Midwife to Aulive Mentor, Ellie’s Story
Who is Aulive Mentor Ellie?
Hello again, Olivia here (Founder of Aulive). We have some exciting news, Aulive is growing and we have a new member of the team, Ellie. Ellie is our Aulive Mentor. She is a senior midwifery leader and an all round incredible human, and I now get to work with her at Aulive HQ every week. For the Aulive candidates that have already been mentored by her, your praise and appreciation has inspired me to write this post. With tht in mind, I thought it was time for her to tell you her story - and perhaps inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone, sit in the uncomfortable and grow professionally and personally.
Ellie & Olivia - The beginning
I have worked in clinical midwifery for 15 years, FIFTEEN YEARS! It sounds wild to say that as I remember my student days so, so clearly. In fact - that’s where I met Olivia, on day one as student midwives in sunny old Sussex.
I have worked in a variety of roles both in and outside the hospital but always within the NHS. Apart from a short period in Zambia, I have always worked within the UK and felt that my career was mapped out for me from my very first employment. You see, the NHS is fantastic, and I am very grateful it exists as a service, but I think anyone that works within it can see that there is limited scope for new ideas and career progression. I climbed the ropes as expected but always loved working on the labour ward. For me it is a feeling like no other and I thrived off the teamwork and adrenaline. I was lucky to become a labour ward coordinator in a very progressive unit who are open to new ideas and were always keen to better themselves. However I have always felt that a career within the NHS is almost self-limiting in that you have to fit into the pre existing opportunities and follow the already assigned objectives.
“It turns out that helping people achieve their dreams is incredibly rewarding, whether that be helping them have a baby or relocate and start a new life in Australia!”
Play Dates & Business Plotting
And then came Aulive. Olivia and I had always maintained our friendship, despite Olivia moving to live her dreams in Australia. Our time together had gone from boozy nights out, to national trust play dates with our children and I had always been in awe of her forward thinking, vision and determination. We had often talked about me working for Aulive but the timing had never been right.
At the beginning of 2024 on one of these many walks Olivia had a proposal and I agreed to start working for Aulive. I initially went with Olivia to the RCM conference and my eyes were well and truly opened. The corporate life is so incredibly empowering and I met so many healthcare professionals that were utilising their skills in so many different ways. We left with new ideas and a real buzz for what was to come. We even made our first reel!
A Mixture Of The Two
I started working part time for Aulive alongside my NHS role in a busy maternity unit. The roles require a lot of the same skills; communication, efficiency, due diligence and motivation but both are so entirely different. I was apprehensive when I started, as to whether I would have the skills required to work in a rapidly growing international business. My IT skills certainly required some work, but we hit the ground running, and I gave it my all. 6 weeks later and I am delighted that I decided to challenge myself. I feel there are endless opportunities for both my personal development and that of the business. Goal setting is no longer a dreaded appraisal but a morning I look forward to, where the world really is our oyster!
I was concerned I wouldn’t get the satisfaction I get from my clinical role and that I would feel like I had betrayed midwifery. It turns out that helping people achieve their dreams is incredibly rewarding, whether that be helping them have a baby or relocate and start a new life in Australia!
Whatever your intentions are for the new year, you should make it happen, you won’t regret it.
Love, Ellie x
Olivia Hill | Midwife and Founder Of Aulive Ltd
As the founder of Aulive, I get to witness professionals at a fundamental turning point of their life. A decision that, I know will better them and their career. I get SO excited every time an Aulive candidates decides to take the leap.
