Episode notes
This week, we're looking at leadership. What does it truly mean to be a good leader? Maybe you're actively seeking leadership roles, or perhaps it's something you’ve never considered before. Leadership, after all, isn't just about holding a title—it’s about how we influence and inspire others in our day-to-day actions. So this week, we sit down with ACCA's own Chief Executive Helen Brand. We dig into her career journey, the benefits of finding a good mentor, and how we can all look for opportunities to lead in our working lives. This is On Your Marks. Because you’ll never know until you try.…
Podcast
On Your Marks
Are you putting off booking your first accountancy exam, or struggling to get back into studying after a failure? Wherever you’re at in your journey to qualification, On Your Marks explores techniques to help you tackle the process head on. In this series from ACCA, we’re sitting down with experts
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S3 · E4 · 19 May 2026 · 27 min
Exercise For Your Brain
When we’re stressed out or feeling tired, it can be really hard to prioritise one of the activities we always hear about being good for us – exercise! But it turns out, exercising it not only good for our bodies, but for our brains too. This week we speak to neuroscientist Professor Sandrine Thuret from Kings College London. She’s an expert in all the ways exercise can boost our brains – from growing new neurons to improving our mental health. We dig into how exercise can both enhance your learning and memory skills and help protect your brain from dementia, and why…
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S3 · E3 · 12 May 2026 · 28 min
Boosting Productivity
Whether it’s revising for exams, juggling work deadlines, or trying to stay on top of an endless to-do list, we all know how difficult it can be to stay productive without burning out. So how can we work with our brains instead of against them? This week we speak to neuroscientist and bestselling author Dean Burnett about the science of productivity. We explore the surprising benefits of stress, the truth about multitasking, and why 4am routines aren’t for everyone. We also discuss how our brains respond to pressure, why maths and numbers can sometimes feel intimidating, and…
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S3 · E2 · 5 May 2026 · 26 min
Building Healthy Habits
Whether it’s sticking to a healthy meal plan, squeezing in some studying before work, or keeping up a gym routine, we all know that some habits are easier to pick up than others. So how can we leverage that to achieve our learning goals? This week we speak to self-development expert Scott Young. He’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and he’s obsessed with finding new and better ways for us to learn and think better. We dig into tips and tricks for making habits stick, as well as why being stressed can make that so much harder, and how we can all use…
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S3 · E1 · 28 Apr 2026 · 30 min
Cracking Communication
Welcome back to On Your Marks! Whether it’s giving a presentation at work or handling a difficult conversation with your boss, we all know that having solid communication skills can help us make progress in our careers. But what techniques can we all learn to help us get our voices heard effectively? This week, we sit down Simon Hall. He’s a former-BBC TV News Correspondent with 20 years’ experience who now leads an award winning course, Compelling Communication Skills, at the University of Cambridge. We dig into the foundations of good communication, the amazing ways…
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S3 · 24 Apr 2026 · 1 min
On Your Marks: Season 3 is coming...
We are delighted to announce that On Your Marks is back for Season 3! From tackling tech addiction to promoting productivity, we’re back with more tips and tricks to help us all feel our best while dealing with life's challenges. And to kick us off we’re starting with something a lot of us struggle with: cracking compelling communication. Wherever you’re at in your journey towards qualification, On Your Marks is here to help you tackle the process head on. This is On Your Marks. Because you’ll never know until you try. Hit follow now so you never miss an episode, and…
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S2 · E5 · 19 Nov 2024 · 32 min
Connecting careers
Choosing your career path can feel like a huge decision and lead to a lot of anxious thoughts. What if you don't enjoy the work as much as you hoped, or you find the culture at your new job doesn't suit you? Is it okay to switch industries, or will that mean you don't progress? There can be so many choices and expectations that it can be easy to feel pressured. This week on On Your Marks, we sit down with career coach Helen Tupper. She's the author of 'Squiggly Careers' and founder and CEO of Amazing If, an organisation that helps everyone feel more satisfied with their working lives. We dig…
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S2 · E4 · 12 Nov 2024 · 21 min
Navigating parenthood
We all know that studying for ACCA exams can be a real challenge, and when you add caregiving responsibilities like parenting into the mix it can feel like a never-ending juggling act. From caring for little ones to managing household responsibilities, it can be a struggle to balance family life with big career goals. So this week on On Your Marks, we sit down with Finance Business Manager Debbie Oluyemi. She has first-hand experience of facing studying for her ACCA qualification and becoming a new parent for the first time. We dig into some of the key challenges she dealt with and what…
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S2 · E3 · 5 Nov 2024 · 32 min
Solving Sleep
Tossing and turning, racing thoughts of revision and exams... most of us know what it feels like to struggle with our sleep when we're preparing for a big challenge. And it can be tempting to sacrifice sleep when we're under time pressure, even though we know it's good for us. It's a real catch 22. This week, we sit down with Professor Russell Foster from the University of Oxford. He's been studying sleep for decades, so together we dig into what's happening in our brains when we sleep, why it's so important for our health and wellbeing, and how we can prioritise our sleep to help us cope…
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S2 · E2 · 29 Oct 2024 · 30 min
Brain-nurturing Nutrition
Whether it's feeling sluggish after a heavy meal or dealing with a sudden dip in energy during a busy workday, we all know that food can influence how we feel. But, it turns out that what we eat can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and the latest research shows that our gut has an important role to play. This week, we sit down with nutritionist Dr Emily Prpa to explore the science of the gut-brain axis and the microbiome. We uncover the 5 pillars of gut health, and discuss strategies for adding gut-friendly ingredients to our meals - even during times of stress. This is On…
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S2 · E1 · 22 Oct 2024 · 24 min
Unpacking Anxiety
This week, we’re looking at anxiety. Whether its last-minute jitters before an exam or a sense of panic when thinking about revision, we all know what it's like to feel anxious. But, what actually is anxiety? Is there any purpose to experiencing it, and how can we manage our fears so they don't get in the way of achieving our goals? This week, we sit down with therapist and author Joshua Fletcher, also known online as Anxiety Josh. We dig into what's happening in the brain when we're feeling anxious, and techniques and strategies we can all use to help us feel more grounded when it's all…
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