Some careers happen because everything goes according to plan.

Most don't.

David Jones grew up in a single-parent household, became the first person in his family to go to university, built a career in HR, started a business that was later acquired, and learned that some of the biggest career decisions come down to one thing: trusting your own judgement.

David didn't wait for someone else to tell him where his career should go. He paid attention to what gave him energy, took calculated risks, and kept choosing the path that felt right, even when it wasn't the obvious one.

We also talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, building a business with long-term value, and why freedom comes with responsibility.

Whether you're leading an L&D team, building your own business, or simply wondering what your next career move should be, I think you'll find something in this conversation.

What You'll Get From This Episode:

Why trusting your own judgement is one of the most valuable career skills you'll ever build.
What growing up in a single-parent household taught David about resilience and responsibility.
How becoming the first person in his family to attend university shaped his career.
The career decisions that led him from HR into entrepreneurship.
What it really takes to build a business that creates long-term value.
Why every entrepreneur needs clarity on what they're actually building.
Lessons on leadership, ownership, and creating a career that reflects your values instead of someone else's.

About David Jones:

David B. Jones is a Partner at Mercer specializing in innovative talent assessment, human capital, and technology. With over 35 years of experience, including 27 years in the Middle East, he has advised policymakers and organizational leaders in more than 40 countries on talent, leadership, transformation, and workforce strategy.

David combines expertise in labor market economics, psychometrics, and emerging technology to help organizations elevate their human capital. He has lectured at leading institutions, including the University of Cambridge, ESMT Berlin, and the University of Bradford.

He is the author of several books, including The Future of Assessments, the bestselling Unlocking the Paradox of Plenty, and the award-winning Game Changers, and has contributed to multiple publications on workforce policy and economics.

Connect with David Jones:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-barrie-jones

Meet your host, Candice Mitchell

Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies.

Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:

Website: https://talentcollective.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc

Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy

Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com