S7 E13: Helena Vavrikova - Building a Career Across Multiple Roles Within Private Service

<p>What does it really take to <strong>build a career across multiple roles within private service</strong>?</p><p>In this episode of <strong>Recruitment Diaries: Life in Private Staffing</strong>, Philippa is joined by Helena Vavrikova, an experienced Private Chef, House Manager and Estate Manager whose career has taken her from restaurant kitchens and culinary school to working inside UHNW private households across the US.</p><p>Helena’s route through private staffing has been anything but one-dimensional. Starting out as a nanny before training at the Culinary Institute of America, she went on to build a career as a Private Chef before gradually stepping beyond the kitchen into Family Assistant, House Manager and Estate Manager roles.</p><p>Together, Philippa and Helena discuss the realities of working inside private households, learning to recognise red flags, navigating demanding environments, building trusted relationships with recruiters and why being willing to step outside your job title can completely change the direction of your career.</p><p>In this episode, Philippa and Helena cover:</p><p>👩‍🍳 <strong>Breaking into private service through nannying and private chef work</strong><br>🏡 <strong>Moving from Private Chef to House Manager and Estate Manager</strong><br>🎓 <strong>Training at the Culinary Institute of America and building credibility as a Private Chef</strong><br>🚩 <strong>The early-career red flags Helena overlooked while desperate to gain experience</strong><br>📋 <strong>Learning household operations, manuals and estate management from the ground up</strong><br>🏠 <strong>Managing multiple private residences and increasingly complex responsibilities</strong><br>🤝 <strong>Why strong relationships with private staffing recruiters can shape your career</strong><br>⚡ <strong>Thinking on your feet when things inevitably don’t go to plan in private service</strong><br>🌎 <strong>Working across different households, cultures and styles of service</strong><br>✨ <strong>Why versatility, adaptability and a willingness to learn can open unexpected doors</strong></p><p>From cooking sushi by phone light during a power outage in Jackson Hole to managing multiple residences and building a career far beyond the kitchen, Helena’s story is a brilliant example of just how varied a career in <strong>private staffing</strong> can become. </p><p>Whether you’re a <strong>Private Chef looking to move into House Management</strong>, already working wi