Kevin Currell - video transcript

Introduction - Careers Network Mentoring Scheme

I'm Kevin Currell I'm a graduate of Birmingham University graduating in 2006 with a PhD in Sports Science. Following that started a career in applied sports science and working primarily within the Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK

My first job was as an intern in the English Institute of Sport as performance nutritionist and following that stayed in the organisation supporting British triathlon, British canoeing, speed skating and British athletics.

For over 10 years working with athletes across three summer Olympic Games, two winter Olympic Games and of course the highlight could only always be London 2012.

Following that particularly from the Rio Olympics moved into sports leadership and I'm currently the director of science and technical development at the English Institute of Sport where I sit as part of the senior leadership team of the organisation and I also have the portfolio to look after the science services so from biomechanics right through to psychology and how we develop future practitioners for the Olympic and Paralympic system.

Mentoring Support - Careers Network Mentoring Scheme

Hi I'm Kevin, to share some thoughts maybe how I could help you as a mentor. I think it's really important to be able to give back. I've been really fortunate since leaving Birmingham to have an incredible career and certainly the three years of doing my PhD were imperative to the some form of success I've had since think I'll be really happy to come and help people and mentor people.

Even back when I was doing my PhD I always enjoyed working with the undergrads while they were doing the projects helping me out with my research and enjoyed seeing them grow and then throughout my career I've always had mentors.

Whether it be my PhD supervisor or then into applied practice and now into sports leadership so I've always had mentors and therefore I want to give that back. I've always tried to do that throughout my career and have significant experience of mentoring and coaching individuals from the early parts of their career right the way through.

I've had some formal coaching training with a number of courses including a world-class mentoring course at Ashridge Business School to feel in a good position to help others, mentor to and help you understand where you want to go and how you can grow and then how you can sort of develop your whole self as well.

Top Tip for Industry - Careers Network Mentoring Scheme

Hi I'm Kevin and these are my three top tips to work in applied sports science. 

The first is to make sure that you have a really good technical understanding of whatever your specialism is in sports science and understand the first principles of of your chosen profession. 

The second tip would be to get experience working with people. Working in applied sports sciences is very different to research it's very people focused and quite often the really great practitioners are the ones who not only understand what they want to do but they really concentrate on how they want to go about it how they influence a coach an athlete. So really get experience of working with people and I think whatever stage of your career is almost any role or experience that gets that contact of dealing with people is so important. 

The third is actually around mentoring it's one of the most impactful things I've had in my career. I've had the pleasure of a number of people who have taken me under their wing and mentored me in various stages and even now always trying to have a mentor in place. 

So my three top tips make sure you really understand the first principles and get experience of working with people and if you get the opportunity be mentored by somebody.

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