of Purpose - a PNAUK Career Navigation Event with Ate Jen sharing the history of PH Nurses in the UK at Trinity Hall, Cambridge

21/03/2026

One key takeaway stood out:

👉 Our networks are not just professional circles—they are the engines of change.

Last Tuesday, 17th March, I had the privilege of attending the Global Health Summit—an event grounded in the theme of collaboration, co-production, and strengthening health systems through global partnerships.It was a powerful gathering, but what made it particularly meaningful was that it was a d...