Talk with The Team: Zara Janjua, 'Funny Business'

 

Online Zoom event

January 31, 10am

Zara Janjua, broadcasting multi-hypenate

The Humour Superpower: Be smart, be silly, take control of your career.

Zara Janjua wasn’t just a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, she was a rhombicosidodecahedron – that’s a very complex geometrical shape don’t you know.

After seeing the pointy finger of firing a shocking 21 times, she decided to go it alone.

Now an award winning multi-hyphenate she has developed 25 income streams, segwaying a range of industries in diverse and exciting roles: from journalism, TV production, filmmaking, presenting, stand-up comedy, writing and delivering media training to companies like Dyson to sitting on the Equality Council for NatWest.

Zara has worked for BAFTA, NTA and RTS award-winning shows like This Morning on ITV and won a coveted spot in the BBC Comedy Writersroom, before being launched as a comedy writer at BAFTA.

She writes for the Guardian and has a weekly column in The Sun newspaper. She is a regular contributor to BBC and ITV programs where she offers commentary and opinion.

Every year she undertakes a philanthropic filming project, dedicating her skills and time to causes that align with her values.

From an award-winning documentary in Nepal about marginalised and disabled women to her most recent adventure, filmmaking on a 7 day trek to conquer the highest freestanding mountain in the world – Kilimanjaro.

In 40 years the majority of the workforce will have moved from traditional 9-5s, developing portfolio careers to align with their skills, dreams and values.

Zara Janjua

We want to do something that makes our heart sing!

In this online ‘Talk with The Team’, Zara will talk to us about the vital role humour and storytelling play within our daily working lives.

The Great Resignation was just one indication that people are unhappier in work than ever.

Corporate no longer cuts the mustard. Now we want flexible working, four day weeks, we want to be fulfilled – hell, we want to do something that makes us happy! YOLO.

In 40 years the majority of the workforce will have moved from traditional 9-5s, developing portfolio careers to align with their skills, dreams and values.

But why wait?

Scottish Pakistani, Zara was never part of the pack – was it lone wolf syndrome or imposter syndrome that was responsible for a succession of failed careers?

She was sacked an eyewatering 21 times.

From throwing pints over bosses, stealing a horse (and a pair of jodhpurs two sizes too small) for an interview with Zara Phillips, to Emma Thompson asking to grab her boob on a PIA flight in the 70s – her life and career has been driven by comedy and storytelling.

It started with a business degree and took a squiggly direction.

Now her life is filled with variety, contrast and most importantly – she is her own boss (you can’t sack yourself, can you?).

One of Zara’s current projects is Noising Up which is available on BBC Sounds. The first episode is out tomorrow, with a weekly installment available until the end of February.

Don’t miss this Talk with The Team, it’ll be a hoot!

Register for this online Zoom event: January 31, 10am