Big Careers, Small Children
Big Careers Small Children helps ambitious parents progress careers they love whilst being present with their children. Through honest and informal conversation, senior leaders divulge what they have learnt on their own journey of combining big careers with young children to our host Verena Hefti MBE. Expect lots of aha moments, inspiration, fresh ideas, and practical support, so you can move forward in your career in a way that works for you and your family.This podcast is hosted by our social enterprise Leaders Plus. We believe that no parent should have to choose between progressing the career they love...
S15 E210 · Thu, April 10, 2025
Louise Donaghey FRAeS - How to Lead with Strength and Vulnerability as a Breadwinner Parent
In this inspiring episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Louise Donaghey FRAeS , Group Head of Engines at International Airlines Group GBS , who will soon be one of Leaders Plus’ Senior Leader Mentors, about her remarkable career in aviation, leadership in male-dominated environments, and her experience of being the sole breadwinner in her family for nearly two decades. Louise shares candidly about managing the pressure of high-stakes roles while raising two children, how she learned to embrace vulnerability as a strength, and what it really takes to stay present as a parent when the stakes at work are high. Her story is full of honesty, practical wisdom, and powerful reframing of success, motherhood, and leadership. Together, they explore: ✔️ What it means to lead as the sole breadwinner in a family ✔️ Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness ✔️ How to deal with judgement from others (especially fellow parents) ✔️ Practical strategies to be present with your children while succeeding at work ✔️ How to shut out guilt and define success on your own terms ✔️ Why ambition can grow because of parenting, not in spite of it ✔️ The value of scaring yourself with roles that stretch you What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to balance career ambition and caring responsibilities Why perfection is a myth and authenticity matters more How to handle judgment and stay confident in your choices Strategies for setting boundaries and managing your energy The mindset shift needed to thrive as a working parent and leader Show Notes: Connect with Louise Donaghey on LinkedIn Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowshi
S15 E209 · Thu, April 03, 2025
{CEO Series} Dr Nara Daubeney - How To Let Go of Guilt and Redefine Success as a Working Parent
In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dr Nara Daubeney , CEO & Co-Founder of Phaim Pharma and NHS Surgeon . Nara is also a mum of four. She shares her deeply honest and inspiring reflections on what it takes to build a big career and raise a thriving family without sacrificing either. From designing Easter hats at 5am to leading a clinical-stage biotech company, Nara brings warmth, clarity, and wit to a conversation about redefining ambition, letting go of guilt, and building systems that work for your life, not against it. Together, they explore: ✔️ Why guilt is baked into motherhood and how to release it ✔️ How to balance ambition with presence during different parenting phases ✔️ Why support systems are essential (and how to build your own, even without nearby family) ✔️ What makes someone ready to be a CEO ✔️ How leadership and parenting challenges mirror each other ✔️ What teens really need from you, and how that shapes career decisions ✔️ Why perfection isn’t the goal, and how embracing imperfection is freeing What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to redefine success on your own terms Why motherhood and leadership are not in conflict The mindset shift that helps you build a sustainable career How to set boundaries and run your life like a system The role of authenticity, values, and reflection in leadership Show Notes: Connect with Nara Daubeney on LinkedIn Learn more about Phain Pharma: www.phaim.co.uk Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leaders
S15 E208 · Thu, March 27, 2025
Nadia Bunyan MCIPD & Tatiana Pignon - How to Successfully Implement a 4-Day Week Without Sacrificing Impact
In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Nadia Bunyan MCIPD , Director of People and Impact at Global Witness, and Tatiana Pignon , Associate Director at Autonomy. They discuss how to implement a 4-day working week in a way that supports both staff wellbeing and organisational performance. Nadia shares lessons from leading a successful 4-day week pilot at Global Witness, while Tatiana brings insights from supporting over 100 organisations through similar transitions. Together, they explore: ✔️ What organisations get wrong when moving to a shorter week ✔️ How to build trust and ensure leadership models healthy behaviours ✔️ Why co-creating the model with staff matters ✔️ How a shorter week supports working parents ✔️ What to consider when navigating global teams, peak periods, and emergencies ✔️ The mindset shift needed to move away from presenteeism ✔️ Practical steps for organisations starting their 4-day week journey Whether you're a senior leader or a working parent curious about flexible working, this episode offers practical advice and real-world experience to inspire change. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How to move to a 4-day week without compromising impact ✔️ Why wellbeing and performance can go hand-in-hand ✔️ The role of culture, leadership, and trust in making it work ✔️ How flexible working can support inclusion and equity Show Notes: Learn more about Global Witness: globalwitness.org Learn more about Autonomy: autonomy.work Connect with Nadia Bunyan on LinkedIn Connect with Tatiana Pignon on LinkedIn Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our <a h
S15 E207 · Thu, March 20, 2025
Jo Taylor & John Pyle - International Careers & Parenthood: How to Thrive When Pursuing a Global Career and Raising a Family
Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful international career while raising young children - without family support nearby? In the latest episode of Big Careers, Small Children, Verena Hefti MBE chats with our first-ever father-daughter duo: Life Sciences Consultant Jo Taylor, who currently resides in Switzerland, and her father, John Pyle, who spent 35 years in the oil industry. Both John and Jo have pursued global careers in senior leadership roles while navigating the challenges of parenting in different countries. Jo also brings a unique perspective as both a parent and a child who grew up moving across countries, offering insight into how the experience has evolved across generations. They share their personal experiences, the realities of raising a family abroad, and the strategies that helped them balance professional growth with family life. If you’re considering working internationally or are already managing career and parenting across borders, this episode offers invaluable insights, practical advice, and a challenge to the common assumptions about what’s possible. Together They Explore: How to handle worries or guilt about the impact of travelling with work or moving abroad on your children. Simple ways to signal to employers you're ready for a global role. How working internationally can make you a stronger, more flexible and resilient leader. The challenges and adjustments of relocating as a family, including the impact on the travelling partner. Why an international career can be life-changing and deeply fulfilling. What You'll Learn in this Episode: How to Build a Global Career as a Parent – Insights on pursuing senior leadership roles internationally while raising young children, including how to signal interest to your employer. Strategies for Thriving Without Family Support – Practical advice on managing childcare, work-life balance, and building a support network abroad. Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability – How to navigate cultural differences, career transitions, and unexpected challenges while raising a family overseas. Practical Tips for Parents Considering an International Move – Key factors to consider before relocating, from schooling to workplace culture and family dynamics, including the impact on your children and partner. 5-Minute Actions to Start Your International Career Journey – Practical, quick steps you can take today to explore opportunities and prepare for a global career move. Show Notes: Connect with Jo Taylor on LinkedIn . Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore addition
S15 E206 · Thu, March 13, 2025
Dan Reed - The Power of Authenticity And How Parenthood Can Strengthen Leadership
In our first Series 15 episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dan Reed, Director, Head of Digital at KPMG UK , about why being a parent doesn’t have to hold back your career, and how embracing authenticity at work can actually propel you forward. Dan shares his journey of juggling career progression with fatherhood, how therapy helped him overcome guilt and set boundaries, and why he refuses to hide his parenting role in the workplace. He also discusses why being open about family life has strengthened his leadership and career confidence, rather than limiting opportunities. Together, they explore: Why working parents shouldn’t have to choose between career success and family. The importance of setting work-life boundaries before burnout hits. How openly integrating parenthood into your professional identity can lead to leadership opportunities. The impact of finding “your tribe” and why mentoring matters. Why authenticity builds career confidence and can lead to promotions. Whether you’re navigating career growth, dealing with guilt, or looking for practical ways to set work-life boundaries, this episode is packed with honesty, inspiration, and actionable advice. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How to be authentic at work without fear of judgment. ✔️ Why setting work-life boundaries early prevents burnout. ✔️ How being open about parenthood can create leadership opportunities. ✔️ The role of therapy, communication, and mentorship in career success. ✔️ How to build a career that fits your life, and not the other way around. Show Notes: Connect with Dan Reed on LinkedIn Follow Dan on TikTok – Career Dad on TikTok (42,000+ followers) Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our <a href="https://www.leadersplus
S14 E205 · Thu, March 06, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Steph Hind - How to Balance Leadership, Parenting, and Wellbeing Without Sacrifice
In this episode of the C-Suite Series of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Steph Hind , Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Heka, an employee wellbeing platform. Steph shares her journey of scaling a business while raising two young children, the lessons she learned from not taking maternity leave with her first child, and how she ultimately restructured her leadership style to prioritise wellbeing, family, and sustainable success. Together, they discuss: Why burnout isn’t a badge of honour and how to avoid it. The challenges of running a company with your partner and setting boundaries. Why many women founders feel pressured to skip maternity leave, and how this must change. How parenthood can make you a more decisive and efficient leader. The practical steps leaders can take to switch off and be fully present with their families. This insightful and honest conversation is for anyone navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, and family life without wanting to sacrifice wellbeing in the process. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How to set boundaries at work and at home - without guilt. ✔️ Why taking breaks makes you a better leader and business owner. ✔️ The power of switching off: Why Steph removed work apps from her phone. ✔️ How to manage the pressures of leadership while prioritising family. ✔️ Why parenthood can be an advantage in business and not a barrier. ✔️ How to build a supportive culture that values wellbeing and performance. ✔️ Practical strategies for avoiding burnout and staying present. Show Notes: Connect with Steph Hind on LinkedIn Learn more about Heka Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . </u
S14 E204 · Thu, February 27, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL - How to Overcome Guilt and Build a Successful Career as a Parent
In this episode of the C-Suite Series of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with entrepreneur, award-winning business leader, experienced non-executive director, broadcaster, and author Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL about her journey of building a multi-million-pound business while raising a family. Susie candidly shares the realities of balancing a demanding career with motherhood, why she believes you can't have it all, and the importance of letting go of guilt and external expectations. She also reflects on setting boundaries at work, learning from business mistakes, and embracing life beyond career success. Whether you're navigating career progression, entrepreneurship, or just feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle, this episode is full of practical wisdom, humour, and reassurance. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ The myth of "having it all" – why Susie believes balance is about letting go of perfection ✔️ How to manage guilt as a working parent and why your children will be fine ✔️ Practical tips for setting work boundaries and ensuring time for yourself ✔️ How to build confidence and push past workplace discrimination ✔️ Why women should stop underplaying their achievements ✔️ The power of flexible working and why she banned weekend emails ✔️ How caring responsibilities shape leadership and decision-making ✔️ Why networking, mentorship, and self-belief matter for career success About Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL: Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL is an experienced non-executive director, entrepreneur, award-winning business leader, broadcaster, and author. She founded and scaled Breakthrough Funding, a multi-award-winning business that she later sold to EY (Ernst & Young), where she became Executive Director for Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa. She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at HMRC and The British Library and is Executive Chair of Produced in Kent. In recognition of her contributions to small businesses, she was awarded a CBE in 2022 and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Kent. Susie is also an advocate for female entrepreneurs, a sought-after speaker, and the author of Swimming On My Own . Find out more at www.susiews.com . Show Notes: Connect with Susie Warran-Smith on LinkedIn Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org .
S14 E203 · Thu, February 13, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Jane Hollinshead - How to Navigate a Squiggly Career and Find Success on Your Own Terms
In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Jane Hollinshead , Chief People Officer at Canary Wharf Group, about her squiggly career journey and how she navigated career changes, flexible working, and leadership progression while raising a family. Jane shares her experience of being one of the first part-time lawyers in the 1990s, how she approached career transitions with confidence, and why she believes more professionals should embrace career phases rather than a rigid career ladder. Together, they explore: ✔️ How Jane successfully navigated a non-linear career path to reach the C-suite. ✔️ Practical tips for requesting flexible working in a way that benefits both employees and employers. ✔️ Why career off-ramps and on-ramps are natural and necessary for long-term success. ✔️ How to develop the resilience and confidence to take career risks. ✔️ The importance of networking, self-reflection, and external perspectives when considering a career shift. Whether you’re thinking about a career change, aiming for senior leadership, or simply seeking reassurance that your career doesn’t have to be a straight line, this episode is full of practical wisdom and inspiration. In This Episode You Will Learn: Why a squiggly career can be a strategic advantage. How to confidently ask for flexible working—and avoid common mistakes. The mindset shift needed to re-enter the workforce or pivot sectors. How career progression is possible at any stage of life, not just in your 30s or 40s. How to future-proof your career by continuously building new skills and experiences. Show Notes: Learn more about Canary Wharf Group : https://group.canarywharf.com/ Follow Canary Wharf Group on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram Connect with Jane Hollinshead: LinkedIn Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/leadersp
S14 E202 · Thu, February 06, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Heather Black - How Upskilling Can Unlock a Flexible and Fulfilling Career
In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Heather Black, Founder and CEO of Supermums. Heather is passionate about helping parents build flexible, fulfilling, and well-paid careers after parenthood. She shares her own journey of transitioning into tech, how she launched Supermums to support others, and why upskilling can be a game-changer for working parents looking for more career flexibility. Together, they explore: How Heather transitioned into tech and why she believes more parents should consider it. The value of upskilling and how it can open doors to new career opportunities. Practical steps for navigating a career change and building confidence in a new sector. How to choose the right employer and avoid toxic workplace cultures. The hidden job market and how networking can help land the right role. We hope you enjoy the episode! About Heather Black Heather Black is the founder and CEO of Supermums. She is the mum of two little girls and lives by the sea in East Sussex whilst working remotely. She helps parents to achieve flexible well-paid careers after parenthood and has supported 1000 trainees globally to successfully relaunch their careers. In 2010 she became an accidental Salesforce admin for her non-profit and loved it so much that she decided to upskill as a Salesforce Consultant in 2012 helping other non-profits to implement a CRM. She realised her career path could work for other mothers so she launched Supermums in 2016 to bring more women into the sector. Find out more about what a Salesforce Career can offer you here https://supermums.org/what-is-a-salesforce-career/ Show Notes: Learn more about Supermums: Supermums.org Follow Supermums on social media: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Connect with Heather Black: LinkedIn Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/company/leaders-plus" rel="noopener
S14 E201 · Thu, January 30, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Sylwia Wolos - Leaders Plus Senior Leader Mentor on How to Thrive in a C-Suite Role While Raising a Family
In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Sylwia Wołos , Chief Strategy Officer at Ground Truth Intelligence and a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Sylwia shares her inspiring journey of building a successful career in the demanding field of risk management and compliance while raising three children. She discusses the challenges of navigating the C-suite as a working parent, tackling gender inequality in senior leadership, and breaking the stigma around balancing ambitious careers with family life. Together, they explore: How Sylwia’s upbringing in Poland fuelled her passion for combating financial crime and corruption. Practical strategies for managing priorities and setting boundaries as a senior leader and parent. The importance of rethinking success and adapting career goals to align with personal values. Why parents shouldn’t apologise for balancing family and work responsibilities. Tips for effective networking, even as an introvert, and the transformative impact of mentoring. This heartfelt and insightful conversation offers valuable advice for ambitious working parents striving to progress their careers while prioritising their families. We hope you enjoy the episode! In this episode, you will learn: How to lead with compassion and embrace flexibility as a parent and leader. The significance of redefining success and pursuing a career on your own terms. Why mentoring is beneficial for both mentors and mentees. Show Notes: Connect with Sylwia Wołos via her LinkedIn Profile . Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to kee
S14 E200 · Thu, January 23, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Verena Hefti MBE - Celebrating 200 Episodes: The Journey of Leaders Plus and How to Navigate Career Progression for Working Parents
In this special 200th episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, our Programme and Impact Manager, Helen Fraser, takes the interviewer’s seat to chat with Leaders Plus Founder and CEO, Verena Hefti MBE . Verena reflects on the journey of starting Leaders Plus, the lessons learned from interviewing 199 inspiring guests, and the challenges and triumphs of combining an ambitious career with family life. In this candid conversation, Verena shares how her own experiences of returning to work after maternity leave led her to create an award-winning social enterprise that supports working parents to progress their careers without sacrificing family life. She discusses the importance of role models, the challenges of setting boundaries, and how Leaders Plus is driving real change in the workplace. In this episode, you will learn: How Leaders Plus was founded and the impact it has had on working parents. The challenges working parents face in progressing their careers and how to overcome them. The power of setting boundaries and finding a balance that works for you. Practical tips for combining career progression with family commitments. How Leaders Plus is shaping employer policies and driving cultural change for parents in leadership. Verena also reflects on receiving an MBE, what it means for the organisation, and the importance of focusing on purpose-driven leadership. We hope you enjoy this milestone episode! Show Notes: Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leadership path, our programme tackles gender pay gap issues and empowers parents to thrive. Learn more here: Leaders Plus Fellowship . Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . More B
S14 E199 · Thu, January 16, 2025
(C-Suite Series) Elizabeth Willetts - How to Break the Glass Ceiling While Juggling Career Ambitions and Parenthood
Are you ready to redefine career success while raising a family? In the first episode of the C-Suite series, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Elizabeth Willetts, Founder of Investing in Women and author of the upcoming book Flex: Smart Strategies to Build A Successful Career Around Your Life . With over 17 years of recruitment experience, Elizabeth is passionate about empowering professionals to find fulfilling, flexible, and part-time work that fits their lives, and helps close the gender pay gap. Elizabeth shares her insights on how flexible work can unlock opportunities for ambitious parents, why intentional time management is a game-changer, and how to stand out in the job market with a CV that shines, even in the era of AI. This practical and inspiring conversation is perfect for anyone navigating the challenges of combining a high-powered career with parenthood. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Elizabeth’s book, Flex , is out in January 2025. Connect with Elizabeth Willetts via her LinkedIn Profile , LinkedIn Page , and Instagram , and explore her work at Investing in Women . Learn how flexible work options are reshaping the future for professionals and their families. In this episode, you’ll learn: How flexible and part-time roles can support your career and personal goals. Practical tips for writing a standout CV that highlights your impact. The power of intentional time management to achieve your dreams. Why negotiation is essential when securing flexible work arrangements. More BCSC episodes you might love: {CEO Series} Polly Neate - How to Find Purpose in Your Work {CEO Series} Laura Citron – Why the CEO Role is Perfect for Working Parents Discover more about the multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship, designed to support ambitious working parents on the path to senior leadership. Learn more at <a href="https://www
S13 E198 · Thu, December 05, 2024
BITE-SIZED: Verena Hefti MBE - Balancing the Holiday Mental Load
For the first time, our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE, takes the mic solo in this special, bite-sized episode of the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast. As the season draws to a close, Verena shares heartfelt reflections on balancing the magical yet demanding holiday period, offering powerful strategies for: Prioritising yourself amidst the chaos Creating a meaningful holiday without burning out Sharing family responsibilities equitably Drawing on gold nuggets from past episodes and her own experiences, Verena encourages us to reassess, set boundaries, and say "no" to the non-essential as we wrap up the year. Tune in for an empowering and time-efficient conversation that will leave you ready to take on the holiday season with clarity and courage. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and we’ll be back in January with a brand-new series of episodes! Show Notes: Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org . Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Bluesky . Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . In this episode you will learn: During the busy holiday season, it's important to prioritise self-care and make brave decisions. Discussing family responsibilities openly can help distribute the mental load more equitably. Using frameworks, like the STAR framework, can guide us in making better decisions about opportunities. Setting boundaries and saying no can lead to more meaningful opportunities aligned with our values. Recognising that the mental load often disproportionately affects women can prompt important discussions at home. Leaders should model work-life balance to create a supportive environment for their teams. Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leadership path, our programme tackles gender pay gap issues and empowers parents to thrive. Learn more here: Leaders Plus Fellowship . BCSC Episod
S13 E197 · Thu, November 28, 2024
Dr. Whitney Casares - Why Self-Care for Parents is Key to Thriving at Work and Home
Can prioritising yourself make you a better parent and professional? In this episode, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dr. Whitney Casares, paediatrician and author of Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be to explore why self-care isn’t a luxury but a lifeline for working parents. Drawing from her expertise as a paediatrician, Dr. Whitney emphasises that putting your own well-being first is the key to raising happy, healthy children - especially those with additional needs. She tackles the guilt parents often feel when balancing ambitious careers with family life and shares practical strategies for setting boundaries, integrating work and life, and creating space for what truly matters. This inspiring conversation challenges parents to redefine success and embrace their unique strengths as they navigate their personal and professional journeys. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Dr. Whitney's book Doing It All is available in bookshops and via Amazon . Connect with Dr. Whitney on LinkedIn and on Instagram . In this episode you will learn: Self-care for parents is crucial; taking care of your well-being helps your children. Setting boundaries with kids creates a healthier work-life integration for working parents. Embracing your authentic self can be a superpower in leadership and career advancement. Prioritise clarity in your life by identifying core values and saying no to distractions. Integrating work and family life requires intentional moments of focus and presence. Delegating tasks and decluttering your environment can significantly reduce stress and increase productivity. Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leadership path, our programme tackles gender pay gap issues and empowers parents to thrive. Learn more here: Leaders Plus Fellowship . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . More BCSC episodes we think you'll love: Nicky Lowe - How to Avoid Burnout as a Working Parent
S13 E196 · Thu, November 21, 2024
Brigid Schulte - Overcoming Overwork with Strategies for a Balanced Life
Can we truly have thriving careers without sacrificing family life? In this episode, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Brigid Schulte, author of Overworked: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life , about the pervasive issue of overwork and its impact on individuals and families. Brigid emphasises the importance of redefining what success looks like in the workplace, advocating for a shift from measuring productivity by hours spent to valuing meaningful output. They discuss practical steps for individuals to take, even in unsupportive environments, highlighting the need for boundaries and prioritising what truly matters. The episode offers insights into how both personal choices and organisational changes can foster a healthier work-life balance, ultimately benefiting everyone involved. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Brigid's book Overworked is now available in bookshops and via Amazon . Connect with Brigid on LinkedIn . In this episode you will learn: Work culture often rewards overwork and long hours, negatively impacting family time and well-being. Individuals should define their values and prioritise what truly matters to them at work. Leadership beliefs significantly shape workplace culture, influencing policies around work-life balance. Organisations should measure success not just by output, but also by employee well-being. Small changes at work, like asking for flexible hours, can lead to significant personal benefits. Creating a supportive work environment requires collaboration with employees to understand their needs. Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leadership path, our programme tackles gender pay gap issues and empowers parents to thrive. Learn more here: Leaders Plus Fellowship . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter . More BCSC episodes we think you'll love: Dr. Malissa Clark - How to Set Boundaries as a Workaholic & Learn to be More Present as a Parent <a href="https://www.leadersplus.org/167-big-care
S13 E195 · Thu, November 14, 2024
Carin-Isabel Knoop - Control Isn’t Everything: Embracing Kindness in Life, Parenting, and Leadership
Trigger warning: miscarriage Today, Verena welcomes Carin-Isabel Knoop for an especially thought-provoking podcast episode on embracing kindness in life, parenting and leadership. Very apt, given earlier this week, we celebrated #WorldKindnessDay. Carin is the Executive Director of the Harvard Business School Case Research and Writing Group and was previously a consultant at McKinsey and Price Waterhouse Coopers. The conversation includes reflections on managing as a solo parent whilst pursuing an ambitious career, learning to let go of control, filling support gaps, and considering how we can all contribute to more compassionate workplaces. Carin and Verena also have a moving discussion about supporting someone through pregnancy loss. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Read Carin and Verena's 2024 Mother's Day proclamation . Learn more about Compassionate Management of Mental Health in the Modern Workplace . Follow Carin on Medium . Find support during miscarriage via The Miscarriage Association . Interested in progressing your career after having children? The award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.
S13 E194 · Thu, October 24, 2024
Tom Shaw - How to Create Counterbalance in Your Life & Career
Can you build a successful career without sacrificing your well-being? This week, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Tom Shaw, author of Counterbalance: How to Build Your Career Without Ruining Your Life and a Senior Leader Mentor at Leaders Plus. Tom talks about counterbalance and why it's important to be intentional about what matters most. Together, Tom and Verena explore making difficult decisions, reducing burnout, and thriving in your career without compromising your life. Tom also shares the key attributes for combining career, family and our personal lives, so we can create a truly fulfilling life whilst also protecting our wellbeing. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Tom's book Counterbalance is now available in bookshops and via Amazon . Connect with Tom on LinkedIn. If you are looking to progress your career after having children then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities, who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.
S13 E193 · Thu, October 17, 2024
Sally Hamm & Matt Hamm - How to Communicate With Each Other as a Dual Career Couple
When you're a dual career couple, it can be tricky to coordinate schedules and balance work and family life. This week, Verena Hefti MBE is joined by married couple Sally Hamm and Matt Hamm, Occupational Medicine Physicians (who worked together as Air Force Flight Surgeons), who share four children alongside their busy senior careers. Sally and Matt open up about how they have evolved their thinking around combining raising their family and progressing their careers. The couple share practical advice on how they prioritise what they say yes to and strategies for communicating with your partner to ensure you truly share the load. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Connect with Sally and Matt on LinkedIn. Find resources for dual career couples, including our free couples checklist, on the Leaders Plus website: www.leadersplus.org/resources/couples If you are looking to progress your career after having children, then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.
S13 E192 · Thu, October 10, 2024
Brad Johnson & David G. Smith - How to be a Great Ally in the Workplace
In this episode, Verena discusses the importance of allyship in the workplace. She is joined by Brad Johnson and David G. Smith, authors of the book: Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace. As well as discussing what men can do to support their female colleagues, Brad and David discuss ways we can all support members of minorities in order to help everyone thrive professionally. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Good Guys is out on the 13th of October, pre-order here Visit Workplace Allies at www.workplaceallies.com Interested to join our Leaders Plus ESG peer support network? Get in touch If you are looking to progress your career after having children then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities, who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.
S13 E191 · Thu, October 03, 2024
{CEO Series} Tiffany Sauder - How to Harness the Incredible Power of Networking
In this episode, Verena is joined by Tiffany Sauder, CEO of Element Three and mother of four. Tiffany breaks down some of the key factors which have led to her inspiring success. From prioritising what really matters to the power of networking, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking for tangible career and family advice. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn Find out more about Element Three . A senior-level career doesn’t have to come at the expense of being a present parent. If you are interested in progressing your senior job and balancing your family life, take a look at our Senior Director's Fellowship: www.leadersplus.org/seniorleadersplusfellowship
S13 E190 · Thu, September 26, 2024
[Future of Work] Tatiana Pignon - Does the Four Day Week Really Work?
Is the four day working week the future of work, or a luxurious dream? In this episode of Big Careers, Small Children, Verena is joined by Tatiana Pignon, Head of Development at The Autonomy Institute, an independent research organisation that focuses on the future of the working world. In this intriguing conversation, Tatianna discusses Autonomy's fascinating research on the shorter working week and the elements of their discoveries that you could apply in your organisation. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of the future of work series, where we explore how work will change in the future to help everyone thrive and progress their careers equitably regardless of circumstances. Show Notes: Connect with Tatianna on LinkedIn Find out more about The Autonomy Institute We know how difficult it can be to balance an ambitious career with raising a family especially if you’ve taken time off to focus on your children or opted for a lower grade role to accommodate the demands of family life. That's why we created the Future Leader's Programme. If you are interested in progressing your career and nurturing your family at the same time, take a look at The Future Leader's Programme: https://www.leadersplus.org/futureleadersplus
S13 E189 · Thu, September 19, 2024
{CEO Series} Polly Neate - How to Find Purpose in Your Work
In a bid to make a difference and bring more purpose to her work, Polly Neate left her successful career in journalism and joined the charity sector. Nearly twenty years later, she is CEO of one of the largest charities in the UK, Shelter, and a proud mother of two grown up women. In this podcast, Polly discusses her fascinating journey, the sacrifices she has had to make, and why finding purpose in your work is so important. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Connect with Polly on LinkedIn Find out more about Shelter A senior-level career doesn’t have to come at the expense of being a present parent. If you are interested in progressing your senior job and balancing your family life, take a look at our Senior Director's Fellowship: https://www.leadersplus.org/seniorleadersplusfellowship
S13 E188 · Thu, September 12, 2024
Emily Wilton & Jo Goring - How Job Sharing Benefits Organisations & What Job Sharing Can Teach You About Leadership
Job sharing is a powerful tool for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and has several benefits for both the organisation and their employees. Joining us on Big Careers, Small Children this week are successful job-sharing duo Emily Wilton and Jo Goring, two senior leaders at the UK's largest animal welfare charity, the RSPCA. Emily and Jo share how they make their job share (which they explain is actually a job split) work so successfully, including why communication is key. They offer practical advice on approaching your employer about a potential job share - spoiler: be brave and go for it! They also discuss why they believe it's vital to be loud and proud about job sharing and how splitting senior roles and designing them part-time can be especially beneficial to organisations. We hope you enjoy the conversation.
S13 E187 · Thu, September 05, 2024
Ferzana Bham & Bethany Pearson - How to Self-Promote at Work & Build Relationships
How can you self promote at work and invest time in building relationships as a busy working parent? Today on the podcast Verena Hefti MBE welcomes Ferzana Bham & Bethany Pearson from PR Mums. PR Mums is a community-led platform which offers former PRs (many of whom have left the workforce after having children) a pathway back into the industry. Ferzana and Bethany share their expert advice and practical tips on self promotion, including how to forge relationships when you're time poor and effectively promote your achievements whatever your industry, especially when it might not come naturally to you. We hope you enjoy the conversation. PR Mums are working to establish an industry-wide model of best practice for parental policy – for the benefit of all current and future mothers and fathers; our children; and our parents. If you work in PR, please spare five minutes to complete this survey. Show Notes: Find out more about PR Mums: www.pr-mums.com For more information on the Leaders Plus Fellowship head to www.leadersplus.org/fellowship
S12 E186 · Thu, July 25, 2024
Nathalie Holdstock - How to Thrive as a Shift Worker When You're a Parent of Young Children
Shift work can be especially challenging when you're a parent to young children. This week on the podcast our Leaders Plus Fellow Nathalie Holdstock, a Senior Sister and Emergency Nurse Practitioner, shares how she navigates working shifts in the NHS whilst raising two small children. Nathalie shares practical tips for other shift workers, including why it's important to ask for what you need and what others who don't work shifts can learn from the experience. We hope you enjoy the conversation. The Leaders Plus podcast will now be on a short break over the summer holidays returning on Thursday 5th September. Show Notes: Find out more about the Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship
S12 E185 · Thu, July 18, 2024
[Future of Work] Lucy Kemp - How AI Will Impact the Future of Work & How to Prevent Women From Leaving the Workforce
Why are so many women over the age of 38 leaving the workforce and what can we do about it? Our guest today to discuss the future of work is employee experience, culture and communications expert Lucy Kemp. Lucy shares how AI is impacting the workplace and gives practical advice for anyone just getting started with adopting AI to support their work in future. We delve into why workplaces have historically been designed by men for men and what this means for women. We also look at the data around women leaving the workforce after the age of 38 and what we can do to stop this, including why we need to support Gen Z women to thrive in the workplace. Enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find out more about Kemp & Co Find out more about accessing a Mentor via the Leaders Plus Fellowship This episode is part of the future of work series, where we explore how work will change in the future to help everyone thrive and progress their careers equitably regardless of circumstances.
S12 E184 · Thu, July 11, 2024
Nicky Lowe - How to Avoid Burnout as a Working Parent
Are you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out? This week on the podcast Executive Coach and Founder of Wisdom for Working Mums Nicky Lowe shares practical advice on dealing with and preventing burnout as a busy working parent juggling both career and family. Burnout is something Nicky has experienced first-hand following her return to work after the birth of her first child. She shares her own story, plus how to identify if you are struggling with burnout and fantastic tips on how you can begin to recover and learn to reimagine your approach to career and parenthood. Enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Listen to more from Nicky on her Wisdom for Working Mums podcast Download our free setting boundaries workbook
S12 E183 · Thu, July 04, 2024
Helen Balcome & Kate Groom - How to Implement Outcome-based Management
How can we move to more outcome-based work cultures and how best can managers support this? Outcome-based leadership relates to delivering results and achieving specific, measurable goals rather than being hyper-focused on time spent at your desk. It can enable employees and teams to work more autonomously and flexibly. Our guests today Helen Balcome and Kate Groom, founders of The Health Kollective, believe that work can be and should be a positive force that complements everything else we do, enabling people, teams and businesses the freedom to thrive. They believe that outcome-based management is key to this. On the show, they share how organisations can move to a more outcome-based way of working, how to manage a team based on output rather than time practically and why senior leaders should be first to model this behaviour. Plus, why you should have both 'to-do' and 'woo-hoo' lists. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find out more about The Health Kollective Find out more about the Leaders Plus Fellowship
S12 E182 · Thu, June 27, 2024
Gethin Nadin - How to Build Better Employee Experiences for Working Parents & Ensuring the Voice in Your Head Speaks Kindly
Verena welcomes Gethin Nadin, an expert in workplace wellbeing and one of HRs most influential thinkers to discuss how to build better employee experiences for working parents. Wellbeing for working parents is a hot topics and Gethin shares insights from his research, including why organisations who prioritise employee health and wellbeing and put people over policy are often more successful and crucially, profitable. Gethin also shares the importance of taking charge of our own wellbeing, including speaking kindly to ourselves and being our own biggest supporters. Show Notes: Read Gethin's book, A Work in Progress ( available on Amazon ) Read our blog, why supporting workplaces is a wellbeing issue: www.leadersplus.org/supporting-parents-wellbeing
S12 E181 · Thu, June 20, 2024
Dr. Malissa Clark - How to Set Boundaries as a Workaholic & Learn to be More Present as a Parent
Do you struggle to set boundaries around work? Have you ever wondered if you're a workaholic? Would you like to be more present when you're spending time with your children? Our guest today is Dr. Malissa Clark, Associate Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia and author of the book "Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business and How to Fix It." Malissa outlines exactly what workaholism is and shares why having a 'type A' personality or identifying as a perfectionist is highly correlated with workaholism. The good news is there are lots of helpful things we can do to set healthy boundaries and start addressing the negative ways this could be impacting our lives. Malissa shares practical advice and tips, including how to learn to be more present as a parent when you are juggling so many different responsibilities. Show Notes: Find out more about Malissa Clark, including her book Never Not Working . Download the Leaders Plus Setting Boundaries Workbook Book: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying (Bronnie Ware) Read the Havard Business Review Study on Why Some Men Pretend to Work 80 Hour Weeks.
S12 E180 · Thu, June 13, 2024
Paul J. Sullivan - How to Become a Lead Dad & Parent Out Loudly
Ahead of Father's Day in the UK, Verena chats to New York Times columnist and founder of The Company of Dads, Paul J. Sullivan. Through The Company of Dads online platform, Paul has created a thriving and inclusive community for 'lead dads' and is challenging traditional norms of what it means to be a father. Lead dads are fully engaged in raising their children, supporting their partner and working to keep the house together and typically work a more flexible schedule than their partner. Paul shares how he became a lead dad, why he is passionate about parenting out loudly and why it's so important to parent through your calendar (e.g. be honest about why you're leaving work and diarise it) because of the profoundly positive impact this can have at your organisation. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find out more about The Company of Dads. Find out more about the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships .
S12 E179 · Thu, June 06, 2024
Dr. Sonia Damle - How to Navigate Shift Work as a Parent & the Benefits of Self-Rostering in the NHS & Beyond
How can you navigate shift work as a parent? This week we welcome Emergency Medicine Doctor Sonia Damle to the podcast. Sonia shares her experience of shift work and how to make it work alongside bringing up children. Sonia has lots of practical advice for other shift workers, including: why knowing what you want is vital to make it work how utilising your support network can really make a difference how self-rostering could be game changing in the NHS and beyond Plus, the skills and experience we can take from shift work (eg. compartmentalising) and apply to more traditional working hours. We hope you enjoy the conversation, do get in touch if you have any thoughts or feedback. Show Notes: Applications for the award-winning NHS Fellowship close 18 June. Find out more: www.leadersplus.org/nhsfellowship Access further resources for parents working in the NHS: www.leadersplus.org/resources/parental-leave-toolkits
S11 E178 · Thu, May 23, 2024
[Future of Work] Lizzie Penny & Alex Hirst - How Workstyle (Rather Than Flexible Working) Could Change the Way You Work Forever
Have you heard of workstyle? Today on the podcast we are delighted to welcome entrepreneurs and changemakers Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst. Together they came up with the concept of workstyle in response to their negative experiences of the traditional '9-5' working week. Workstyle is a new word to describe the complete freedom to choose when and where you work. It differs from flexible working for all, which Lizzie and Alex believe is not the right solution. They invite us to think about our own workstyle and how we can achieve what we need in a way that works for us. Plus, they share the evidence behind workstyle and why it works, including how it can level the playing field and help to create true inclusivity and accessibility in our society. We hope you enjoy this thought provoking conversation. This episode is part of the future of work series, where we explore how work will change in the future to help everyone thrive and progress their careers equitably regardless of circumstances. Show Notes: Find out more about Hoxby and the Workstyle Revolution Join the Workstyle Revolution Slack Community Find out more about the Leaders Plus Senior Directors Fellowship
S11 E177 · Thu, May 16, 2024
[Future of Work] Denise Wilson OBE - How the UK is Working to Achieve Gender Balance at Board Level & What Still Needs to Change
We're delighted to welcome Denise Wilson OBE to the podcast. Denise is the former chief executive of the FTSE Women Leaders Review and has led the UK’s business task force to increase the number of women on boards and in leadership positions. She has made a significant contribution to gender equality in British business and is passionate about empowering women. We discuss: How the UK made such massive strides in closing the gender gap at board level What still needs to change for gender equality How to get to an Exec Director position Why as a parent everything doesn’t need to be perfect but “good enough” We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of the future of work series, where we explore how work will change in the future to help everyone thrive and progress their careers equitably regardless of circumstances. Show Notes: Connect with Denise Wilson OBE on LinkedIn . Download the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review Download the Leaders Plus Mental Load Checklist Find out more about the Leaders Plus Senior Directors Fellowship
S11 E176 · Thu, May 09, 2024
[Future of Work] Bruce Daisley - How to Reduce the Number of Meetings in Your Workplace & Change the Organisational Culture
Would you like to reduce the number of meetings in your workplace? Joining us this week is workplace culture enthusiast Bruce Daisley. A former EMEA Vice President of Twitter, Bruce is now a best-selling author and hosts the podcast 'Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat', alongside helping organisations build energised and connected workplace cultures. In this episode, we discuss how you can positively change the workplace culture where you work. We share practical tips on reducing the number of meetings in the diary, the super powers of productivity and a look at the future of work, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI). Enjoy this thought provoking conversation. This episode is part of the future of work series, where we explore how work will change in the future to help everyone thrive and progress their careers equitably regardless of circumstances. Show Notes: Find out more about Bruce Daisley via his website at www.brucedaisley.com Download the Leaders Plus Career Progression Gaps: The Next Frontier report . Discover the Silent Meeting Manifesto
S11 E175 · Thu, May 02, 2024
Rosie Hewat - How to Handle the Call Back to the Office & Tips on Requesting Flexible Working
Has your employer recently called you back to the office? Our guest today is Rosie Hewat, Group Chief People Officer at fintech company Kuda. In 2024, many organisations have begun to pull their workers back to the office. As an experienced HR and people management professional and an advocate for flexible working, Rosie shares practical advice on how you can handle this request. Plus, listen for tips on requesting flexible working and what to do if your flexible working request is rejected. Enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Find out more about Rosie at www.rosiespeople.com Find out more about the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships www.leadersplus.org/fellowship
S11 E174 · Thu, April 25, 2024
Elizabeth Willetts - How to Get Your Flexible Working Request Approved & Why the Future of Work is Hybrid
What do the people who get flexible working requests approved have in common? Today we welcome Elizabeth (Liz) Willetts, CEO and Founder of Investing in Women to the podcast to discuss her work advocating for the power of part-time and flexible working. Liz shares her top tips for getting your flexible working request approved, including when it is best to mention flexible working during interview stages. Plus, why Liz believes the future of work is hybrid. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Connect with Liz on LinkedIn Find out more about Investing in Women Listen to the Work it Like a Mum podcast Apply now for the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship .
S11 E173 · Thu, April 18, 2024
Charlotte Boujassy - How to Let Go of the Pressure of Being a Perfect Parent & Progress Your Career
Do you ever feel under pressure to be the perfect parent? Verena Hefti MBE chats with Charlotte Boujassy, Director of Talent & Leadership Development Europe for a Japanese pharmaceutical company. They discuss why it's so important to talk loudly about working flexibly at a senior level, how to deal with the pressure of perfectionism when you're a working parent and progressing your career after you have children. Born in France, for the past 10 years, Charlotte has lived and worked in Munich. She co-parents her two daughters alongside her now ex-husband. Enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Connect: Send Charlotte a message on LinkedIn Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Research: Kathleen McGinn - Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults Fellowship: Find out more about the Leaders Plus Fellowship
S11 E172 · Thu, April 11, 2024
Thorey V. Proppe - How Data Can Improve DEI Policies & Help Close the Gender Pay Gap
Today we welcome to the podcast Thorey V. Proppe, the CEO and founder of Alda, an Icelandic tech company which developed DEI software for workplaces globally. Iceland consistently ranks among the highest countries in the world for gender equality. Thorey shares: What is working for gender equality right now in Iceland What we can learn from this success to implement in other countries Why data is the best way to improve DEI policies and help close the gender pay gap Enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Find out more about the Alda DEI software at alda.co Download the 22/23 Reykjavik Index for Leadership Listen to Michelle Harrison, CEO of Kantar discuss the 22/23 Reykjavic Index on Big Careers, Small Children Find the Third Shift Book on Amazon Access Mental Load resources from Leaders Plus
S11 E171 · Thu, April 04, 2024
Brita Fernandez Schmidt - How to Learn to Trust Your Intuition & Manage Your Fears
Today we're joined by Brita Fernandez Schmidt, transformational coach and author of the brilliant book Fears to Fierce. Brita has spent 25 years championing women's rights across the world, and strongly believes that every woman has a fierce power to fulfill her own dreams. We discussed how we can learn to trust our own intuition, be intentional with our actions and manage our fears. Enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Find out more about Brita and her book Fears to Fierce Listen to Mary Ann Siegart on episode 81 of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast Find Gert Gigerenzer's book The Intelligence of Intuition
S11 E170 · Thu, March 28, 2024
Lea Henry - How to Manage Perfectionism When Combining a Big Career & Young Children
This week we welcome Lea Henry, co-founder of the award-winning creative childcare agency CocoRio. Together with her business partner Corinna Bordoli, Lea co-founded CocoRio because she worried about the quality of childcare available. As she couldn’t keep her kids with her 24/7, she wanted to ensure their overall development and emotional well-being would be catered for. Lea shares practical advice on how she manages the competing demands of a baby, a toddler and a growing business. A common theme during the discussion is perfectionism and letting go of the perfect time to do things. We discuss how to manage perfectionism and deal with feelings of guilt, plus why it's so important to set clear boundaries and tips on how to do it. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Connect with Lea Henry on LinkedIn. Find out more about CocoRio: https://cocorio.co.uk Download the Career Progression Gaps report. Read the book: Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life) by Thomas Erikson.
S11 E169 · Thu, March 21, 2024
Polly Ogden Duffy - How to Progress a Senior Career in a Male-Dominated Industry & Work Flexibly
How can women thrive in a traditionally male-dominated work environment? Today we welcome to the podcast Polly Ogden Duffy, Managing Director at prime sales and lettings agency John D Wood & Co. London. Polly, who is married with two children, is passionate that women CAN have it all and shares why she believes being ambitious as a working mother is no bad thing. Having worked her whole career in a traditionally male-dominated environment, Polly shares the advice she would give other women progressing their career, including why you don't necessarily have to 'act like a man' to move into those senior positions. The property industry, as a whole, is not known for embracing flexible working, but Polly - who works compressed hours - is a huge advocate for working flexibly and encourages her team to bring their whole self to work. She shares how she makes this work. Finally, Polly shares her tips for surviving and thriving at work on very little sleep during those first few months of parenthood. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show notes: Find out more about John D. Wood & Co. London. Find Polly on LinkedIn . Download the brochure for our award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship .
S11 E168 · Thu, March 14, 2024
Dr. Ana Catalano Weeks - Managing Mental Load While Balancing Career and Parenthood
Today on the podcast, Verena Hefti MBE chats with Dr Ana Catalano Weeks, Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath Dr. Ana shares her experience of how mental load can be gendered and emphasises that creating awareness is a part of the solution. In this conversation, we delve into the dynamics of heterosexual couples and the evolving landscape of childcare responsibilities. Despite men's increasing involvement in practical child-rearing tasks over the decades, women still bear the brunt of the mental load. We also explore the stigma confronting both men and women within the framework of societal expectations surrounding parental roles. Backed by findings from her research, Dr Ana further shares her tips on managing parenthood as working parents. We hope you enjoy the conversation. A quick reminder that applications for our award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship will close on 20 March. Download the brochure . Show Notes: Access free Resources on Managing Mental Load . Download the Leaders Plus Career Progression Gaps report . Read more about Dr. Ana's work here .
S11 E167 · Thu, March 07, 2024
Jane Green - How to Approach Your Employer for Reduced Working Days and Tips on Transitioning to a Flexible Role
Today on the podcast, Verena Hefti MBE chats with Jane Green, Leaders Plus Mentor and Former EY Partner. Jane's approach to balancing work and parenthood in an era where flexible-working was rare, can well be considered as a reforming move in the UK workplace. From pioneering a flexible work model in the 1990s at EY to now mentoring on the Leaders Plus Fellowship, Jane helps working parents to explore a working pattern that best suits their career ambitions and family life. From her experience as a mum and now a grandmother, Jane shares her advice on approaching the employer for a flexible model and tips on transitioning to a reduced working-days role. We hope you enjoy the conversation. A quick reminder that applications for our award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship will close on 20 March. Download the brochure . Show Notes: Download the Leaders Plus Career Progression Gaps report . Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E166 · Thu, February 29, 2024
Heather Taylor - How to Accelerate Your Career Whilst Balancing Life as a Parent, Learning to Takes Risks & Life on the Board of Pregnant Then Screwed
Today on the podcast Verena Hefti MBE chats with Heather Taylor, Director of Finance and Resources for Trust for London and Trustee and Treasurer at charity Pregnant Then Screwed. Heather is an Alumni of the Leaders Plus Fellowship (having completed the very first cohort of the programme) and advocates for flexible and reduced working days to increase productivity in the workplace. As a mother to two under-6, Heather shares her journey of transitioning into a 4-day work model which helped her grow professionally while balancing her time with her children, plus her tips on applying for a full time role when wanting to work across 4 days. Ironically, her financial background does not stop Heather from having a risk-taking approach when it comes to accelerating her career as she discusses setting goals, networking, and more. Finally, Heather shares advice for anyone looking to take on a Trustee or board role and how to combine this with your day job. We hope you enjoy the conversation. A quick reminder that applications for our award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship will close on 20 March. Download the brochure . Show Notes: Get involved with Trust for London and Pregnant Then Screwed . Download the Leaders Plus Career Progression Gaps report . Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E165 · Thu, February 22, 2024
{CEO Series} Sam Butters - The Benefits of being a Co-CEO & How to Navigate Morning Sickness in a Senior Role
In this episode, Verena Hefti MBE chats with Sam Butters, Co-CEO of charity the Fair Education Alliance, a coalition of 250 organisations tackling educational inequality. Verena and Sam discuss the multiple benefits of having Co-CEO’s and why this isn’t necessarily the same as a traditional job share. Sam, who is a big advocate of work-life fluidity, describes how being a Co-CEO aligns perfectly when you’re a working parent, likening it to a long-term partnership akin to a marriage, with shared accountability and management responsibilities. For Sam (who is currently expecting her second child) pregnancy has come with its fair share of morning sickness and she discusses how she has navigated this whilst in a senior role involving lots of face-to-face meetings. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Get involved with Sam’s charity via the website . Download the Leaders Plus Career Progression Gaps report . Applications are now open for the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship. Download the brochure and apply by 20/03 .
S11 E164 · Thu, February 15, 2024
Rachel Allison - Tips for Managing Your Personal Brand & How to Build a PR Agency as a New Mother
What is the secret to other people talking positively about you at work? Today on the podcast Verena Hefti MBE chats with Rachel Allison, founder of the PR agency Axe + Saw. Rachel is someone who regularly advocates for Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in her work and she is passionate about running a progressive, purpose-driven agency. As a mother to a 6-month-old daughter, Rachel shares her freshest thinking on running an agency whilst raising a young family, including why a 4-day working week is key to their success. Rachel also shares her top tips on managing your own personal brand, including how to get others to advocate for you. We hope you enjoy the conversation. A quick reminder that applications for our award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship will close on 20 March. Download the brochure . Show Notes: Find out more about Axe + Saw Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn. Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E163 · Thu, February 08, 2024
Ellen Taaffe - How to Overcome Perfectionism & Master Self Promotion, Plus How to Support More Women into Senior Leadership Positions
How can women unblock the obstacles in their path and open the door to opportunities to reach more senior leadership levels? Today on the podcast, Verena Hefti MBE chats with Ellen Taaffe, author of a thought-provoking new book entitled, 'The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier That Locks Successful Women in Place'. For many women, at some point in their career, they may encounter the 'mirrored door.' The place where, when presented with opportunities, they reflect inward and hesitate. Perhaps immobilised by a fear they are not ready or worthy enough to take action and move forward. Ellen shares how we can break through this and overcome the gendered expectations that many women internalise. Ellen also has lots of practical advice on overcoming perfectionism and getting more comfortable with self-promotion at work. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find out more about Ellen's book via her website . Download the Career Progression Gaps report . Applications are now open for the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship. Download the brochure and apply by 20/03 . Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E162 · Thu, February 01, 2024
Daniel Astarita - How to Combine IVF, Fatherhood & a Senior Leadership Career
Our guest today is Daniel Astarita, Managing Director of Kesslers, London . Daniel is a proud IVF Dad and shares his experience of balancing a demanding career whilst going through IVF treatment. As a Managing Director, Daniel has practical advice on what he has learned from combining a leadership career with young children. Daniel is also passionate about leading an inclusive manufacturing business and shares his experience of positively changing workplace culture. Enjoy the conversation. Applications are now open for the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship. Download the brochure and apply by 20/03 .
S11 E161 · Thu, January 25, 2024
Sonia Sudhakar - How to Improve Confidence & Resilience as a Senior Leader & Getting to a Director Level Role
As part of #MentoringMonth Verena Hefti MBE speaks to Leaders Plus Fellowship Mentor Sonia Sudhakar about improving confidence and resilience as a senior leader and how to get to a Director level role. Sonia is the MD of Marketing and Digital at The Royal Mail Group and lives in London with her partner and son. She shares the advice she gives to all her Mentee's and how having her son has changed her approach to work. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Applications are now open for the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship. Download the brochure and apply by 20/03 . Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E160 · Thu, January 18, 2024
{CEO Series} Natasha Porter OBE - Why Being a CEO is One of the Best Jobs to Combine a Big Career and Small Children
This week Verena Hefti MBE is joined by Natasha Porter OBE, the CEO and Founder of the charity Unlocked Graduates, who recruit, train and challenge outstanding individuals to lead prisoner rehabilitation. Natasha has two young children and gave birth to her eldest child just as Unlocked Graduates launched. On the podcast, Natasha shares the reality of being a CEO, setting up an organisation and giving birth just after launch. Natasha firmly believes that being a CEO is one of the best jobs to combine a big career and small children due to the role's flexibility and autonomy and she explains how they make it work for their family and how you could too. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Book - ' Lean In: Women, Work & the Will to Lead ' by Sheryl Sandberg Find out more about the brilliant work of Unlocked Graduates at https://unlockedgrads.org.uk
Trailer · Wed, January 17, 2024
Big Careers, Small Children - A Podcast for Ambitious Parents Progressing Senior Careers
Big Careers Small Children helps ambitious parents progress careers they love whilst being present with their children. Through honest and informal conversation, senior leaders divulge what they have learnt on their own journey of combining big careers with young children to our host Verena Hefti MBE. Expect lots of aha moments, inspiration, fresh ideas, and practical support, so you can move forward in your career in a way that works for you and your family. This podcast is hosted by our social enterprise Leaders Plus. We believe that no parent should have to choose between progressing the career they love and enjoying their young children. Through the Big Careers, Small Children podcast and our award-winning Fellowship Programme , we have supported thousands of Leaders with young children to make brave decisions about their future. We unapologetically help more mums (and dads with significant caring responsibilities) to get to senior leadership positions, because only by helping parents to progress their career can we have true gender equality at the top and address the gender pay gap. Be part of our positive movement for change and sign up to receive our informative monthly emails at www.leadersplus.org/newsletter We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and invite you to follow us on social media @leaders_plus #BigCareersSmallChildren
S11 E159 · Thu, January 11, 2024
Dr. Amy Diehl & Dr. Leanne Dzubinski - Shattering the Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work
“Our organisations have mostly been built by men, for men, with men’s lifestyle patterns in mind.” Gender bias is a powerful force that holds women back in the workplace and prevents them from achieving their full potential. This week on the podcast Verena Hefti MBE chats to Dr. Amy Diehl and Dr. Leanne Dzubinski, authors of a revealing new book which outlines the six barriers still holding women back at work and why this is an organisational rather than an individual problem. On the podcast, Amy and Leanne explain what these barriers are and how you can shatter them to eliminate bias in your workplace, whether you are a leader, an ally or an individual woman. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find out more about Amy and Leanne's book Glass Walls: Shattering the 6 Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work . Applications are now open for the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship. Download the brochure and apply by 20/03 . Mentioned in this episode: Cross Sector Fellowship
S11 E158 · Thu, January 04, 2024
Jessica Calarco - Why Women Have Become a Social Safety Net & What Needs to Change
This week Verena Hefti MBE chats with Jessica Calarco, a Sociologist and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about women's role as a social safety net and what needs to change. Jessica is a leading expert on inequalities in family life and education and is the author of the forthcoming book Holding It Together - How Women Became America's Safety Net. Show Notes: Visit Jessica's website: www.jessicacalarco.com Pre-order Jessica's book Holding It Together - How Women Became America's Safety Net here.
S10 E157 · Thu, December 28, 2023
🎧 Throwback: Dr Martha Deiros Collado on Being Present With Your Children & Dealing With Feelings Of Guilt
Our host Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording this Christmas week. Instead, we revisit one of our most popular episodes featuring Dr Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist specialising in family therapy and host of the brilliant podcast Talking Sense with Dr Martha . Leaders Plus Fellows tell us time and time again that they struggle with worrying about their children when they are at work and thinking about work when they are with the children. So how can working parents switch off and be truly present with their kids at home and vice versa, how can they go to work and not feel guilty about leaving their kids? Dr Martha shares fantastic, practical advice for working parents, including: 3 things every parent can do today to be more present with their children Why your child needs meaningful connection and not necessarily hours of your time How to be focused at work without feeling guilty How to make children understand that you have to and want to work We hope you enjoy our conversation. To find out more about Dr Martha head to her website at www.drmarthapsychologist.com Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org/newsletter .
S10 E156 · Thu, December 21, 2023
Brian Ballantyne - Working Fatherhood: Expectations of Masculinity & Whether Training Can Change Behaviour
This week Verena Hefti MBE chats with Brian Ballantyne, author of the book "Confessions of a Working Father" and co-founder of Men for Inclusion. They discuss the challenges Brian has faced as a working father in a senior role, expectations of masculinity and whether training can really help change behaviour. Plus Brian shares three practical ways anyone can be an ally and advocate for working parents. Show Notes: Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Find out more about Confessions of a Working Father Find out more about Men for Inclusion
S10 E155 · Thu, December 14, 2023
{CEO SERIES} Charlotte Hill OBE - Being a CEO & Enjoying Your Young Children
Today Verena Hefti MBE is joined by Charlotte Hill OBE, the CEO of The Felix Project, a London charity fighting hunger and food waste. Charlotte is a mother to two young children and is passionate that it's absolutely possible to work in a senior position and raise children. On the podcast, she shares why it's incredibly worth it and how she practically makes it work, including how she sets boundaries when going to things like late-night networking events. Charlotte is also extremely open about her own fertility struggles, detailing the challenges of being a CEO whilst going through IVF treatment and how now being a parent has made her a more thoughtful and inclusive leader. Finally, Charlotte shares her advice to anyone considering a CEO career, including why becoming a Trustee or board member can really help give you relevant experience. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Connect with Charlotte on LinkedIn Find out more about The Felix Project
S10 E154 · Thu, December 07, 2023
Rosie McLeod - Career Progression Gaps: Research Findings on Parents' Career Ambitions & How Employers Can Retain & Support Them
What's holding parents' career progression back and how can employers retain and support them? In summer 2023, the Big Parent Career Choices Survey was completed by nearly 900 working parents. It found that 86% of parents want to progress their careers in the next five years, with 51% wanting to progress in the next two years. It also found what is holding them back... On this week's podcast Verena Hefti MBE and Social Researcher Rosie McLeod discuss the survey findings from the brand new Career Progression Gaps: The Next Frontier report . Including: Their research together around working parents career progression Why so many working parents say they think that having children has held them back in their careers What the data tells us regarding why certain working parents are still progressing and how to replicate this for more working parents What role employers can play and how they can best retain and support staff We hope you enjoy the podcast and please remember to rate review and subscribe. Show Notes: Download the Career Progression Gaps: The Next Frontier report now Book: What Works - Gender Equality by Design by Iris Bohnet Access the Fawcett Society data around The Ethnicity Pay Penalty Find advice on negotiation in Big Careers, Small Children episode #22 with Paul Fisher .
S10 E153 · Thu, November 30, 2023
Janet Daby MP -How to Combine a Senior Career as an MP With Young Children
This week Janet Daby MP (Member of Parliament for Lewisham East) joins Verena Hefti MBE to discuss how she combines a big career with young children. Janet, who is a mother of 2, shares how she balances frequent evening commitments as an MP with being a present parent and what she has learned about dealing with feelings of guilt. There are lots of practical tips for anyone balancing a senior career whilst raising a family. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Visit Janet's website: www.janetdaby.org Follow Janet on Twitter: @JanetDaby
S10 E152 · Thu, November 23, 2023
Melissa Blisset - Gender Pay Gap: How Individuals & Employers Can Work to Close It
What is the root cause of the gender pay gap? What can we do as both individuals and employers to help close it? Following Equal Pay Day 2023 (the day in the year when - based on the gender pay gap - women overall in the UK stop being paid compared to men), Verena Hefti MBE is joined by financial wellbeing and pay gap analytics expert Melissa Blissett from UK Consultancy Barnett Waddingham to discuss the gender pay gap. The most recent Office of National Statistics Gender Pay Gap in the UK: 2023 report highlights that the pay gap is now 14.3%. Melissa shares why the data really needs a closer look and why, in her view, organisations are not yet doing enough to get to the bottom of what’s driving the pay gap in the first place. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Read the ONS Gender Pay Gap in the UK: 2023 statistics (released 01/11/23) Read more about Equal Pay Day 2023
S10 E151 · Thu, November 16, 2023
Paul Morgan-Bentley - Equal Parenting & How Sharing the Load Can Help Career Progression
“If we’re going to talk a good game about equality at work that also means men taking on childcare responsibilities.” Ahead of International Men's Day (19/11) Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations at The Times and author of the brilliant book The Equal Parent joins Verena Hefti MBE. Paul is an advocate for men properly sharing responsibility for caring for their children. He shares what he and his husband Robin have gained from parenting their son Solly equally and how this has positively impacted their career progression. Paul also discusses the research for his book The Equal Parent and why it is not biologically determined that the mother should be the primary carer in a heterosexual relationship. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find Paul's book The Equal Parent . Listen to episode 147 of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast discussing the Reykjavik Index for Leadership with Michelle Harrison.
S10 E150 · Thu, November 09, 2023
🎧 #Throwback: Mary Ann Sieghart on the Authority Gap
Our host Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording this week. Instead, we revisit one of our most popular episodes featuring former The Times Senior Editor Mary Ann Sieghart. Mary Ann is the author of a really intriguing book, The Authority Gap, which analyses why women are taken less seriously than men and what we can do about it. The discussion includes: Why men and women can say the exact same thing yet it’s perceived differently A look at the latest evidence and research around authority and gender What can we all do to deal with this authority gap in day-to-day life How can we change things for future generations Mary Ann’s book The Authority Gap is available via her website maryannsieghart.com . Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.
S10 E149 · Thu, November 02, 2023
{CEO Series} Matthew Hayes - How to Combine CEO Life With Parenting Young Children
Can you work in the top positions and still be there for school pick up? Today Verena Hefti MBE is joined by Matthew Hayes, the Vice President & Managing Director of Technology From Sage. Matthew is a father to two young daughters and is combining a big career with raising small children. In the episode, he shares how he balances life in a very senior role (alongside working on a start-up) and is present with his daughters, including working flexibly and being there for school drop-offs. This episode is packed with practical tips, including why Matthew believes being a CEO or Managing Director is possible when you have a family and what he has learned so far on his career journey. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Connect with Matthew Hayes on LinkedIn
S10 E148 · Thu, October 26, 2023
{CEO Series} Laura Citron - Why the CEO Role is Perfect for Working Parents
Applications to the Leaders Plus Fellowship close on 29 October. Download Application Pack. How do you know when you're ready to become a CEO? In this episode we are joined by Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, London's business growth and destination agency. Laura was appointed Chief Executive Officer whilst pregnant and shares why the CEO role is actually perfect for working parents. Wondering if you're ready to become a CEO? Laura shares her advice for anyone considering an upward career move, including where to go to find your first CEO role. There is also honest discussion around what Laura has learned about confidence and self doubt. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting inspirational working parents with children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Find out more about London & Partners at www.londonandpartners.com
S10 E147 · Thu, October 19, 2023
{CEO Series} Michelle Harrison - Does Society Think That Men & Women Are Equally Suitable to Lead? Findings from the Reykjavik Index.
Applications to the Leaders Plus Fellowship close on 29 October 2023. Download Application Pack. Does Society Think That Men and Women are Equally Suitable to Lead? Today we are joined by Michelle Harrison, Global CEO of Kantar Public . Launched in 2018, The Reykjavik Index for Leadership measures and tracks progress in society’s perceptions of women and men’s suitability to lead across the G7 nations, as well as Australia, Iceland, Indonesia, Poland, Singapore, Spain and Thailand. After five years of measurement, the research appears to confirm we have made little discernible progress as a global society in viewing women and men as equally suitable to lead. On the podcast, Michelle shares her thoughts on why societal attitudes toward female leaders have stalled, including what we need to do to change this. This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role. Show Notes: Find out more about the Reykjavik Index for Leadership . Mary Ann Siegart (Author of The Authority Gap) appeared on episode 81 of Big Careers, Small Children .
S10 E146 · Fri, October 13, 2023
Dr Jasmin Islam - How to Set Boundaries & Ask for What You Need When Balancing Career & Family
Applications to the Leaders Plus Fellowship close on 29 October 2023. Download Application Pack. “Give yourself the permission to be brave” Today we welcome Consultant Dr Jasmin Islam to the podcast. Jasmin balances two big roles alongside raising small children and splits her working hours between Kings College Hospital NHS & Clinical Public Health, United Kingdom Health Security Agency in London. Having recently returned from her second maternity leave, Jasmin joins Verena to discuss what she's learned about setting boundaries throughout her career and how she practically implements that in her own life. Jasmin also has helpful advice on how to ask for what you need, including how to deal with colleagues who might not be supportive of your requests. Connect with Jasmin on Twitter (X) @dr_jas_islam or get in touch via email jasmin.islam1@nhs.net
S10 E145 · Thu, October 05, 2023
Kate Smith - How Small Steps Can Lead to Big Changes & Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work
Applications to the Leaders Plus Fellowship close on 29 October. Download Application Pack. “Have kind conversations with yourself - we are often our own harshest critics when we should be our own best supporter.” We interview the brilliant Kate Smith (Executive Director, Consulting - CBRE UK ) about what she has learned from dealing with her own assumptions about herself and where she stands on whether you should adapt at work to emulate the stereotypical male leaders. The discussion includes: How small steps can lead to big changes Being your authentic self at work How she became an Executive Director Why the term imposter syndrome isn’t always helpful We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Invisible Women (Caroline Criada Perez) Fertility Matters at Work Edelman Trust Barometer
Bonus · Mon, October 02, 2023
⚡️Monday Motivation: Alex Pang on Implementing a 4 Day Week
At Big Careers, Small Children we are driving change for ambitious working parents. This #MondayMotivation bonus snippet from a previous episode shares a practical action you can implement this week to help you combine a big career with small children successfully. Advice today from Author and Researcher Alex Pang who shares practical suggestions on how you could begin implementing a 4 day working week. If you'd like to listen to Alex's conversation in full then head back to episode 32 of Big Careers, Small Children. Please note: our regular podcast episode will be released as usual on Thursday. Mentioned in this episode: Apply Now for the Leaders Plus Cross Sector Fellowship Early bird applications for the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship close on Saturday 30 September and the final application deadline is Sunday 29 October. Our award-winning Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents progressing senior careers who want to lead positive change. Find out more at www.leadersplus.org.uk/crosssectorfellowship
S10 E144 · Thu, September 28, 2023
Dominic Holmes - How to Resize a Client Facing Role from 5 to 4 Days
Applications to the Leaders Plus Fellowship close on 29 October. Download Application Pack. “I can honestly say I’ve been more successful on 4 days a week than 5 days a week.” It's a pleasure to welcome back Dominic Holmes to the podcast. Dominic is a Partner at the law firm Mischon De Reya and has successfully resized his client facing role from 5 days a week to 4 days. He shares: How he successfully reduced his workload Why delegating is crucial How to set firm boundaries with your time Why he's been more successful since reducing his working hours We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Connect with Dom on LinkedIn . Listen to episode 33 , Dominic's previous episode of Big Careers, Small Children.
Bonus · Mon, September 25, 2023
⚡️ Monday Motivation: Jennifer Petriglieri - How to Work With Your Partner to Increase the Chances of Career Success
At Big Careers, Small Children we are driving change for ambitious working parents. This #MondayMotivation bonus snippet from a previous episode shares a practical action you can implement this week to help you combine a big career with small children successfully. Advice today from Dr Jennifer Petriglieri (Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD ) who shares how to work with your partner (if you have one) to increase both your chances of career success. If you'd like to listen to Jennifer's conversation in full then head back to episode 16 of Big Careers, Small Children. Please note: our regular podcast episode will be released as usual on Thursday. Mentioned in this episode: Apply Now for the Leaders Plus Cross Sector Fellowship Early bird applications for the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship close on Saturday 30 September and the final application deadline is Sunday 29 October. Our award-winning Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents progressing senior careers who want to lead positive change. Find out more at www.leadersplus.org.uk/crosssectorfellowship
S10 E143 · Thu, September 21, 2023
Helen Gillett - How to Build a Board Career
“You will have transferable skills - it’s just a question of identifying what they are.” Today we welcome back Independent Non-Executive Director Helen Gillett to the podcast. Helen shares: What a Non-Executive Director role involves How to get a Non-Executive Director position What being on a board actually means How you can successfully work your network How you can combine a Non-Executive Director role when you're a parent of young children We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Listen to Bruce Daisley's "Eat Sleep Work Repeat" Visit the Women on Boards website Listen to Helen's previous episode of Big Careers, Small Children (episode 134) Early Bird Applications of the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship close on Saturday 30 September Our award-winning Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents progressing senior careers who want to lead positive change. Find out more.
Bonus · Mon, September 18, 2023
⚡️ Monday Motivation: Vanessa Bohns - How to Increase Your Chances of a Yes
At Big Careers, Small Children we are driving change for ambitious working parents. This #MondayMotivation bonus snippet from a previous episode shares a practical action you can implement this week to help you combine a big career with small children successfully. Advice today from Vanessa Bohns (Professor of Organisational Behavior, Cornell University) who shares how you can get to 'yes' in negotiations and why you have more influence than you might think. A very useful skill when you're negotiating for a pay rise or a flexible working request. If you'd like to listen to Vanessa's conversation in full then head back to episode 80 of Big Careers, Small Children . Please note: our regular podcast episode will be released as usual on Thursday.
S10 E142 · Thu, September 14, 2023
Lydia Leipert & Rebecca Zöller - How to Make Job Sharing Work
“With job sharing the company gets two people - two ideas, two heads, two brains.” Ours guests today Lydia Leipert and Rebecca Zöller job share a senior role at a Bavarian broadcaster and have even been nicknamed “Lydecca” by their colleagues. As they put it themselves - " between us we have 4 children, are 2 women and share 1 job". Lydia and Rebecca share the story of how they found each other, why job sharing can work so fantastically and how you can convince your employer to support you in a job share. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Find details of Lydia and Rebecca's book Geteilte Arbeit, doppelt durchstarten!: So funktioniert Jobsharing (currently only available in German) Visit the Lydecca website at www.lydecca-jobsharing.com For helpful resources on job sharing in the UK look at: The Job Share Pair www.thejobsharepair.com - resources and community for job sharers as well as coaching and consulting (Hannah and Rachel were also on episode 73 of the Big Careers, Small Children Podcast, listen here ) Flexible Working People - a community of professionals searching for flexible roles flexibleworkingpeople.com Daisy Chain - a free online platform where people can match with flexible employers daisy-chain.com Investing in Women - a jobs board for part-time and flexible roles investinginwomen.co.uk Working Mums - part time and flexible roles www.workingmums.co.uk
Bonus · Mon, September 11, 2023
⚡️ Monday Motivation: Anita Kerwin-Nye - How to Combine a Big Career & Small Children
At Big Careers, Small Children we are driving change for ambitious working parents. This #MondayMotivation bonus snippet from a previous episode shares a practical action you can implement this week to help you progress your career in a way that works for your family. Advice from Anita Kerwin-Nye (Executive Director - YHA England & Wales) who shares the top three things she tells her own Mentees who are progressing their careers whilst raising young children. If you'd like to listen to Anita's conversation in full then head back to episode 26 of Big Careers, Small Children . Please note: our regular podcast episode will be released as usual on Thursdays.
S10 E141 · Thu, September 07, 2023
Drake Peabody - How to Network to Support Your Career Development
“Some of those lightbulb moments have actually come from engaging with people that come from totally different backgrounds, or totally different industries or have totally different perspectives.” Today we welcome global finance leader Drake Peabody to Big Careers, Small Children. Drake is an alumnus of the Leaders Plus Fellowship and Director of Group FP&A at IHS Towers, one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure in the world. Born in the US in a small town near Connecticut, Drake has lived and worked all over the world but is now settled in London with his wife Kara and their young son. We discuss: How to effectively network to support career development How to network in a way that feels authentic to you The impact a sponsor can have on your career 3 tips for non-natural networkers Connect with Drake Peabody on LinkedIn.
S10 E140 · Thu, August 31, 2023
Karen Dillon - Overcoming Microstress: How Little Things Can Pile Up & Create Big Problems & What to Do About It
Ever find yourself drowning in a sea of endless responsibilities? Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and in need of some practical solutions? Perhaps you need to address the microstress in your life. Microstresses are the small moments of stress that have insidiously infiltrated both our work and personal lives with invisible but devastating effects. These seemingly harmless everyday occurrences can zap our energy levels and impact our performance. Our guest today is Karen Dillon, an expert in dealing with microstress. A former Editor of Harvard Business Review magazine, Karen is the co-author of the bestselling book The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems - and What to Do about It. In this podcast, Karen shares practical tips on how to limit the microstress in our lives, including shedding light on: What counts as microstress and how it might be impacting you day-to-day Why most moments of microstress come from interactions with someone else Why negative interactions have up to 5 times the impact of positive interactions How to deal with a boss or colleague who is regularly creating moments of microstress How to build resilience against microstress in our lives We hope you enjoy the conversation and are able to put the tips into practice. Show Notes: Find Karen's book The Microstress Effect on Amazon . Rob Cross (Karen's Co-Author) has a range of resources on robcross.org Learn more about the Microstress Effect App on Google Play or in the Apple App Store .
Bonus · Thu, August 24, 2023
🎧 Throwback: Dr Jennifer Petriglieri on How Dual Career Couples Make it Work
Over the summer host Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording and instead, we'll be sharing some of her personal favourite episodes. This week we are revisiting the 2020 episode recorded with Dr Jennifer Petriglieri, an expert on how dual career couples can thrive in relationships both at home and at work. Jennifer shares the concrete steps you can take today to strengthen the positive impact of your relationship on your career. Plus there’s a breakdown of the 3 types of couple approaches to careers and a reminder that our partner is often our secret weapon when it comes to our long-term career success. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.
Bonus · Thu, August 17, 2023
🎧 Throwback: Fiona McDonnell on Finding a Work/Life Rhythm
Over the summer host Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording and instead, we'll be sharing some of her personal favourite episodes. This week we revisit the episode with author and business leader Fiona McDonnell . Fiona's debut book Two Mirrors and a Cheetah offers inspiration and practical advice on finding career fulfilment. Including how you can challenge assumptions and choices that hold you back. Listen to the episode to learn how to: Identify your purpose and progress your career Recognise and successfully navigate change Deal with challenges like a ‘bad’ manager Define your own work-life rhythm Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.
Bonus · Thu, August 10, 2023
🎧 Throwback: Nick Wilkie on Taking Career Breaks as a CEO
Over the summer host Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording and instead, we'll be sharing some of her personal favourite episodes. This week we revisit the 2019 episode with former National Childbirth Trust (NCT) CEO, Nick Wilkie. Nick talks candidly about stepping away from his Chief Executive position at the NCT to be a full-time parent, allowing his partner to return a full-time leadership position and how he will ensure that headhunters still remember him when he returns. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.
Bonus · Thu, August 03, 2023
🎧 Throwback: Lucy Walker on How to Become a Non-Executive Director
Over the summer host, Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from podcast recording and instead, we'll be sharing some of her personal favourite episodes. This week we invite you to revisit the episode with Leaders Plus Fellow Lucy Walker who talks through how she became a Non-Executive Director and how you can become one too. Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn here . Useful Resources Mentioned by Lucy Women on Boards: www.womenonboards.net Nurole: www.nurole.com Dynamic Boards: www.dynamicboards.co.uk First Flight Non-Executive Directors: www.firstflightnonexec.com
Bonus · Thu, July 27, 2023
🎧 Throwback Episode: Mother Pukka on Flexible Working
Over the summer host, Verena Hefti MBE is taking a short break from interviewing to spend time with her family. We'll be revisiting some of the most popular episodes of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast for you to enjoy. This week we invite you to re-visit the 2020 episode with Anna Whitehouse (also known as Mother Pukka) who talks about setting up her flex appeal campaign and why she has pioneered change in flexible working. The wonderful news is since recording the podcast with Anna the law has changed because of this incredible campaigning. When the Flexible Working Bill passes Royal Assent it will mean ALL workers have the legal right to request flexible working from day one with their company. Congratulations to Anna and all involved in #FlexAppeal . Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.
S9 E139 · Thu, July 13, 2023
Ashley Quinto Powell - Practical Strategies for Selling Yourself When You're a Busy Working Parent
“One of the most important things is to have people who will mention you in a room when you’re not there.” Our guest today is Ashley Quinto Powell, a serial entrepreneur and the author of Executive Motherhood: The Art of Having It All Without Doing It All . Ashley founded the Virtual Assistant Agency, myVA Rocks and has spoken about motherhood for TEDx and many others. So what are the practical strategies working parents can use to really sell themselves when they are busy progressing their career and raising children? Ashley shares her tips, including: Why we need women in the room - and at the top The importance of a powerful virtual network and how to build it Moving beyond “imposter syndrome” Part-time salary negotiations and understanding your real value Whether you should talk about yourself as a working parent in a job interview How to sell your skills when you don't like promoting yourself We hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: Executive Motherhood: The Art of Having It All Without Doing It All is available on Amazon . Find out more about Fraser Nash Consultancy .
S9 E138 · Thu, July 06, 2023
Children Starting School? Practical Tips for Ambitious Working Parents
“No person grows like the parent who is just about to start primary school.” Will your child start a new school this year? As exciting as the school transition is for you and your child the school journey can bring an extra set of challenges for working parents. This week Leaders Plus Fellows Rajani Rao and Temi Olusola share their personal experience of having a child begin their school journey and the practical tips they have learned along the way. Discover: How to thrive when your child starts school The unexpected things to be ready for The practicalities to consider when you're child is off school for holidays How to make the school transition as enjoyable as possible (for you and your child) With thanks to Rajani Rao, Principle Engineer at U-Blox and Temi Olusola, HRD at Westminster Abbey for sharing their honest experiences. Show Notes: Maternity Action - free legal advice ( https://maternityaction.org.uk ) Find more tips over on the Leaders Plus blog .
S9 E137 · Thu, June 29, 2023
Polly MacKenzie - How to Drive Change & Create Powerful Policies for Working Parents
"I fundamentally believe we cannot have equality at work until we have equality at home." This week we welcome change maker Polly Mackenzie to the podcast. Driving change has been central to Polly's career which has spanned several high-profile roles. Polly was previously Director of Policy to then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. After leaving Government, Polly established the operations of the Women’s Equality Party as well as founding the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute alongside Martin Lewis. She was also the Chief Executive of the think tank Demos . Polly is currently the Chief Social Purpose Officer at University of the Arts London . In this powerful discussion, Verena and Polly discuss driving real change and creating meaningful policies for working parents. Follow Polly on Twitter @pollymackenzie Show Notes: Herb Cohen - You Can Negotiate Anything James O'Brien - How to be Right in a World Gone Wrong Email verena@leadersplus.org.uk if your organisation is doing awesome policy work and you want to be included on the list of companies
S9 E136 · Thu, June 22, 2023
Christian Uhle - How to Find Meaning in Both Life & Work
“We all experience different types of meaning in our lives and we all have different sources of meaning in our lives.” If you feel you lack purpose, should you try to find the meaning of life? How can you increase the meaning you find in both life and work? Why are so many jobs unfulfilling and what practically can you do about it? Philosopher Christian Uhle joins Verena Hefti MBE for a frank discussion on meaning and how we can all increase the meaning in our lives. Find out more about Christian's work, including his book 'Wozu Das Alles' at https://christian-uhle.de Resources mentioned: David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs: A Theory John Maynard Keynes - Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren
S9 E135 · Thu, June 15, 2023
Ann Crumley - Compassionate Leadership & Being Human at Work & How Being a Working Parent Has Changed in the Last 30 Years
“Compassionate leadership starts with the self.” As a leader how can you balance compassion for your colleagues with effectiveness in getting the job done? This week Verena is joined by the Assistant HR Director for NHS Ayrshire and Arryn, Ann Crumley, who has over 30 years of experience working in the NHS. They discuss: Why compassionate leadership starts with putting yourself first What has changed for working parents in the last 30 years, particularly in the NHS How to approach difficult conversations by being human Guilt and judgement of working parents The transformative power of coaching Show Notes: Employee Engagement & NHS Performance Read the article by Michael West & Jeremy Dawson here Personality test: Myers-Briggs Personality Test Find out more Free Coaching for NHS Scotland Staff Find out more Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S9 E134 · Thu, June 08, 2023
Helen Gillett - How to Move a Full Time Job to 3 or 4 Days Without Exhausting Yourself in the Process & Choosing Work Purposefully
Is it possible to move a full time job down to 3 or 4 days without exhausting yourself in the process? In this episode, Leaders Plus Senior Leader Mentor Helen Gillett shares her experience of successfully resizing jobs and finding purposeful work. Following an award-winning career as a leader in the utilities and wellbeing sector, Helen has now entered a phase of portfolio non-executive and advisory work. Helen and Verena discuss: Moving a full time job to 3 or 4 days without exhausting yourself Why organisations need to think through the flexibility they offer Choosing roles purposefully Why organisations need to invest in their managers How to figure out where you add value to the team Connect with Helen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helengillett Show Notes: Mention: Greg Reed (CEO, Places for People) Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S9 E133 · Thu, May 25, 2023
John Higgins - Unlocking the Power of Silence: Creating Inclusive Workplaces and Balancing Work-Life Dynamics
Can silence be a powerful tool in the workplace? Join us as we explore this intriguing concept with this week's guest, John Higgins, an academic researcher and expert on speaking truth to power and workplace activism. In this episode, John shares with Verena how embracing silence can help us build connections, understand others' stories, and foster a more inclusive environment. They also discuss the importance of changing norms for working parents and recognising the consequences of privilege in the workplace. John offers practical advice on navigating workplace politics, creating equality of voice, and building allyship to support a more inclusive environment. Plus, discover the role of silence in our personal and professional relationships and how it can lead to deeper connections and more meaningful conversations. Buy John's book “ The Great Unheard at Work: Understanding Voice and Silence in Organisations” via the Routledge Bookshop , using the code TGUW25 for a 25% discount. (correct at time of publishing) Find out more by going to www.radicalod.com or www.JohnHigginsResearch.com Show Notes: " Wives of the Organization " article by Anne Huff Discover the work of Professor Megan Reitz at www.meganreitz.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S9 E132 · Thu, May 18, 2023
Helen Stenhouse & Alison Hilton (People Puzzles) - What Really Holds Employers Back From Offering Flexibility at Work & What Can Be Done About It
What stops employers from offering true flexibility at work and how can we drive change in this area? Our guests today are Helen Stenhouse and Alison Hilton from the HR company People Puzzles . Together with host Verena Hefti MBE they discuss: How organisations could offer the same flexibility as freelance life Why trust is at the centre of flexible working Why organisations need to focus on outcomes and not working hours The importance of creating work environments where people don’t burn themselves out Why culture and role modelling is so important within an organisation How the Pandemic enabled employees to bring their whole self to work Why there’s a commercial upside to flexible working - you get brilliant people! Show Notes: The book mentioned is The Flexibility Paradox by Dr Heejung Chung. Dr Chung was a previous guest on the Big Careers, Small Children podcast where she discussed why flexible working can sometimes lead to exploitation, especially for women. Listen to episode 78 with Dr Chung. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S9 E131 · Wed, May 10, 2023
Tobi Asare - How to Negotiate a Pay Rise & Avoid the Part-Time Penalty & Practical Tips to Show Your Value at Work
“You should always be thinking that you need to be fairly compensated for the value you are bringing.” This week we welcome Tobi Asare, Founder of the online platform for working mothers My Bump Pay . As the first woman in her office location to go through the maternity leave process, Tobi found herself on a steep learning curve and became interested in how mums go on to build successful careers amidst the barriers that surround working mothers. Tobi and Verena discuss: Negotiating for a pay rise (especially whilst on maternity leave) Practical tips to communicate your value to your employer How to avoid the part-time pay penalty as a parent How to ensure you're not impacted by the pension pay gap How to increase your visibility at work Tobi's book The Blend is available here. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S9 E130 · Wed, May 03, 2023
Jessica Heagren - The Careers After Babies Report & Why Businesses Are Not Holding On To Talented Women After They Have Children
“If the [careers after babies] report did one thing it proved that 85% of us can’t make full time working in the office work alongside having young children.” This week our guest is Jessica Heagren, ex Financial Services Director, mother of four and the CEO and Founder of That Works For Me , a platform connecting skilled professionals with flexible work. Jessica is also the author of the groundbreaking Careers After Babies Report which presents stark research on what really happens to women's careers after they have children. Host Verena Hefti MBE and Jessica discuss: The findings of the Career After Babies Report Why it's so hard to combine a big career and children What the report identifies as the crux of the issue Why objectives and contribution to the team matter more than time Why so many women are leaving middle management jobs The positive impact of flexibility on working parents Download the Careers After Babies Report here. Connect with Jessica Heagren on LinkedIn. Show notes: Two resources that came up in the conversation between Verena and Jess. Episode 99 – Dr. Christian Busch – How to Create Your Own Good Luck & Cultivate Serendipity The Equal Parent, by Paul Morgan-Bentley Applications are now open for our award-winning NHS Fellowship until 11 July. Find out more . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E129 · Wed, April 26, 2023
Compilation Episode – Practical Tips for Parents Working in the NHS
There’s no doubt that the NHS is a unique and highly pressurised work environment. To celebrate the launch of applications opening for our award-winning NHS Fellowship Programme we have handpicked some of the most thought provoking discussions from previous podcast episodes. Each clip features an inspiring NHS Leader who has combined or is currently combining a big career with raising small children. Topics covered include: Advice on returning to work Driving change and the gender pay gap in the NHS Postnatal depression Overcoming challenges Guilt Deciding when to have children Flexible working in the NHS Featured: Dr. Susie Minson – Consultant Paediatrican (Series 1, Episode 1) Professor Jane Dacre – Emeritus Professor of UCL Medical School (Series 1, Episode 6) Dr. Geraldine Strathdee OBE – National Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS England (Series 2, Episode 12) Dr. Suhana Ahmed – Clinical Director – Older People’s Mental Health Service & Consultant Psychiatrist (Series 3, Episode 25) Dr. Becky Maxwell – Emergency Medicine Consultant & Deputy Medical Director (Series 3, Episode 41) Dr. Karen Squires – A&E Consultant (Series 6, Episode 95) Kate Jarman – co-founder of Flex NHS and Director of Corporate Affairs (Series 7, Episode 100) Applications are now open for our award-winning NHS Fellowship until 11 July. Find out more . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Listen now on Apple Music | L isten now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E128 · Wed, April 12, 2023
Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler - Negotiating Flexible Working During the Recruitment Process & Managing Emails On Your Day Off
“This time around I was really clear from the start with the recruiter that I can only consider this if the way in which I’m currently working compressed hours can continue.” Our guest today is Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler, the CEO of children's charity Bookmark and mum to 3 small children. Graihagh works flexibly 4 days a week as the charity CEO and she shares with Verena how she negotiated for flexible working during the recruitment process, including why she strongly believes being a working parent is a big asset. The discussion includes: What Graihagh learned about negotiating for flexible working during the application process How to make an impact in the first 100 days at a new organisation How Graihagh handles emails on her day off Moving from 2 to 3 children Why you should update your LinkedIn profile Why being a working parent is one of your greatest strengths Connect with Graihagh on LinkedIn or Twitter @GraihaghC Learn more about volunteering with Bookmark and helping children develop the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond at www.bookmarkreading.org . The recruitment firm mentioned are www.siennaedge.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E127 · Wed, March 29, 2023
EMPLOYER CHANGE MAKERS: Emma Codd, Global Inclusion Leader, Deloitte, on DEI Strategy & Implementing Culture Change That Works
“If someone offers you an opportunity, yes think about it, but do it. Know that you can do it.” Welcome to this bonus Employer Change Maker episode of Big Careers, Small Children. Today we welcome Emma Codd, a Partner and Global Inclusion Leader for Deloitte , a leading professional services firm. As Global Inclusion Leader Emma was responsible for devising and rolling out Deloitte's DEI strategy globally, spanning 160 countries around the world. Emma shares why she is so passionate about diversity and inclusion as well as practical tips and advice for driving culture change on such a high level. The discussion includes: How to implement a culture change that works Making culture changes without a big budget Finding a senior sponsor to back you The importance of having leadership buy-in to make change The common traps that DEI leaders fall into when trying to make change Watch Deloitte's award-winning Ask Yourself film which was created to encourage everyone at Deloitte to think about their personal responsibility to treat people with respect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G0OUHnCudw Find out more about diversity and inclusion at Deloitte . Connect with Emma Codd on Linkedin. Employer Change Makers This episode is part of our Employer Change Maker series, supporting employers with expertise, ideas and resources to drive positive change for working parents within their organisations. Leaders Plus are building a positive movement for change so that new parents can thrive in leadership roles and progress their careers. Find out more. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E126 · Wed, March 22, 2023
Geraldine Butler-Wright - How to Job Hunt Using Your Network & Making Those First 100 Days in a New Role Count Whilst Making Time for Self-Care
“If you’re a new parent thinking about going back to work and doing a job search, do have a think about searching for companies that are more remote first as it will make your life easier.” Today we welcome back Geraldine Butler-Wright to the podcast to discuss job hunting whilst on maternity leave. Geraldine recently returned to work from her own second maternity leave having accepted an exciting new role as Chief People and Culture Officer at the live streaming platform, StreamElements. Verena and Geraldine discuss: How to job hunt using your network whilst on maternity leave How to make the first 100 days at a new organisation count whilst also making time for self-care How to practically reach out to companies you’re interested in (including what to write in your opening message) Why you should speak to your network in person and not on email when job hunting Why parents should might be best prioritising organisations who offer remote work Connect with Geraldine on LinkedIn. We hope you enjoy the conversation, remember to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E125 · Wed, March 15, 2023
Deborah Grayson Riegel & Sophie Riegel - Strategies for Overcoming Guilt & Over Thinking as a Working Parent & How to Ask for Help
“I had an awesome role model for how I want to work and the work-life balance I want.” Sophie Riegel It's our first mother-daughter interview this week on Big Careers, Small Children and we're delighted to welcome Deborah Grayson Riegel and her daughter Sophie to the podcast. Deborah is a keynote speaker and consultant who teaches leadership communication for Wharton Business School and Columbia Business School. She regularly contributes to Harvard Business Review, Inc., Psychology Today, Forbes , and Fast Company and has written numerous books, including "Go To Help" which she co-authored with her daughter Sophie. Sophie Riegel is a Senior at Duke University and the author of "Don't Tell Me To Relax," "Overcoming Overthinking," and "Go To Help!" She is a professional speaker, coach, and mental health advocate. Our discussion includes: Strategies to stop overthinking What it was like for daughter Sophie when her mother travelled the globe for work when she was young How to ask for help without feeling guilty Strategies for overcoming guilt as a working parent Find out more about Deborah Grayson Riegel via her website https://deborahgraysonriegel.com Find out more about Sophie Riegel, including her coaching practice at https://sophieriegel.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E124 · Wed, March 08, 2023
EMPLOYER CHANGE MAKERS: Dr Claartje Vinkenburg on Diversity & Inclusion in Careers
“When it comes to diversity and inclusion a lot of organisations are managing recruitment and selection rather well. Promoting for diversity is a whole other issue.” Dr Claartje Vinkenburg is an expert on gender diversity in careers. In this special employer change maker episode of Big Careers, Small Children she joins Verena Hefti MBE to discuss the most recent research on career development in the context of promoting gender equality. Their discussion includes: How organisations can ensure that not just those who shout loudest get promoted Whether organisations should have high potential lists Whether women actually have lower confidence than men when it comes to career progression Gender differences in senior roles Why it’s good to share you have care responsibilities at interview stage The strategy used by female employees in Barack Obama’s White House Administration to fight gender bias Connect with Dr Claartje Vinkenburg on LinkedIn. Employer Change Makers This episode is part of our Employer Change Makers series, supporting employers with expertise, ideas and resources to drive positive change for working parents within their organisations. Leaders Plus are building a positive movement for change so that new parents can thrive in leadership roles and progress their careers. Find out more. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E123 · Wed, March 01, 2023
Dax Grant - Humanizing Business & Leading Positive Change
"I worked for someone many years ago who said "You can look out the window or you can look in the mirror". I think it's really important to keep looking in the mirror every day and making sure you're role-modelling as much as you can.” In this episode, Verena speaks with Dax Grant, CEO Global Transform , Forbes Technology Council Dax is a lead global authority on entrepreneurial c-suite leadership, a renowned Woman in Technology, accomplished keynote speaker and societal voice. Listed within the Global CIO 100, Cranfield School of Management 100 Women to Watch, CREA Global Awards Winner for Entrepreneurship, named Top 100 Most Influential Women in Leadership, March8 Magazine and Top 10 Most Influential Business Leaders, CXO Outlook Magazine. Dax has significant expertise in leading global COO and CIO functions, a board advisor and member of the Forbes Technology Council. As a Chartered Banker and Associate of the London Institute of Banking and Finance, Dax also holds an economics degree from Cambridge and MBA, Alumna of Cranfield Business School and Harvard Business School, Dax is recognized for her philanthropic activities, as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and author: The Entrepreneurial Quotient. They discuss: The importance of entrepreneurship within organisations for leading positive change Humanizing leadership both at work and as a parent - and not making assumptions about what the other person needs or wants The flux in priorities at different phases of life and career, and the importance of letting some things stop to make space for others Finding your purpose and using it to drive momentum for change. Connect with Dax on Linkedin . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E122 · Wed, February 22, 2023
Adirupa Sengupta - Leading Across Boundaries, Finding Your Purpose & Travelling Internationally for Work When You Have a Young Family
“The thing that bridges the gap between the choice I made and the connection I feel with the organisation - in order to give my best self to work - is purpose.” Today we welcome Adirupa Sengupta, Group CEO of Common Purpose , an incredible charity that runs leadership-development programmes around the world. Adirupa (Adi) has extensive experience working across different countries, cities and cultures to help leaders learn to cross boundaries in order to tackle complex problems. We discuss: What Adi used to believe about combining a big career with small children Frequently travelling internationally for work when you're a parent Finding your purpose Leading across boundaries Dealing with assumptions Connect with Adi on Twitter @AdirupaSengupta Find out more about the Big Spark Cast. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S8 E121 · Wed, February 15, 2023
Catherine Muge and Dr Tom Bashford - How to Navigate Shared Parental Leave as a Dual Career Couple
Apply today: Cross-Sector Fellowship applications close on 7th March 2023 "Our family is a mutual enterprise, it's a project we manage together, and it has to be given time and resource. We have to really clearly communicate that between us: is everyone happy with the time and resource that is going into that mutual project? " Joining Verena on the podcast this week are Catherine Muge and Dr Tom Bashford. Catherine is Director of Partnership Intelligence at UNICEF UK and Tom is Assistant Professor in Healthcare Systems, University of Cambridge and Consultant Neuroanaesthetist, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Together, they are also raising two young boys. Tom and Catherine share their two experiences of Shared Parental Leave, as well as their views on the importance of role modelling equality for their sons. They discuss: how having children changed their perspective on the way they work, forcing them to be more strategic with their time and considerate of the family unit as a whole the societal bias that still leads to assumptions of Catherine as the default caregiver the importance of regular "moments of rebalancing" the caregiving burden. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E120 · Wed, February 08, 2023
Geraldine Butler-Wright - Thinking About a Career Change?
Thinking about a career change? Today we are revisiting one of our most popular podcast episodes featuring Chief People & Culture Officer Geraldine Butler-Wright. Geraldine has juggled multiple senior leadership roles and navigated big career changes (including cross-sector), she is an advocate of finding a job that ignites our true passion. In this episode, she shares fantastic tips for working parents thinking about a career change. The discussion includes: Why it's important to find organisations who welcome fluidity in getting things done Why just saying 'yes' might be the best decision you ever make How to learn to sell yourself to a potential new employer How to choose the right company for you How to improve and then highlight your transferable skills Geraldine's best advice for moving to an organisation with purpose At the time of recording, Geraldine was Chief People & Culture Officer for Healthily but has since moved to the streaming platform StreamElements . She is also a Trustee, Advisor and Strategic Advisor, as well as a Senior Leader Mentor on our award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme . She is a mother of two small children. Connect with Geraldine on LinkedIn here. Please find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E119 · Wed, February 01, 2023
Verena Hefti MBE & Jemma Biteye - Practical Tips for Working Parents: Equal Career Progression
The tables have turned in this week's episode. Host Verena Hefti MBE (CEO and Founder of social enterprise Leaders Plus) is interviewed by Leaders Plus Fellow Jemma Biteye on the practical ways to support equal career progression for working parents. Jemma and Verena discuss: what led to Verena setting up Leaders Plus to support parents progressing senior careers how to network when you don't have time ways to deal with heavy workload practical ways companies and individuals can support equal career progression of parents We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Trailer · Tue, January 31, 2023
Apply Now for the Leaders Plus Fellowship
A special update for any listeners with a baby or a child between the ages of 0-11. We're creating a world where nobody needs to choose between becoming a CEO and raising young children. The Leaders Plus Fellowship is a targeted 9-month career development programme designed to support working parents to progress ambitious careers in a way that works for their family. Fellows have access to a dedicated Senior Leader Mentor plus high-quality resources to manage the practical challenges of juggling work and family life. The Leaders Plus Fellowship has been described by some previous Fellows as, “life-transforming!" I am especially proud that 53% of our 2022 Leaders Plus Fellowship cohort reported that they have been promoted or received significantly more senior responsibility by the last day of the programme. I encourage you to find out more: www.leadersplus.org.uk/crosssectorfellowship Applications close on 07 March 2023. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E118 · Wed, January 25, 2023
Joanna Santinon - How to Navigate a Demanding Career & IVF
“Until you’re trying you just don’t look into fertility and you don’t understand where the fertility cliffs are and where the drop-offs start to happen.” Our guest today is Joanna Santinon, EY Ambassador, Non-Executive Director and Charity Trustee. Joanna bravely shares her personal fertility journey, including how she combined multiple rounds of IVF treatment alongside her demanding career as a partner at Ernst & Young. We discuss: What to know before you embark on IVF Why compartmentalising really helped Joanna The best piece of advice Joanna received Why having IVF didn’t affect her career What Joanna wishes she'd known in hindsight We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E117 · Tue, January 17, 2023
Laura Harrison & Rajani Rao: What it Takes to Make a Mentoring Relationship Transformational
“Before Laura I really sat there waiting for opportunities. After Laura’s mentoring session that changed for me. I would actually go out and find them.” To celebrate International Mentoring Day (17 January 2023) we speak to Consultant Laura Harrison, a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme, and her Mentee, Leaders Plus Fellow and U-Blox Principal Engineer Rajani Rao to find out what made their relationship so successful. We discuss: what it takes to make a mentoring relationship truly transformational where to go to find Mentors why some conversations make a difference and others don't We hope you enjoy the conversation. Connect with Laura on LinkedIn . Connect with Rajani on LinkedIn Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . We are currently recruiting Senior Leader Mentors. Find out more. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E116 · Wed, January 11, 2023
Tina Miller - How to Share Primary Caring Responsibilities Equally & Addressing the Issue of Female Dominated Caring
“The norm now in the UK is that we have working families but we don’t have a society that supports that.” Can a primary caring responsibility be equally shared between mothers and fathers? Our guest today is Tina Miller, Professor of Sociology at Oxford Brookes University and an expert in caring. Professor Miller shares how the responsibility for orchestrating the care of children often falls to mothers, and how, over time, this pattern becomes etched into the very fabric of family life. We discuss how primary caring responsibilities can be shared more equally between mums and dads (in heteronormative households), including examining: Contradictions we face as working parents Dealing with the mental load Problems around shared parental leave Guilt and expectations What a healthy working environment could look like so both men and women could care Letting go so that fathers can take on more responsibility We hope you enjoy the conversation. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E115 · Wed, January 04, 2023
Wendy K Smith - Both/And Thinking - Why We Don't Need to Choose Between Two Things We Love
“If we shift our thinking to a both/and approach it enables us to open up all kinds of different possibilities and to use these tensions as a source of creativity.” Today we are delighted to welcome Wendy K Smith to the podcast. Wendy is the Emma Smith Morris Professor of Management and academic director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business & Economics. Wendy is also the co-author of the brilliant book Both/And Thinking, which challenges the perception that we have to choose between pursuing two things we love. Instead, the book sets out the ways that we can be both/and instead of either/or, including providing tools for coping with multiple tensions at the same time. Wendy and Verena discuss both/and thinking in the context of progressing your career whilst enjoying your young family and share practical tips on focusing on the bigger picture goals and learning to find comfort in the discomfort. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Both/And thinking, including where to order a copy of the book via bothandthinking.net. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E114 · Wed, December 21, 2022
Anita Nowak - How Can We Leverage Empathy for Personal, Organisational & Social Change
“If you are high performance you need empathy in your workplace!” Our guest today is Anita Nowak , an expert in empathy and author of the forthcoming book Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organisational, and Social Change. Anita is passionate about mentoring the next generation of changemakers and teaches leadership, ethics in management, and social entrepreneurship and innovation at McGill University. In this episode, we dive into empathy - a skill that post-pandemic has never been more critical for us at a personal level and as leaders in the workplace. Anita shares with us the latest research on why empathy is crucial in organisations, how it contributes to our own personal well-being and happiness and why it's so much more than just the "touchy-feely stuff." We hope you enjoy the conversation. You can pre-order a copy of Anita's forthcoming book via Amazon. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E113 · Wed, December 14, 2022
Michelle Bradley - How to Overcome Burnout as a Busy Working Mother & Leading an Organisation with Empathy
“In our office, we don’t talk about work-life balance we talk about home-life balance.” Our guest today is Michelle Bradley, CEO of The Parent Rooms, a perinatal mental health charity where parents can access support and friendship who are based in Northern Ireland. Michelle launched The Parents Rooms after struggling with postnatal depression and feeling isolated and alone in the early years of parenthood. She shares with us everything she has learned as a courageous leader with a big career and small children. Including: Overcoming burnout and recognising the signs you need self-care Dealing with postnatal depression and the importance of services for new mothers Leading an organisation with empathy Finding your identity outside of being a mother Overcoming confidence struggles and dealing with imposter syndrome We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Michelle and the fantastic service offered by The Parent Rooms at https://www.theparentrooms.co.uk If you're struggling with postnatal depression please seek help from your GP. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E112 · Wed, December 07, 2022
Alex Budak - How to Have a Changemaker Mindset & Lead Change for Working Parents in Your Organisation
“Instead of waiting for someone else, we can each try and lead change from where we are.” Our guest today is Alex Budak, a social entrepreneur, UC Berkeley Haas faculty member, speaker and the author of the empowering book Becoming a Changemaker . Alex believes anyone has the potential to lead change positive change. He talks us through his practical guide to becoming a changemaker, no matter where you are in an organisation. Including: The personality traits people who drive positive change have in common How to use the latest research to drive change for working parents in your organisation The 5 superpowers of influencing and how to use them We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Alex at www.alexbudak.com For more information about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E111 · Wed, November 30, 2022
Lou Conran - How to Deal With a Termination for Medical Reasons & Cope With Loss When You Also Need to Work
TW: TFMR “Emma is very much part of the family, that was very important to me. I am a mother, I do have a child.” Today we welcome critically acclaimed comedian, writer and performer, Lou Conran. Lou had a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) after finding out her daughter Emma had a rare medical condition which meant she would be unable to survive. She bravely shares her personal story, including how she dealt with needing to keep earning money (as a comedian) in the midst of this heartbreaking experience and how family, friends and colleagues can support you if you're going through baby loss. For anyone who is going through a TFMR or dealing with baby loss, support can be found via www.tommys.org Thank you Lou for this inspiring conversation. Find out more about Lou, including details of her excellent Spit or Swallow podcast at www.louconran.com . For more information about about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E110 · Wed, November 23, 2022
Dr Martha Deiros Collado - How to Be Present With Your Children at Home & Not Feel Guilty About Leaving Them When at Work
“It’s good for our children to see mothers as not just a parent but so much more than that. There are different facets to our identity and it’s healthy for kids to witness that.” Our guest today is Dr Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist specialising in family therapy and host of the brilliant podcast Talking Sense with Dr Martha . Leaders Plus Fellows tell us time and time again that they struggle with worrying about their children when they are at work and thinking about work when they are with the children. So how can working parents switch off and be truly present with their kids at home and vice versa, how can they go to work and not feel guilty about leaving their kids? Dr Martha shares fantastic, practical advice for working parents, including: 3 things every parent can do today to be more present with their children Why your child needs meaningful connection and not necessarily hours of your time How to be focused at work without feeling guilty How to make children understand that you have to and want to work We hope you enjoy our conversation. To find out more about Dr Martha head to her website at www.drmarthapsychologist.com Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E109 · Wed, November 16, 2022
Dr. Beth A Livingston - Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial & Gender Equity at Work, Plus Tips on Spousal Negotiation
Gender equity can't happen without racial equity. We need Shared Sisterhood. Our guest today is Dr Beth A. Livingston , Associate Professor in Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. Beth's research interests lie primarily in gender, diversity, and the management of work and family. Her best-selling book, Shared Sisterhood is a blueprint for taking collective action for racial and gender equity in the workplace. Shared Sisterhood outlines how individuals from historically power-dominant and marginalized groups (such as ethnic minorities) must work together so that all women experience the benefits of professional growth and equity. We discuss: How Beth didn't initially get tenure whilst juggling work and family life Career and family negotiations in dual-career couples How to phrase difficult conversations with your partner (if you have one) Changing how we strive for equity in the workplace How to bridge the divide between women of all backgrounds through authentic relationships Follow Dr. Beth A Livingston on Twitter @BethALivingston https://bethalivingston.com Show notes: The Second Shift - Anne Machung, Hilary Huber, Alie Russell Shared Sisterhood - Tina Opie & Beth A Livingston Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful
S7 E108 · Wed, November 09, 2022
Angela McConville - Motherhood, Leadership & the Importance of Seeking Progress Not Perfection
“Progress, not perfection. That’s a bit of a mantra for our leadership team.” Our guest today is Angela McConville , CEO of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the UK’s largest charity for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Angela shares her honest reflections on motherhood, leadership and the importance of seeking progress not perfection. The conversation includes: Being an authentic leader The importance of realistic role models The organisations who are supporting parents brilliantly Why it's important to have the right infrastructure to allow yourself to thrive Managing stress and looking after your whole self Angela is also a Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship programme and is a mother of two children aged 12 and 9. Follow her on Twitter @angelamcconvill We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E107 · Wed, November 02, 2022
Veronica Hope Hailey - How to Build Trust At Work, Especially When Working Flexibly
"Trust arrives on foot but leaves on horseback." Our guest today is Veronica Hope Hailey, Emeritus Professor at the School of Management, University of Bath, expert on trust and organisational change and mother to 5 daughters. During the COVID-19 pandemic Veronica published two fascinating reports ( Responsible Business in Crisis – Rebuilding Cultures of Trust ) which featured over 100 interviews with CEOs, CFOs, CMOs and HRDs on their experience of leading through the first 2 years of the Pandemic. They tell the story of responsible business and trustworthy leadership through the peak and the aftermath of the pandemic. As well as sharing her personal journey progressing her career as a mother to 5 children, Veronica gives useful insights and practical tips on fostering trust in the workplace, particularly if you're working (or hoping to work) flexibly. Enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Bonus · Thu, October 27, 2022
Bonus Episode: Finding a High Quality Mentor
In this special episode to celebrate #NationalMentoringDay Verena Hefti MBE shares her experience of finding a high quality Mentor to help guide your senior career, including where to find one, how to approach the conversation and what to do when it just isn't working out. Access an inspirational Mentor, a network of like-minded parents and world-class training via our award-winning Fellowship. Register interest now. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E105 · Wed, October 26, 2022
Dhivya O'Connor - What it Takes to Become a Charity CEO When You're a Parent, Moving from the Corporate to the Charity Sector & How to Find an Excellent Mentor
Our guest today is charity CEO Dhivya O'Connor. Dhivya is currently Interim CEO of the youth mentoring charity, The Girls’ Network and has previously served in the CEO role for organisations including United World Schools, Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Children with Cancer UK. She is also a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme, supporting women returning to work after having children, in progressing their careers. Prior to joining the third sector, she held various strategy, business development and leadership roles in large corporates. A mother of two young children, Dhivya chats to Verena Hefti MBE about what it takes to become a charity CEO when you're a parent. She also shares the reality of moving from the corporate sector to the charity sector and what to do to get a high quality Mentor when you need it most. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Follow Dhivya on Twitter @DhivyaOConnor Dhivya is also the creator and executive producer of The Charity CEO Podcast , sharing insight into the challenges faced by charity leaders. You can listen to Verena Hefti MBE and CEO of ReachOut UK, Bejal Shah, discussing Mentoring on a forthcoming episode of The Charity CEO Podcast released on 05 December 2022. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E104 · Wed, October 19, 2022
Clarissa Ward - Reporting From the Front Line When You Have Children, Making Peace With the Mother You Are Not & Embracing the Mother You Are
“You try to learn to make peace with the mother you are not and embrace the mother that you are.” Our guest today is Clarissa Ward, a multi-award-winning war reporter and CNN's Chief International Correspondent. For over 15 years Clarissa has been reporting from front lines around the world, including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Her incredible memoir ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’ is a captivating read and details Clarissa’s life in journalism covering conflicts. Now a mother of two young boys aged 2 and 4, Clarissa juggles life on the front line with raising her young family. She talks to Verena about how life has changed since becoming a mum and what it’s really like to work as an international war correspondent with a toddler in tow. They discuss: Societal expectations of mothers Motherhood guilt and everything inbetween Working in a job rooted in purpose Tips for travelling internationally when you have a young family The reality of parenthood We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Clarissa's brilliant book On All Fronts here . For more information about Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events sign up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E103 · Mon, October 10, 2022
Prof. Roz Shafran - How to Cope When Your Child is Unwell, Has Additional Needs or is Going Through a Challenging Time
I don’t think anybody’s life is quite as smooth sailing as social media would have us believe.” This week in support of World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October) we welcome Clinical Psychologist Professor Roz Shafran, co-author of the brilliant book “ How to Cope When Your Child Can’t” . Parenthood can often be far from smooth sailing, especially if your child is unwell, experiencing challenges or has additional needs. So how can parents juggling work and raising their family ensure they look after their own mental health and thrive during these difficult times? Roz and Verena talk honestly about strategies to help parents cope and Verena shares her personal story of managing being a CEO whilst her young son was admitted to the hospital 7 times over a 6 month period. They cover: What to do with your big career aspirations when your child is poorly How to make tough decisions and look after yourself when your child is struggling How to carve out time that’s for you Why what works isn’t one size fits all ‘Mustabation’ and why it will grind you down We hope you enjoy the conversation. Remember, speaking out about your struggles isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. Support can be found via Mind. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more. <b
Wed, October 05, 2022
Dr Lisa Grover - How to Prepare for Pay Negotiations, Including Tips on How & Where to Research & Utilising Your Networks
" In practice there’s always a bit of wriggle room for individual discussions and individual negotiations about pay." This week we are joined by pay expert, lecturer, HR leader and Leaders Plus Fellowship Alumni Dr Lisa Grover. Lisa is a Senior Lecturer in Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Exeter Business School and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to practical advice on preparing for negotiations on pay. Our conversation includes: Tips on preparing well for pay negotiations Her experience sitting in the HR Chair The different pay structures within organisations Why in practice there’s often wriggle room for individual discussions Why you’re in a strong position when you enter a new company Retention payments: what are they and how to get them Why doing your research makes a big difference Going down to 4 days for the same level of pay Where to look for up-to-date pay information Making use of your networks We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E101 · Wed, September 28, 2022
Lucy McAuliffe - Progressing Your Career When You Have Premature Twins, Moving from 2 to 3 Children & Dealing With Assumptions When in a Same-Sex Couple
How can you juggle your senior career when your children are born prematurely? Our guest this week is Lucy McAuliffe, Stations and Security Director at Network Rail and parent to 5-year-old twins and a 16-month toddler. Lucy and her wife's twins arrived 8 weeks earlier than planned, not long after Lucy had started a new senior position. She shares: The reality of having premature children Why the discretionary support you're given at work can make all the difference Advice on moving from 2 to 3 children Working full time and managing perceptions at school drop off Dealing with assumptions when you're in a same-sex couple How being a parent gives you a different lens on leadership We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Listen now in iTunes | L isten now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E100 · Wed, September 21, 2022
Kate Jarman - Building a Movement for Change in Flexible Working & Being Your Authentic Self at Work
"We’ve been working with NHS England who last year made a huge policy shift in the NHS to make flexible working a day one employment right and to make roles flexible by default." Joining us for the 100th episode of Big Careers, Small Children is change-maker Kate Jarman, co-founder of Flex NHS and Director of Corporate Affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Kate founded Flex NHS alongside Asha Cowey in 2018 with the mission to make flexible working more accessible to the 1.5 million staff working in the NHS. Flex NHS champions flex for all, and promotes a better work/life balance as a vital part of recruiting and retaining NHS staff now and in the future. We discuss: The catalyst for starting Flex NHS How through Flex NHS Kate and Aasha have built a movement for change in flexible working that has completely changed national policy Why you should be less transactional and more authentic at work How Kate juggles being a campaigner alongside working full-time in her NHS role Why it's a myth that if you work part-time or flexibly in the NHS you can't progress your career We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Flex NHS on Twitter @FlexNHS Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes (applications for the NHS Fellowship closes 17/10) and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Trailer · Fri, September 16, 2022
A Message for Any Listeners Working in the NHS
A special update for any listeners working in the NHS. Too often, parents feel they must choose between an ambitious career and enjoying their young children. As part of the 6-month Leaders Plus NHS Foundation Fellowship, you get expert career development support, group coaching, a supportive network of peers and practical support to overcome work/life hurdles. It has been described by some NHS Fellows as, “life-transforming!” The Fellowship is accessible to clinical and non-clinical colleagues from any speciality. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is generously part funding 10 spaces and we also have hardship fund places available. If you're working in the NHS then I encourage you to find out more: www.leadersplus.org.uk/NHSFellowship Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E99 · Thu, September 15, 2022
Dr. Christian Busch - How to Create Your Own Good Luck & Cultivate Serendipity
What if being lucky wasn’t just by chance but a skill that you could master? Our guest this week is Dr. Christian Busch, the best-selling author of Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck and a Professor at New York University. Christian has spent years exploring the connection between chance encounters and new professional opportunities and has fantastic insights on how we can all leverage luck to our advantage. There were so many lightbulb moments during the discussion and plenty of practical tips we can all act on to improve our lives, both personally and professionally. We discuss: What exactly is serendipity and how to cultivate more of it in our lives How to build a muscle so we can be better prepared for the unexpected How to address self-limiting beliefs How we can leverage the superpower of extroverts to our advantage Connect with Christian on Twitter @ChrisSerendip Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S7 E98 · Wed, September 07, 2022
Nadia Bunyan - How to Progress Your Career Internally, Choose Your Employer Wisely & Balance International Travel Whilst Raising a Family
How can you secure an internal promotion without working all hours and putting your hand up for every task? Our guest today is Nadia Bunyan, HR Director at Global Witness , an international NGO that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. Nadia shares fantastic advice on progressing your career internally, including the three things any parent who is trying to be promoted within their organisation can do today. The conversation also includes: How to ensure you choose your employer wisely Tips on changing sectors, particularly when looking for something family-friendly Guilt and setting boundaries Balancing international travel when you are a working parent How is hiring different for senior roles Plus plenty of interview tips We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E97 · Wed, August 31, 2022
Compilation Episode - Letting Go of Working Parent Guilt
Many listeners have told us that guilt is a challenge you're struggling with, particularly working parent guilt. This week on Big Careers, Small Children we are revisiting some of the best tips shared by our previous guests around guilt and learning to let it go. Featured: Wendy Merricks, CEO Jumar ( Series 6, Episode 91 ) Michelle Mitchell OBE, CEO Cancer Research UK ( Series 4, Episode 52 ) Laura Harrison, Co-founder Human Change Agency ( Series 2, Episode 15 ) Lucy Duszczak, Senior Online Sales & Digital Manager, YHA & Dr. Suhana Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist, NHS ( Series 3, Episode 46 ) Amy Gibbs, Former CEO Birthrights ( Series 6, Episode 83 ) Dr. Heejung Chung, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Kent ( Series 5, Episode 78 ) Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E96 · Wed, August 24, 2022
Kami Norland - How to Lead With Compassion, Build Trust & Create Compassionate Organisations
What does it mean to be a compassionate leader and how can it benefit organisations? Kami Norland is a national and international speaker, facilitator and CEO of Integrative Re-Sources . In this episode, we chat about compassionate leadership and how it’s not only possible but essential to create compassionate organisations. Kami reminds us that we aren't just an employee but an individual bringing our whole selves to work. She shares her expert advice on: What it means to be a compassionate leader Why you should dial back productivity How to radically increase your attention span The best way to build trust with the people you lead We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Participate in the Elevate Compassion Coalition on the first Friday of every month at 10.30am CT. If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E95 · Wed, August 17, 2022
Karen Squires - From Hairdresser to A&E Consultant: Progressing a Career in Emergency Medicine Whilst Raising a Young Family
Ever felt like you're not living up to your full potential and wished you could change your career? Karen Squires is an A&E Consultant at the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, but her career actually started in hairdressing. After re-evaluating her life in her mid-20s and feeling that she wasn't reaching her true potential, Karen made the brave decision to take a leap and pursue a career in medicine. In this chat with Verena Hefti MBE, Karen shares how she trusted her gut instinct to follow her career dreams. Together they explore why our careers don't always need to go from A to B and how the meandering path can still move you closer to your goals. Karen also shares her experience of being an older mother alongside progressing in her career. Including her diagnosis of secondary infertility and the multiple rounds of IVF, she and her partner endured before having their much longed-for second daughter. Working in emergency medicine is a pressurised environment. Karen has fantastic advice for dealing with this whilst still being a present parent. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events, by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E94 · Wed, August 10, 2022
Compilation Episode: The Best Tips for Working Couples
Not everyone is in a relationship but those that are can spend a considerable amount of time trying to negotiate two big careers alongside raising young children and the commitments this entails. This week on Big Careers, Small Children we are revisiting some of the best advice previous guests have shared around making dual career couples work. Featured: Nick Wilkie, Former CEO of the NCT (Series 1, Episode 5) Dr. Jennifer Petriglieri, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour INSEAD (Series 2, Episode 16) Ruth and Colin Stuart, Dual Career Couple (Series 2, Episode 15) If you are in a dual career couple you may benefit from our upcoming panel discussion where you will hear from other successful and ambitious couples discussing their thoughts on balancing parenting with two demanding careers in one household. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E93 · Wed, August 03, 2022
Alice Kan - Directing the AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine Roll Out Whilst Balancing Family Commitments
Today's guest knows a thing or two about working under huge pressure after being headhunted by Wockhardt UK to direct the development of the manufacturing process and facility to produce the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Alice Kan is the Pharmaceutical Director at Kan Do Ventures and one of the UK's Top 50 Women in Engineering. In this episode, Alice shares what she has learned from managing the vaccine roll out whilst balancing her family commitments, including raising two teenage children. A "recovering perfectionist" Alice cares deeply about working hard, having purpose and making a difference. She speaks passionately about setting boundaries and making choices that work for your family whilst progressing your career. We discuss: Finding a job with purpose Challenging sexism, racism and misogyny in the workplace Setting boundaries Recovering from perfectionism and why good enough is okay Identifying when you're in flow and finding happiness We hope you enjoy the episode. Find out more about Alice Kan at www.kandoventures.com Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Thu, July 28, 2022
Nicky Kendrick - How to Lead by Example Progressing Your Career Whilst Having Children, Plus Tips on Being the First Person to Negotiate a Job Share
Are you confident sharing your authentic self at work? Including being open about having children? Nicky Kendrick is Head of Own at Ford Motor Company and was able to successfully negotiate a job share at a senior level. In this episode of Big Careers, Small Children Nicky shares why it's important for her to lead by example and role model being a parent who works (rather than a working parent) to others in her team. She discusses: Tips for negotiating a job share within your company, especially if there hasn't been one before Why you should bring your authentic self to work and be open about having children How many "female" personality traits actually make you a better manager Why just because you've been told no before doesn't mean there's no opportunity for change Why progressing your career can be a long game, allowing you to shift focus on other priorities like your children Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren
S6 E91 · Wed, July 20, 2022
Wendy Merricks - How to Work Full Time When You're a Parent & Not Feel Guilty, Why Small Steps Can Get You to the Big Positions & How to Have Self Belief When Under Pressure
"Children are not going to come to any harm because you work full time," says our guest today Wendy Merricks. Wendy is the CEO and Founder of Jumar , a group of companies in the IT sector and a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Growing up in inner-city Birmingham in a working-class family, Wendy has worked hard to get to the most senior positions, always believing that she was capable of anything she put her mind to. A mother of two boys (now in their 20s) born in quick succession, Wendy has always worked full-time whilst ensuring that when she is with the children, she is truly present. She is a passionate advocate that having children should not be a career inhibitor and her company, Jumar, prides itself on looking out for employees and ensuring workers have a good work-life balance. We discuss: Why working full time will not harm your children Practical tips if you're struggling with self-belief Why setting goals and taking small steps can lead to big positive changes IVF and why it's important to engage your employer and ask for support Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E90 · Wed, July 13, 2022
Guy Duncan Neale - How to Have a Big Career, Be Present With Your Kids & Work Regular Hours
Can you work as a senior leader in a fast-paced industry like banking and set boundaries around your working hours? Our guest today is proof you can. Guy Duncan Neale is Head of Global Internal Audit Transformation at HSBC and leads a team of international senior internal auditors within the bank. Following a cancer diagnosis, Guy reflected on the priorities in his life and decided he would limit his working hours to ensure he could be present with his family. He is a real change-maker and is vocal about the fact that whilst pursuing his big career he remains disciplined with his working hours, something that is unusual in a sector known for very long working hours. In this episode, Guy shares his tips for other working parents, including: How to practically manage your set working hours How to set boundaries at work How to communicate with your line manager and team about your working hours How to build trust in organisations How to learn to be truly present with your kids Why you can't do everything for everybody Why having work email on your personal phone isn't recommended Guy is also a senior leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship and informs and advises many other working parents on combining a leadership career and family. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Show Notes: Book - 4000 Weeks and How to Use them (Oliver Burkeman) Podcast - Big Careers, Small Children Episode 38 (Chris Bryant) If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship
S6 E89 · Wed, July 06, 2022
Suzy Reading - Self Care for Busy Working Parents, How to Make Self Care a Daily Practice & Tips for Boosting Your Energy During Moments of Overwhelm
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your conflicting priorities? Our guest today is Suzy Reading , a Chartered Psychologist, author and specialist in self care and well being. Suzy knows the science behind well being and shares how, as busy working parents, we can look after ourselves when under pressure without feeling like it's something else we need to tick on our to-do list. We discuss: Why self care is actually health care How to practically put yourself first (or at least make sure it's you as well!) Why self care doesn't have to be like you see on Instagram The importance of green gazing and what it does for your nervous system 3 simple things we can all do to help restore our energy levels when overwhelmed Connect with Suzy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyreading Website: https://www.suzyreading.co.uk Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E88 · Wed, June 29, 2022
Dr. Christina Venzin - Coming Back From a Career Break, Progressing Your Career When Other People Tell You Not to & Why it's Okay to Change Your Priorities
Do you ever worry about changing priorities during your career? Our guest today is Dr. Christina Venzin, a Senior Doctor, Coach and Gender Equality Change Maker. Christina makes no secret of the fact that when she first had children she thought her career would have to totally change. What she in fact discovered was that it's absolutely okay to evolve your priorities over time and come back to what you love. The discussion includes: Why it's absolutely okay to change priorities during your career The process of outing yourself as loving your career and your children Things learned from raising children that actually help in leadership Why you should mention the things you’ve learned as a parent in a job interview Using anger at the system and charged emotions to make a change How to progress your career even if other people tell you not to The 3 things Christina would advise her own daughter Find out more about Christina and her work here: www.college-m.ch Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Trailer · Mon, June 27, 2022
Welcome to Big Careers, Small Children
Big Careers Small Children helps ambitious parents progress careers they love whilst being present with their children. Through honest and informal conversation, senior leaders divulge what they have learnt on their own journey of combining big careers with young children to our host Verena Hefti MBE. Expect lots of aha moments, inspiration, fresh ideas, and practical support, so you can move forward in your career in a way that works for you and your family. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E87 · Wed, June 22, 2022
Laurie Weingart - Learn How to Say No, Why Saying No is Crucial for Promotion & Tips for Identifying Your Non-Promotable Tasks
Do you ever struggle with saying no at work? Our guest today is Laurie Weingart, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Carnegie Mellon University and Co-Author of the brilliant book No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work , she is an expert at saying no. The No Club has a fascinating back story. It began when Laurie and a group of friends came together disheartened by the fact they were working harder than ever but still trailed far behind their male colleagues. Vowing to get their work lives under control they resolved to say no to requests that pulled them away from the work that mattered most to their careers - the non-promotable tasks. Laurie shares her expert advice on how we can all make small, yet significant changes to our workload without stalling our careers or facing backlash for saying no. We discuss: what the research says about saying no why unrewarded work is more likely to fall to women why saying no is actually crucial for promotion the easy 3 step process for identifying your own non-promotable tasks how you can learn to say no so you can do more of the work you love Connect with Laurie and find out more about the No Club at www.thenoclub.com . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E86 · Thu, June 16, 2022
Ian Dinwiddy - Supporting Dads to Make Brave Decisions, Removing Barriers Around Shared Parental Leave & Why Gender Equality at Home Influences Work
' Dadvocate ' Ian Dinwiddy is the founder of Inspiring Dads , a platform designed to help dads balance the complexities of modern life and fatherhood. Management Consultant Ian and his partner Lisa (a lawyer) have made what some might view as bold decisions regarding their parenting setup. When their daughter Freya was born they took the decision that Ian would step back from his career to look after her and he has gone on to become the main carer for their two children. We discuss: How dads can be brave and go beyond social expectations How to deal with the inevitable judgement from yourself and your peers when you challenge expectations Gender equality at home and work and how they influence each other What organisations can do support dads to take shared parental leave and how to remove barriers What men really talk about and why most men are more supportive of change than you might think Why when you connect men together to share stories and experiences it's incredibly powerful The one thing every dad can do to move closer to the work/home setup they'd really like The huge pressure faced by dads who are the main breadwinner but who also want to be present parents This was such a powerful and valuable conversation and we hope you enjoy it. You can find out more about the Inspiring Dads platform at www.inspiringdads.co.uk . Connect with Ian on LinkedIn and Twitter . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E85 · Wed, June 08, 2022
Steph Douglas - Growing a Successful Business as a Parent, Challenging Expectations, Safe Guarding Time to Think and Equality at Home
Steph Douglas is the inspirational Founder and CEO of the gifting company Don't Buy Her Flowers . Steph launched her business in 2014 after having her first baby and being inundated with bouquets. She joins Verena to talk candidly about growing a successful business, raising her family and challenging expectations, including at home. The conversation includes: Why and how to ensure you safeguard time to think when growing your business How parenthood can benefit you in business 'Feminine' business traits and why they are essential skills Why it's critical our children witness their parents sharing the load Challenging societal pressures around female CEOs and driving for equality at home Why you don't need to run your business like The Apprentice or Dragon's Den We end with three tips for anyone thinking about starting their own business. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E84 · Wed, May 25, 2022
Lauren Seager-Smith FRSA - Practical Tips to Help With Bullying, the Dual Challenge of Caring for Kids & Older Parents & Why We All Need Circles of Support
Our guest today is Lauren Seager-Smith FRSA, CEO of the bullying prevention charity Kidscape and a Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Lauren is one of a small but growing number of CEOs with younger children and she shares her experience of working in a senior position whilst juggling the reality of small kids. She has many years of experience providing expertise and guidance relating to all forms of bullying and in this episode she shares practical advice for dealing with bullying both in the workplace and at home with our children. We also talk about looking after yourself in times of extreme intensity, something Lauren has experienced when her parents both suffered mental health breakdowns not long after she gave birth to her second child. Our conversation includes: How to know when you're being bullied Where you can go for support for yourself and your children Why we all would benefit from a wider circle of support and how to find it The challenges of being the 'sandwich generation' caring for children and parents Self care tips and why this is so important Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn . Follow Kidscape on Twitter @Kidscape and find out more about their essential work at www.kidscape.org.uk . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . PODCAST RESOURCES: BOOK: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk RESOURCE: Suzy Reading APP: Calm App for Mindfulness BULLYING SUPPORT IN THE WORKPLACE: Acas BULLYING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN: Kidscape If you'd like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fello
S6 E83 · Wed, May 18, 2022
Amy Gibbs - Becoming a CEO, Working 4 Days a Week, Setting Boundaries & Prioritising Self Care
Joining us today is Leaders Plus Fellow Amy Gibbs. Amy is CEO of Birthrights , a powerful charity championing human rights in childbirth. Working part-time in a senior role is (sadly) still an exception and not the norm and Amy describes her journey to becoming a CEO and taking the top position, including how she makes her role work 4 days a week. Amy also shares her wonderfully honest reflections on setting boundaries, work-life balance and why it's essential we all prioritise a little more self-care. Rest snacks are just one way to do this, she explains how. Plus the conversation covers: How to become a CEO and the skills needed Working flexibly in a senior role Why having half days off never works Getting over the idea that we have to work and be present all the time Setting effective boundaries that work for you Burn out and reaching out if you're struggling Why we all need to take more rest snacks 3 practical tips for moving to 4 days a week Honesty always makes for the best conversations so we really hope you enjoy our frank discussion. Connect with Amy on Twitter @amylwgibbs Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E82 · Wed, May 11, 2022
Carlotta Negri di Sanfront: Being Present With Your Kids When You Have a High Profile Career & Figuring Out When it is the Right Time to Have a Baby
Our guest today is Carlotta Negri di Sanfront, Chief Product and Design Officer for giffgaff , the mobile network run by its members. Carlotta is wonderfully honest about her experience of starting a family at the peak of her career and talks openly about deciding to go for the role of Chief Product and Design Officer whilst 8 months pregnant. Our discussion includes: When is the right time to have a baby if you're progressing your career Returning to work to a new senior position Juggling the mental load Being present with your children when you're a senior leader The realities of having a premature baby (and less time to plan!) You can connect with Carlotta on LinkedIn . We hope you enjoy our conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S6 E81 · Wed, May 04, 2022
Mary Ann Sieghart - Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men & What to do About It
Welcome to series 6 of the Big Careers, Small Children (formerly Leaders With Babies) podcast. Our guest today is Mary Ann Sieghart. Mary is a former The Times Senior Editor and more recently the author of a really intriguing book, The Authority Gap, which analyses why women are taken less seriously than men and what we can do about it. The discussion includes: Why is that men and women can say the exact same thing yet it's perceived differently? A look at the latest evidence and research around authority and gender What can we all do to deal with this authority gap in day-to-day life How can we change things for future generations Mary Ann's book The Authority Gap is available via her website maryannsieghart.com . Connect with Mary Ann on Twitter @masieghart Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E80 · Thu, March 10, 2022
Professor Vanessa Bohns - How to Influence Others to Say Yes, Why You Have More Power Than You Think & Learning How to Reframe Rejection
Our guest this week is an expert in utilising the power of persuasion to get what you want. Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist and associate professor of organisational behaviour at Cornell University, New York. She is also the author of a thought-provoking new book You Have More Influence Than You Think . In the book, Vanessa draws from her original research to illustrate exactly why we might fail to recognise the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power. We discuss the 3 things you can do to help you hear yes for a work request (such as asking for flexible working) and why the research actually shows you're more likely to hear a positive response than you might think. Our discussion also covers: What you can do to increase the chance of hearing YES Dealing with rejection and re-framing no Why human connection is so integral to decision making How to stop people-pleasing and learn to say no Why organisations need to be mindful of their people who are working remotely so their voices are included Why as a leader it’s critical to still listen to other ideas Why expressing compliments and gratitude is so powerful Vanessa's book You Have More Influence Than You Think is available via her website vanessabohns.com . Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn and Twitter . Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter . Show Notes: [BOOK] Zoe Chance - Influence is Your Super Power Listen now in iTunes | L isten now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead p
S5 E79 · Wed, March 02, 2022
Claire Ferreira (Mums in Marketing) - Practical Steps for Beating Imposter Syndrome, How to be Paid What You're Worth & Why Community is Essential for Working Parents
Today's podcast guest is Claire Ferreira, an NLP Coach and the Founder of Mums in Marketing, a free community connecting "women who do marketing and raise humans". Verena and Claire compare notes about how to create a peer support community with impact (like Mums in Marketing and the Leaders Plus Fellowship) and why this is so incredibly important for working parents. There is also a powerful two-way conversation about losing confidence at work after having children, imposter syndrome and mental health. Verena and Claire share practical advice on how to overcome challenges, including silencing your internal doubter when asking to be paid fairly. In this episode... Imposter syndrome - how it might show up and strategies that may be helpful Mental health challenges and how having children can be a seismic shift for some Parenting without family support nearby How to stop comparing yourself to others The magic sauce when it comes to creating a powerful, transformative community Enjoy this week's discussion and as always please let us know your thoughts @leaders_plus . Find out more about the brilliant Mums in Marketing community at www.mumsinmarketing.net Connect with Claire Ferreira on LinkedIn here . Find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter. Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Show Notes: If you are struggling with your mental health please reach out for help. The NHS have useful information here. [BOOK] The book mentioned was 'Connect' by Carole Robin. You can pick up a copy here. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. <a
S5 E78 · Wed, February 23, 2022
Dr. Heejung Chung - Why Flexible Working Can Lead to Exploitation, Especially for Women
Our guest this week is Dr. Heejung Chung, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Kent and the author of the excellent and thought-provoking book The Flexibility Paradox. Heejung Chung offers a completely fresh perspective on flexible working and whilst she acknowledges it as a great solution to our work-life balance challenges, she also believes it can lead to us exploiting ourselves much more than if we worked a normal working pattern. Heejung shares with us what she has learned about avoiding exploitation when you work flexibly. How she practically manages to do a busy demanding academic job in 9-5 hours, including how she was promoted to Professor. We discuss: How flexible working patterns can lead to self-exploitation Stigmatised views of flexible working, including flexible working stigma Why well-balanced workers make the best workers Assumptions about working mothers What can businesses do - range of new policy innovations Why every organisation should report on flexible working requests Why companies should showcase c-suite examples of flexible working How research has shaped Professor Heejung’s own work pattern Why you need to have difficult conversations with your partner (if you have one) Dr. Chung's book The Flexiblity Paradox is available from 04 March 2022. Find out more here. Follow Heejung on Twitter @HeejungChung Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . The application deadline for the Fellowship is 01 March 22. Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Show notes: [BOOK] <a href='https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rest-More-Done-When-W
S5 E77 · Wed, February 16, 2022
Jane Galloway - How to Successfully Request Flexible Working, Juggling Two Careers, Finding Your Tribe & Silencing Your Inner Critic
Our guest today is Jane Galloway, Head of Flexible Working for NHS England and the Founder of the brilliant Quiet the Hive , a community that helps women identify the life they want and arms them with the tools and confidence to go get it. Jane is incredibly passionate that flexible working should be for all and she shares fantastic advice that will be very helpful if you're looking to make a change to your working pattern, whether you're working in the NHS or for any other organisation. But what happens if your manager or senior leaders within your organisation don't share your vision for flexibility? Jane shares with us how best to position your request and advocate for change in the workplace. There's also a brilliant conversation about silencing your inner critic, why finding your tribe will truly help you progress your career, and (following discussion around some beautiful and memorable earrings) why we shouldn't save our favourite clothes for best. Our chat also includes: Why Jane has chosen to set up her own company alongside working for the NHS and bringing up her two children How to position your flexible working request in the NHS (or any other organisation) How to deal with individuals who are against flexible working Why we need more work-life harmony How to silence your inner critic Why it's critical you find your tribe Why you shouldn't save things 'for best' During the episode, we mention a Flexible Working Guide which you can download via the Leaders Plus website. Access the guide here . Connect with Jane on LinkedIn here and find out more about her work supporting women with Quiet the Hive. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . The application deadline for the Fellowship is 01 March 22. Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellows
S5 E76 · Wed, February 09, 2022
Vicky Fox (The Supreme Court) - Becoming a CEO, Working Flexibly & Making Brave Career Decisions
Our guest today is Chief Executive of The Supreme Court, Vicky Fox . A mum of 3 boys (now young adults), Vicky has made some tough decisions for her career and family life. Including putting her career progression on hold and making the brave decision to leave a specialist career whilst her children were younger before reigniting her work ambitions with a new role later on in her career. Vicky is an incredible role model and her approach to life is honest and refreshing. Particularly when discussing prioritising her sons and how she will always take their calls during work meetings if they need her. The discussion includes: Making brave career decisions Why family will always come first Working part-time in a senior position Imposter syndrome and why everyone has it How to become a CEO The skills you need when going for the most senior positions People pleasing and how to combat it Balancing the mental load and the power of structured conversations Perfectionism and being kind to yourself We hope you enjoy this week's conversation. Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn here and find out more about the work of The Supreme Court. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E75 · Wed, February 02, 2022
Jane Beeston (Colart) - How Being a Parent Positively Impacted My Senior Leadership Career, Imposter Syndrome & Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
My guest today is Jane Beeston, Chief People Officer for Colart (the global market leader for art materials) and mother to two grown up boys. Becoming a Chief People Officer is the pinnacle of a career in Human Resources and Jane shares with us how being a parent has positively impacted her senior leadership career trajectory, including how having children has allowed her to bring her whole self to work and contributed to her personal development and growth. This conversation is especially interesting because Jane practices what she preaches having responsibility for peoples work place and she shares with us how she makes those decisions at Colart. We also discuss: How being a parent positively impacted Jane's career Imposter syndrome and how to overcome it How to build your confidence at work Bringing your whole self to work Speaking without emotion about pay rises Moving to China for her career Why Colart are champions of flexible working Jane was one of the earliest champions of our social enterprise and is passionate about supporting leaders with babies to progress their careers. We hope you enjoy the discussion and find the advice shared valuable. Connect with Jane on LinkedIn here and find out more about the work of Colart . Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E74 · Wed, January 26, 2022
Elliott Rae - Equal Parenting, Masculinity & Dads Mental Health
Our guest this week is Elliott Rae, the Founder of Music Football Fatherhood , a support forum often referred to as 'Mumsnet for Dads' and author of the best-selling book, “Dad - Untold Stories of Fatherhood, Love, Mental Health and Masculinity. Elliott left his senior career in the civil service following the traumatic birth of his daughter and is a passionate advocate of men's mental health. His own experience of PTSD inspired him to write the book, Dad, in which Elliott and 19 other dads open up about their honest experiences of fatherhood. We discuss: Dads' mental health and recognising the signs you need help How to achieve true equal parenting Why you need to have open conversations about parenting before becoming a parent Toxic masculinity and positive masculinity Eliott will be presenting the BBCOne show 'Becoming Dad' on Wed 26 Jan 22 at 7.30pm, as part of the #WeAreEngland series. Do tune in or look out for it on iPlayer. Connect with Elliott on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @iamElliottRae Plus head to www.musicfootballfatherhood.com to buy the book and access more resources. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . Please remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E73 · Wed, January 19, 2022
The Job Share Pair - Everything You Need to Know About Job Sharing
"Most people know what the concept of job sharing is but many don't know how it works in practice." Our guests this week on the Big Careers, Small Children podcast are Hannah Hall-Turner and Rachel Maguire, otherwise known as The Job Share Pair . Having successfully job shared together in their HR Director role at a Fortune 500 firm they are now on a mission to make job sharing an accessible option for all. Rachel and Hannah talk really honestly about the pro's and con's of job sharing, detailing everything you need to know before embarking on one. The conversation is packed with so much practical advice and links to useful resource wherever you are in the process. So whether you're considering finding a job share partner, are already job sharing and want tips to improve the relationship or if you're an employer wondering what the benefit would be to your organisation, listen to this episode to learn: How to find your perfect job share partner The characteristics you might need to be successful at job sharing If you need to be close friends with your job sharing partner for your job share to work The best way to structure your working week with your partner The tools Hannah and Rachel use to revolutionise their handovers Whether job sharers should expect to take a pay cut How to convince your organisation that job sharing works The latest stats around job sharing success The resources that can support you in your job share We hope you enjoy the conversation. Follow The Job Share Pair on Instagram and on LinkedIn . Other resources mentioned in this episode for job sharers: Roleshare Flexible Working People Daisy Chain Investing in Women Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events . Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. <a href='https://www.leader
S5 E72 · Wed, January 12, 2022
Gabriel Davies - Why Ambition Shouldn't be a Dirty Word
This week Verena Hefti, FRSA is joined by the brilliant Gabriel Davies, a mother of two and a Commercial Director at the global green energy company Ørsted , working in the leadership team responsible for building the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Gabriel is also an inaugural Fellow on the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. This week our discussion focuses on ambition and why this shouldn’t be a dirty word but in fact is something to be celebrated by working parents. Gabriel shares honest reflections on how to thrive in a male dominated environment like engineering. Plus practical tips for anyone considering setting up a gender inclusion network at their organisation – including why men are integral to any conversations around gender equality. There are also plenty of helpful suggestions from Gabriel’s own experience returning to work from two maternity leaves, including what she did differently the second time around. It’s a really inspiring conversation filled with so many useful tips – we hope you find it useful. Connect with Gabriel on LinkedIn here . Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E71 · Wed, January 05, 2022
Sharath Jeevan - Finding Your Motivation and Inner Drive
Our guest today is Sharath Jeevan , an expert when it comes to motivation and purpose and the best-selling author of Intrinsic, a practical guide to re-igniting the inner-drive (or intrinsic motivation) in our lives. Sharath is also the Executive Chairman of Intrinsic Labs , supporting organisations all around the world to solve deep motivational challenges. Previously Sharath founded and led STiR Education to re-ignite the motivation of 200,000 teachers, 35,000 schools and 7 million children in emerging countries. During the Pandemic many working parents have questioned how they spend their time and are seeking more purpose in their working life. So during our discussion Sharath shares with us: Whether it's essential to leave the 'rat race' to find deeper fulfilment How we can achieve more lasting happiness and success in our careers The difference between mastery and autonomy How all individuals need to work on their personal mission statements Why parenting models now need to change We hope you find our conversation useful and insightful. You can connect with Sharath via Twitter @sharathjeevan_ or LinkedIn. His book Intrinsic is available now. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E70 · Wed, December 22, 2021
Compilation Episode: Finding a Job With Purpose
Finding a career that also brings meaning to your life is a priority for many working parents so this week we are diving back through the archives to bring you the very best tips from our previous podcast guests. For many Christmas is a time of reflection and an opportunity to sharpen your vision, these thought provoking snippets will help inspire you to make your purpose a reality. You will hear from: Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE (the former National Clinical Director of Mental Health for NHS England) shares with us the importance of having purpose in your work, including how if we are to do amazing things we need to surround ourselves with inspiring people. Kath Austin (Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder, BeeBee & Leaf) shares quite honestly the highs and lows of taking the business from her kitchen table to shop shelves and why you should absolutely dream big. Reverend Carla Maurer (Swiss Church in London) discusses developing purpose, how to set boundaries and offers top tips for prioritising yourself. We hope you enjoy the episode. We will take a short break over Christmas and will return on Wednesday 05 January. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E69 · Wed, December 15, 2021
Compilation Episode: The Best Tips for Managing Workload, Mental Health and Well Being
Something a little different for this week's podcast. We are diving into the archives to bring you some of the very best tips around managing workload and supporting your mental health and wellbeing from popular previous episodes. Laura Harrison (Co-Founder of The Human Change Agency and a Leaders Plus Mentor) has excellent advice on managing your workload when you move from full time to part time hours, including sharing actionable tips on how you can make changes to your working hours that work best for you and your company. Poppy Jaman OBE (CEO, City Mental Health Alliance) is a mover and shaker when it comes to mental health and the fact that we are now talking openly about mental health issues at work is strongly influenced by her incredible work. Poppy shares with us the best piece of advice she was given and it may surprise you! Dr Suhana Ahmed (Consultant Psychiatrist, Old Age at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust) is another pioneer in the area of mental health and has been in the thick of things during the COVID-19 crisis leading an NHS psychiatric inpatient ward where patients had caught COVID. Suhana shares with us how she led a team during such a challenging time, including the things she learned during the experience that have made her a better leader. Finally we revisit a powerful panel discussion dedicated to the topic of workload and managing expectations. Panellists Susannah Hardyman (CEO, Action Tutoring) and Vicky Fox (CEO, The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom) have practical advice on managing workload whilst progressing an ambitious career alongside bringing up children. With special thanks again to our fantastic podcast guests: Dr Suhana Ahmed - Consultant Psychiatrist, Old Age at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust Vicky Fox - CEO, The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Susannah Hardyman - CEO, Action Tutoring Laura Harrison - Co-Founder at The Human Change Agency Poppy Jaman OBE - CEO, City Mental Health Alliance To download our practical workbook on setting boundaries head to our website www.leadersplus.org.uk/boundaries/ Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fello
S5 E67 · Wed, December 08, 2021
Catherine O'Brien - Sharing the Mental Load & Finding Time For Your Partner
Having a baby is a huge transition for any couple and navigating life as a new family can be particularly challenging. This week's guest, Catherine O'Brien, is an expert in relationships. As a marriage and family therapist and the author of the brilliant book Happy With Baby she shares with new parents the advice she wishes she could have had as a parent, whilst giving practical tips on how to keep your relationship afloat after starting a family. Our discussion includes: How to make time for each other when leaving the house for a date night isn't an option When it's time to seek outside support from counselling How to make sure you're present with your partner Ways to share the mental load How to ask for help so that your partner hears you Enjoy this week’s inspiring episode and if you’d like to connect with Catherine you can head to www.happywithbaby.com for more details about her work, including where to buy her wonderful book. Head to www.leadersplus.org.uk/couples for more resources, including a checklist of 10 questions all couples should answer before returning from Maternity Leave, Shared Parental Leave or Adoption Leave. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme , which includes a session for couples. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E67 · Wed, December 01, 2021
Fiona McDonnell - Defining Your Work/Life Rhythm, Dealing With a Bad Boss & Finding Purpose in Your Career
Joining Verena Hefti in this episode of Big Careers, Small Children is Fiona McDonnell , an author and business leader with more than 30 years' experience in senior management at global companies like Kellogg's, Nike and Amazon. Having regularly mentored others and as a regular speaker on the topic of careers, Fiona recently published her debut book T wo Mirrors and a Cheetah: Think Differently, Own Your Career & Succeed by Being Yourself which offers inspiring, insightful and practical advice to bring career fulfilment. Verena and Fiona discuss: How to identify your purpose and progress your career Recognise and successfully navigate change Deal with challenges like a ‘bad’ manager Define your own work-life rhythm Enjoy this week’s inspiring episode and if you’d like to connect with Fiona you can find her on LinkedIn here. Find out more about Fiona's career, including details of where you can purchase her brilliant book via her website www.fionamcdonnell.com. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E66 · Wed, November 24, 2021
Sylvia Opara - Dealing With Inappropriate Workplace Behaviour, Thriving in a Male Dominated Industry & Progressing Your Career When You Want a Big Family
Hopefully none of our listeners have ever had to deal with sexist, racist or power play incidents at work. But if you had, would you know how to take them to HR? On this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children Podcast (formerly Leaders With Babies) Verena chats with Sylvia Opara, the Group Head of Human Resources at Alandale Group of Companies. As a senior HR leader in the male dominated construction industry, Sylvia shares with us her tips for dealing with inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. Plus, why she champions women in the construction industry and how we should applaud the recent progress that has been made in the sector. Sylvia is also a mum of 4 and recently returned to work for the 4th time. She shares how she has managed to pursue her career aspirations and progress her leadership roles whilst also juggling a large family. They also discuss: Why the best career choice you can make is the partner you choose What Sylvia has learned about negotiation Sylvia's top 3 tips for progressing your senior career whilst wanting a big family Enjoy this week’s inspiring episode and if you’d like to connect with Sylvia you can find her on LinkedIn here. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Show Notes: The Authority Gap - Mary Ann Sieghart Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E65 · Wed, November 17, 2021
Claudia T Miller - Equal Pay & Practical Tips for Securing the Pay Rise You Deserve
We are very excited to welcome you to the Big Careers, Small Children Podcast and our first episode under our new name! (Formerly the Leaders With Babies Podcast) Joining Verena this week is Senior Executive Coach and expert on all things pay, Claudia T Miller. Thursday 18 November 2021 is Equal Pay Day here in the UK, the day in the year where women effectively stop earning relative to men because of the Gender Pay Gap. It may not shock you to learn that women earn (and particularly women in senior roles) about 15% less than their male counterparts. Whilst the Gender Pay Gap is complex and doesn't exist solely because women aren't asking for a pay rise, women do need to be bold and push against injustice in the system. In this episode Claudia gives extremely practical tips on how to get the pay rise you deserve. Enjoy this week’s inspiring episode and if you’d like to find out more about Claudia's work head to her website www.claudiatmiller.com . Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus and find out more about our work, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. #EqualPayDay Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Trailer · Mon, November 15, 2021
We're Changing Our Name!
Exciting news as the Leaders With Babies podcast is changing its name! You may have heard me to discuss on previous episodes that I've been considering changing the name of our 5 star rated podcast. I love the name Leaders With Babies but I worried it held us back from reaching even more parents. I've really appreciated all of the input from you the listeners on the name and I have taken all of the feedback you've shared onboard. Many of you have been in touch directly, voted online in the social media polls or even brainstormed ideas to send to me - a huge thank you to you all. During the process one name really stood out to me, plus it topped our online poll. So this morning I'd love to introduce you to the (drum roll)... Big Careers, Small Children podcast. I think this name really encapsulates the ambition of the podcast. It's for parents and leaders who want big things in their careers, without making any compromises about enjoying their young families. I hope you love our new name as much as I do. As I've mentioned before, the content and format of the podcast will remain exactly the same and each week we will continue to bring advice and practical tips to support parents who want to combine ambitious career aspiration with young children. Our next episode will be released this week and is all about equal pay, so do stay tuned and look out for that. Thanks again for all your support - Verena Hefti, CEO & Founder of Leaders Plus Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E64 · Thu, November 11, 2021
Geraldine Butler-Wright - Career Changes, Transferable Skills & Learning How to Sell Yourself
Does your career make you feel alive? Our guest today believes it is critical that we find a job that ignites our passion and shares fantastic tips for working parents looking to change their career. Geraldine Butler-Wright juggles multiple senior leadership roles. As Chief People & Culture Officer for Healthily she is on a mission to help a billion people find their health through self care. She is also a Trustee, Advisor and Strategic Advisor and for the past year has been a Senior Leader Mentor on our award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme . Geraldine is also a mum to a little girl and will welcome her second child in early 2022. Having successfully navigated several career changes in her leadership career (including moving across sectors) Geraldine is an absolute goldmine of advice when it comes to ensuring your skills are transferable from job to job and this episode is a must listen for anyone who is thinking about a career change. Our discussion includes: Why it's important to find organisations who welcome fluidity in getting things done Why just saying 'yes' might be the best decision you ever make How to learn to sell yourself to a potential new employer How to choose the right company for you How to improve and then highlight your transferable skills Geraldine's best advice for moving to an organisation with purpose Enjoy this week's inspiring episode and if you'd like to you can connect with Geraldine on LinkedIn here. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus #LeadersWithBabies Find out more about Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E63 · Thu, November 04, 2021
Lee Higgins - Diverse Networking: How to Ensure You Cultivate Connections Who Aren't Just Like You & How to Virtual Network Strategically
Who makes up your professional network and how different to you are they? Why do you need a diverse network and what's the best strategy to ensure you get one? Plus, what's the best networking advice if you find this skill doesn't come naturally to you? I am delighted to welcome back to the podcast Lee Higgins, the co-founder of DIVERSE TALENT netWORKS and a thought leader who has decades of experience working as a headhunter for senior leadership roles. Lee is particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion and he is an expert when it comes to creating professional relationships with people who are not like you. In order to progress your career (and in order to get the things you need e.g. flexible working) you need to have cultivated relationships with senior people in your organisation and Lee has lots of practical advice to share on how to do this. If (like myself and Lee) you find networking doesn't always come naturally to you then you'll really benefit from the tips Lee shares. Including: How to create relationships with people who are not exactly like you Why most people find networking difficult Why tone of voice and delivery are your secret weapons The best advice Lee has ever been given about networking Why we need to make time for networking Why you should connect with people who have different perspectives How to practically network via LinkedIn Lee's top 3 tips for diverse networking If you'd like to get in touch with Lee directly then you can connect with him on LinkedIn here. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus #LeadersWithBabies Find out more about Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E62 · Thu, October 28, 2021
Carole Robin Ph.D - Building Exceptional Relationships
Carole Robin Ph.D is Co-Founder of Leaders in Tech, a development program for leaders of tech companies. She also taught the legendary Interpersonal Dynamics (aka Touchy Feely) course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is the co-author of the highly acclaimed Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues. The book contains the lessons of "Touchy Feely" that thousands of students and executives have consistently described for decades as life changing. Here she talks to Verena Hefti, Leaders Plus CEO and Founder about how to build exceptional relationships. They discuss: - Productive conflict and how to challenge mental models - How disclosure is the building block for developing relationships - The 15% disclosure rule which will help you step put of your comfort zone - Building relationships with people who are different to you Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E61 · Wed, October 20, 2021
Flora Letanka - Being an Exec Director whilst having young children
Flora Letanka is Executive Director for Network Development at Teach First, the largest educational charity in the UK. She is in charge of mobilising high-impact networks of Teach First alumni, schools and others, to ensure that every child gets an outstanding education. She is also a mum to three young children. Here she speaks to Verena Hefti, Leaders Plus CEO and Founder, about being an Exec Director whilst having young children. She discusses: - How to remain visible whilst on maternity leave and keep progressing your career - Working with your maternity cover to ensure the best outcomes - What is needed for an Exec Director role - Failures and challenges she has experienced - Parental guilt Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E60 · Thu, October 14, 2021
Michael Baran, Ph.D. - Tackling Subtle Acts of Exclusion
Dr. Michael Baran is a social scientist and Senior Partner at inQUEST Consulting. He draws on his own research in cultural anthropology and cognitive psychology to inform his current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work–his speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, workshop facilitation, and digital products. In addition to his inQUEST work, Dr. Baran has taught courses at Harvard University and the University of Michigan. He has directed projects aimed at reducing racial disparities in education, health, housing, and criminal justice at the FrameWorks Institute and the American Institutes of Research. He is also the coauthor of the recently launched book Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions, cited in Forbes as one of the “11 Books To Read If You Want To Be A More Inclusive Leader.” Here he talks to Leaders Plus CEO and Founder, Verena Hefti, about tackling subtle acts of exclusion. We discuss: - What are subtle acts of exclusion, otherwise known as micro aggressions - How to have productive conversations about subtle acts of exclusion to ensure you feel heard - Practical tips to being more inclusive Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E59 · Thu, October 07, 2021
Katie Warringer- Exceptional Performance in Challenging Circumstances
Katie is one of the UK’s leading Performance Psychologists, working behind the scenes and on the big stage with some of the world’s best athletes, leaders and organisations. Here she speaks to Verena Hefti, Leaders Plus CEO and Founder, about how to achieve exceptional performance in challenging circumstances. Katie and Verena discuss the impact of guilt, how lack of sleep affects performance, negative self talk and redefining success. Katie also offers her top tips for success. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E58 · Thu, September 30, 2021
Fellowship Live Podcast- Honest Reflections on Career Ambitions and Insight into the Fellowship
In this episode Verena Hefti, CEO and Founder of Leaders Plus, talks to three Leaders Plus Fellows about their honest reflections on career and ambitions, including failures and setting boundaries. They cover how to manage your own wellbeing whilst holding down a job and having children. They also discuss the value of the Leaders Plus Fellowship and how it has benefited them. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E57 · Thu, September 23, 2021
Reverend Carla Maurer - Finding Purpose and Setting Boundaries
Reverend Carla Maurer, from The Swiss Church London, discusses developing purpose, how to set boundaries and offers top tips for prioritising yourself. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Trailer · Wed, September 15, 2021
New Series Preview
Verena Hefti, CEO and Founder of Leaders Plus, gives a preview for the new series of the award-winning Leaders With Babies Podcast. Our next podcast is an interview with Reverend Carla Maurer, Minister of The Swiss Church in London, in which we talk about purpose and setting boundaries. Coming up later this season we speak to an Executive Director in the largest education charity in the UK about how she moved to that job when she had children under two. We also speak to Carole Robin Ph.D, author of the book Connect, which focuses on building exceptional relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Carole was the Dorothy J. King Lecturer in Leadership at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, and we talk to her about about how to create deep meaningful relationships at work and beyond. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S5 E56 · Wed, August 25, 2021
Verena Hefti - Getting the Most Out of Maternity Leave
Welcome back to Series 5 of the Leaders With Babies Podcast. In this episode Verena Hefti, Founder and CEO of Leaders Plus, discusses her experience of being on maternity leave with her third child, whilst running a social enterprise. Verena is interviewed by Kirstie Brewer , a journalist at the BBC and a Leaders Plus Fellow. Kirstie asks some interesting questions about maternity leave and how you can make it a productive time and plan your return to work. We discuss: The challenges of maternity leave and how to manage it whilst having older children Ways in which you can prioritise your own wellbeing How you can communicate with your partner before and during maternity leave, to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible How to plan your return to work and how maternity leave can make you a better leader Verena's number one tip for transitioning from maternity leave back into work Follow Verena on Twitter at @vhefti and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E55 · Tue, March 23, 2021
Lucy Walker - How to Become a Non-Executive Director (NED) & Diversity on Boards
Are you interested in becoming a Non-Executive Director (NED)? Do you know what the role involves and where to find the best opportunities? On this week’s Leaders With Babies podcast Verena chats to Non-Executive Director and Leaders Plus Fellow Lucy Walker about why you should consider becoming an NED, diversity on boards, plus Lucy's journey combining two young kids with a board career. Lucy shares her tips including: Why it can help to be a Trustee first Practical things Lucy did to make her applications stand out How to structure your CV specifically for a NED role Where to look for the best quality roles 2 things anyone keen to become an NED can do today in just 10 minutes Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn here or visit her company’s website www.aminsights.com. Useful Resources Mentioned by Lucy Women on Boards: www.womenonboards.net Nurole: www.nurole.com Dynamic Boards: www.dynamicboards.co.uk First Flight Non-Executive Directors: www.firstflightnonexec.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E54 · Mon, March 08, 2021
SPECIAL EPISODE #IWD2021: Kim Rowell - Returning to Work & Things I'd Tell My Pregnant Self
To celebrate International Women's Day #IWD2021 we have a special podcast takeover episode from our inspirational Leaders Plus Fellows. BBC journalist and Leaders Plus Fellow Kirstie Brewer interviews BBC Three and BBC News Assistant Editor Kim Rowell about taking maternity leave, returning to work, and "things I'd tell my pregnant self". They discuss why kindness - or more importantly fairness - underpins Kim's leadership style. How she has successfully navigated redundancy and why all the best things have happened in Kim's career since giving birth to her daughter. Follow Kim on Twitter @KimRowellTV Follow Kirstie on Twitter @KirstieJBrewer With special thanks to the following Leaders Plus Fellows for producing this episode: Kirstie Brewer, Journalist at BBC News Melanie Sethi, Senior Internal Communications Manager, BT Victoria Moore, Transformation Lead, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Dr Katie Badcock, Health Policy and Improvement Fellow, The Shelford Group This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E53 · Tue, March 02, 2021
Michele Zanini - Making the Workplace More Human-Centred
What if people were truly at the center of organisations? How might a flexible working request work differently if processes didn't hold us back? Our guest today is Michele Zanini, the co-author of the bestselling book Humanocracy, which sets out a passionate, data-driven argument for excising bureaucracy and replacing it with something better. Michele is passionate about building organisations that are fit for the future. He shares with us the simple steps we can each take to make our workplaces less bureaucratic and more human-centered. Follow Michele on Twitter @MicheleZanini Buy a copy of Humanocracy on Amazon here. Find out more about Michele's work, including his course 'Hack My Org' which is free with the purchase of the book at www.humanocracy.com. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E52 · Tue, February 16, 2021
Michelle Mitchell OBE - Being a Charity CEO While Raising a Family
We are so excited to share this episode of Leaders With Babies with you as our guest this week is the extremely inspiring Michelle Mitchell OBE. Michelle became Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK in 2018, the world’s leading charitable funder of Cancer research. She's also a mum to two pre-teen children. Michelle has been a real trail blazer for parents who are in high level senior leadership roles. Throughout her own career she has always done things a little differently to help balance work and family, and she's always been a big supporter of working flexibly. During our discussion we cover: Sleep deprivation and how hard this can be in the early stages of motherhood Why you shouldn’t compare yourself to anyone else Why Michelle is such a big supporter of working flexibly in senior roles Why having purpose in all you do is so important What Cancer Research UK are doing to support employees with work and home life balance Why we need more role models from diverse backgrounds in senior leadership roles We hope you'll find our conversation thought provoking, especially if you’re considering your own career development and the practicalities of managing a really high powered job whilst also wanting to be present with your children. You can follow Michelle on Twitter @Michelle_CRUK and Leaders Plus at @Leaders_Plus Find out more about the brilliant work of Cancer Research UK at www.cancerresearchuk.org This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E51 · Tue, February 02, 2021
Jasmin Paris - Can You Perform Exceptionally Well When You Have a Baby? Breaking Records Whilst Being a Mother
Our guest today is the record breaking ultra runner, small animal vet, research scientist and mother of two Jasmin Paris. Jasmin completely changed expectations of what is possible for new mums when she won the gruelling 268-mile Montane Spine race shortly after welcoming her first child. An incredible achievement, especially as she was stopping at the race break points to express milk for her young daughter along the way. During our chat Jasmin shares with us: How running makes her happy and why she should never have to apologise for that How having children has helped her focus more and has contributed to her success as a runner The reality of training for competitive racing alongside working as a vet and bringing up her children Why following your passion is so important Jasmin is an incredible role model for many parents and a perfect example of how you can combine ambitious goals with having children. We hope you enjoy our conversation. You can follow Jasmin on Twitter @JasminKParis Read her brilliant blog here: http://jasminfellrunner.blogspot.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E50 · Tue, January 19, 2021
Lee Higgins - Everything You Need to Know Before Applying for a Senior Leadership Role & The Importance of Diverse Recruitment
Are you thinking about applying for a new senior leadership or director level role? Listen to this episode of Leaders With Babies first! Our guest today is Lee Higgins, who is part of the senior leadership team at the recruitment firm Falcon Brook Search and who has decades of experience working as a headhunter for senior leadership roles. Lee is particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion and he heads up their AVID Leaders programme, which works with AVID (Authentic, Vulnerable, Inclusive and Diverse) leaders to change the way organisations approach diversity and inclusion. In this episode he shares with us: When and how you should raise the question about working flexibly when going for a senior leadership role How to successfully diversify your own network and why this is so important How to demonstrate your commitment when returning to work after having a baby Why we must confront the elephants in the room and challenge assumptions like you may be less committed to your work because of your childcare commitments Why you need to bring your whole self to work The 10-minute tips for utilising LinkedIn and your own networks that can really help with your own job search If you'd like to get in touch with Lee then you can connect with Lee on LinkedIn here. Follow Leaders Plus on Twitter @leaders_plus #LeadersWithBabies Find out more about Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme here. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S4 E49 · Tue, January 05, 2021
Jessica Chivers - Career Progression in Part-time Roles
Exactly how do you progress your career whilst working in a part-time role? What do the most successful working parents do to ensure they are strategic about their career progression? Leaders With Babies is back with series 4 and our guest this week is the author, psychologist, coach, and founder of Talent Keep Specialists , Jessica Chivers. Jessica is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to progressing your career after maternity or parental leave and she has written a fantastic book about supporting mothers at work. We talk about the practical steps you can take to progress your career, especially if you're in a part-time role. Why working part-time doesn’t mean you're part ambitious or part committed. Jessica shares what her most successful coaching clients have done differently, plus the helpful tips that you can apply to your own career (even if time is limited) so your work set up really works for you. Plus, why Wednesday, not Friday, might just be the best day of the week to take off work for anyone working part-time and why Calendly is a fantastic tool for scheduling quick conversations. Useful Links From This Episode Connect with Leaders Plus on social media @leaders_plus Connect with Jessica on Twitter @jesschivers The book mentioned by Jessica is 'Busy' by Tony Crabbe Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E48 · Tue, December 15, 2020
Verena Hefti - Starting an Award-Winning Social Enterprise Whilst Bringing Up Babies & Dealing With Imposter Syndrome
Something a little different for the final episode of Season 3 as the tables have turned and I have found myself answering the questions instead of asking them! Kirstie Brewer , a journalist at the BBC and a Leaders Plus Fellow, interviews me, Verena Hefti, the host of this podcast and the founder of Leaders Plus. I share my personal story of combining a senior leadership career with young children and why I set up the award-winning social enterprise Leaders Plus. Kirstie asks fantastic questions and it was really interesting for me to be able to reflect on the journey so far. We discuss: The reality of starting a social enterprise while bringing up two babies Why I didn't push out my ambition along with my baby What it's like to leave a stable job to become a pregnant entrepreneur Imposter syndrome and how I deal with it Setting priorities and ensuring the long term goals remain in sight Having a third baby and why this will enable me to step back and think more strategically Follow Verena on Twitter at @vhefti and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus. This is the final episode in this season but Leaders With Babies will be back again in the New Year with some fantastic new guests. In the meantime, if you've enjoyed listening, please do rate and review us on iTunes and tell 5 of your friends about the podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E47 · Tue, December 08, 2020
Lauren Currie OBE - How to Increase Your Visibility at Work After Maternity or Parental Leave
This week on Leaders With Babies we welcome entrepreneur and inspirational speaker Lauren Currie OBE to the podcast. Lauren is the founder of both UPFRONT , a business committed to elevating and encouraging new voices on and off public stages and enhancing the visibility and confidence of women, and Stride , an app that is committed to democratising leadership development for the workforces of the future. She is also the chairperson of Pregnant Then Screwed. Lauren and I discovered a shared interest - visibility. We discuss: Just how do you make sure you are noticed after you return to work from maternity or parental leave? How can you be seen as an important contributor even when you’re not physically present in the office? What are the simple things you can do now that take just 10 minutes a day to increase your visibility? Lauren is incredibly passionate about finding a way to make yourself seen and heard that's entirely manageable for you, and she shares so much practical advice that you can apply to your own career today. We hope you enjoy this week's episode. Connect with Lauren on Twitter @_LaurenCurrie_ and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus. Visit Lauren's website at laurencurrie.co Please do take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast and even better, share it with 3 friends, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E46 · Tue, December 01, 2020
SPECIAL EPISODE: How to Prepare for the Primary School Transition
Is your child about to start school? Are you nervous about how you'll manage this important transition, alongside juggling work? In this special episode of the Leaders With Babies podcast Verena speaks to three Leaders Plus Fellows for their advice on managing the transition to Primary School. Including how to effectively communicate with your employer and partner, as well as other practical tips from parents who have been through it themselves. Our guests Dr Suhana Ahmed - Consultant Psychiatrist (NHS), Lucy Duszczak - Digital Marketing Manager (YHA), and Elvira Klimova - Senior Psychiatric Nurse (NHS), have all successfully navigated the transition to Primary School whilst balancing work and family life. They share: the best advice they received for a smooth transition how they practically made it work when their child was in the September 'settling in' period strategies for communicating your needs to your employer and your partner Please do take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast and even better, share it with 3 friends, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E45 · Tue, November 24, 2020
Dr Funke Abimbola MBE - How to Be a Good Ally, Dealing With Microaggressions & Becoming an Expert Public Speaker
Our guest this week is the inspirational Dr Funke Abimbola MBE , a multi-award winning lawyer, C-suite advisor, public speaker, TV contributor, diversity leader, as well as the Chief Executive Officer at the Austen Bronte Consultancy. Dr Abimbola was one of the initial speakers at the 2018 Leaders Plus House of Commons launch event, where she spoke in front of 40 babies and 60 leaders sharing her experience of being a mum whilst at the same time being a General Counsel, the most senior lawyer in a law firm. She champions diversity at work and is very honest about race and her experience of being at the receiving end of unconscious bias, including how she challenges this without losing too much energy. On this week's podcast she shares her thoughts on: dealing with microaggressions in the workplace and being unfairly judged by others race: what white people don't know about race, and how to be a good ally how to engage people who may have stereotypes against you (e.g unconscious bias and always being mistaken for the secretary) her own inspirational story of becoming a Ted Talker and expert public speaker Dr Abimbola was incredibly honest during our chat and we really hope you enjoy this week's conversation. Follow Dr Abimbola on Twitter @champ1diversity and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E44 · Tue, November 17, 2020
James Lloyd - Changing People's Minds on Flexible Working
It is easy to imagine that post Covid-19 the flexible working argument is solved, however many line managers, senior leaders and employers still have deep-rooted fears around losing control or a perceived lack of performance. So how can we change their minds? What are the right arguments to help them to think differently? Our guest today is HR Director James Lloyd and he is incredibly honest (which makes for a really thought provoking conversation) about the fact that initially, he inwardly cringed when he was presented with flexible working requests. He very quickly did a 180 on this when he started his own family and it’s incredibly interesting to hear more about how he changed his views, and actually, how we can deal with some of the more outdated views on flexible working generally. James shares some of the persuasive arguments and practical tips that will help working parents secure the right flexible working arrangements, plus his expert advice on choosing employers who prioritise diverse working arrangements during this episode. We hope you enjoy our conversation. If you’d like to get involved in the discussion then you can tag us on LinkedIn or via Twitter @leaders_plus . Please do take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast and even better, share it with 3 friends, it really helps more people to find us. Finally, our FREE negotiating flexible working for senior roles framework is also available by clicking here. We produced this resource especially for senior leaders and it will give you a solid, step-by-step guide for making a successful flexible working request in a senior role. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E43 · Tue, November 10, 2020
Fiona Jackson & Radhika Bajaj - How to Find a Sponsor for Career Growth
Sometimes you need more than a career mentor, you need a sponsor! In this episode of Leaders With Babies, we focus on finding a sponsor and why exactly they are so crucial for your career. So what is a sponsor? A sponsor is a senior leader who advocates for you, believes in you, and champions you at work and the evidence is very clear that having a sponsor makes a massive difference for the career progression of parents. Plus, it's also very helpful for when you need to have those tough conversations around flexible working. I chat with Leaders Plus Mentors Fiona Jackson and Radhika Bajaj to hear their real-life experience of finding a sponsor and how it benefitted their careers. Fiona is an award-winning expert in diversity and inclusion and Radhika is an experienced recruitment specialist team leader and both managed to find senior leaders to champion them early on in their career as working parents. They share practical advice on how parents - especially mothers - can find, manage, and leverage a sponsor to help progress their careers. We hope you enjoy our conversation. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E42 · Tue, October 27, 2020
Laura Harrison - How to Work Part-Time in a Senior Role & Not Work Full-Time Anyway (Tips for Dropping Down to 3 or 4 Days)
This week we are delighted to welcome back HR Director and Leaders Plus Mentor Laura Harrison to the podcast. Laura, who previously featured on episode 13 (sharing with us her thoughts on flexible working and building relationships, do check it out if you haven't already), joins us again to look in detail at part time working for senior roles and offer practical advice for listeners keen to cut down their hours. Just how can we make working part-time work effectively? Ensuring we're not working full time hours for less pay, leaving us resentful and exhausted! How can we successfully reduce both our tasks and responsibilities to make dropping down to 4, or 3 days achievable? Laura shares her freshest thinking on part time working, and is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the actionable steps you need to take to ensure you can make the change you want work best for you and the company. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Listen now in iTunes | Listen now on Spotify Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E41 · Tue, October 20, 2020
Becky Maxwell - Working in Emergency Medicine, Leading in a Crisis & Managing Uncertainty
Our guest this week is Becky Maxwell, a part-time Emergency Medicine Consultant and Clinical Chair of the Division of Diagnostics and Therapies at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust , as well as the Co-Chair of RCEMLearning (the Royal College of Emergency Medicine e-learning website). Becky shares really honestly the reality of juggling her portfolio career in emergency medicine alongside raising her two-year-old son. Including her advice for leading in a crisis, managing uncertainty, looking after our mental health, and, crucially, influencing senior leaders so that supporting working parents is a top priority. She also shares her decision-making process when it came to applying for senior roles as a new mum. This is a must-listen not only for any parent working in emergency medicine but also for anyone who is juggling their career and parenthood and looking to take the next step in their career. You can follow Becky on Twitter here. And Leaders Plus at leaders_plus. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E40 · Tue, October 13, 2020
Lori Mihalich-Levin - Returning to Work Mindfully & Tips to Deal With Important Life Transitions
Our guest this week is Lori Mihalich-Levin, a US-based lawyer, author, and the founder of Mindful Return, which supports parents on their return to work after having children. When Lori Mihalich-Levin returned to work as a lawyer after having her second child, the stresses of her job combined with the demands of taking care of a baby and a toddler initially proved overwhelming. Determined to channel her experience into something positive, she created Mindful Return to help other parents transition back to work more smoothly. In this week's episode, Lori explains how busy working parents can begin to introduce mindfulness into their day to help them avoid overwhelm. Lori also shares practical advice on how we can better cope with important life transitions, like returning to work after having a baby. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E39 · Tue, October 06, 2020
Rebecca Seal - How to Work From Home and Not Lose Your Mind
Our guest this week is the writer, tv presenter, and author of the new book “Solo: How to Work Alone and Not Lose Your Mind,’ Rebecca Seal. Rebecca chats with us about how to thrive when working from home, including how to set boundaries successfully and why working long hours actually damages your productivity. She shares the latest research on how best to lead your team remotely, plus why it's essential that all parents get enough recovery time from work AND from parenting. You can buy Rebecca's book 'Solo: How to Work Alone and Not Lose Your Mind' from all good book stores or by clicking here . Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E38 · Tue, September 29, 2020
Chris Bryant - How to Work Part-Time in a Senior Role, Get Paid Fairly & Learn to Say No!
Our guest this week is a trailblazer in the legal profession who has proven that it's absolutely possible to work part-time in a senior role. Chris Bryant is a partner at the international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he has a busy role focusing on Antitrust and Competiton, alongside heading up the firms Brexit task force. He does all of this in 3 days per week, something that is still uncommon in the legal sector. So how exactly does he make it work as a partner in a law firm on a 3-day working week? Chris explains how he effectively sets boundaries so that he never has to miss his daughter's Monkey Music class, plus how he has evolved as a leader since working part-time. Chris also shares some practical advice around preparing to request more flexible working patterns, as well as insights on negotiating pay in a part-time role and learning to say 'no' when it's really necessary. It's a really inspiring discussion which we hope you will enjoy. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E37 · Tue, September 22, 2020
Sophie Walker - How to Drive Change in Your Workplace & Advice on Dealing With Structural Inequalities
Our guest this week is the political activist Sophie Walker, the founding leader of the UK's Women's Equality Party and the current CEO of the Young Women’s Trust , who do brilliant work supporting young women across the UK. Sophie is a powerful change-maker and force for good and in this episode, we discuss how to drive change in the face of adversity and how we can all turn angry energy into real, tangible change. She shares why hope is "the ultimate act of defiance" when it comes to activism, what men can do to further gender equality at work, and why if you're struggling as a working mother, then the problem is never you and always the structural inequality you're faced with. Her book, Five Rules for Rebellion gives advice on how to incorporate activism into our lives, it's available to purchase here . Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown, please forgive the poor audio quality. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E36 · Tue, September 15, 2020
Panel Discussion: Motherhood, Work & Identity - an Honest Conversation
This week on Leaders With Babies we're sharing something a little different - a recent panel discussion on motherhood, work, and identity. Lisa Ford, a Strategic Enablement Director of Nielsen , Jackie Mulryne, a partner at the law firm Arnold & Porter, and Toria Reid, an A&E Consultant at a busy Edinburgh hospital, are all Leaders Plus Fellows. In this honest discussion, they share openly their personal experiences of squaring their identity as women who are passionate about their work and their new roles as mothers, and the impact this has had on their identity. Including, how they have tackled guilt and how they have adapted to change since becoming parents. All 3 have very different experiences but the conversation is hopefully both thought-provoking and enlightening. Enjoy this week's episode. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Please forgive the poor audio quality. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E35 · Tue, September 08, 2020
Professor Shani Orgad - Why Mothers Leave the Workforce & What We Can Learn From It & Making Structural Changes at Work
Recent figures have shown that significant numbers of highly educated women are leaving paid employment when they have children and our guest this week has written a brand new book examining the reasons why. Shani Orgad is Professor of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and on this week's podcast she shares her research and the real-life stories she has heard of women for whom work simply doesn't work anymore. Having interviewed a range of professional women who quit their jobs after having children, Professor Orgad found that the decision to leave the workforce and become stay-at-home mothers was a decision they made as much as wives as mothers. If you're struggling with the demands of your career and your family then you aren't alone and Professor Orgad reassures us that the problem isn't you but is in fact the system, which she argues needs structural change from within. We discuss how to make changes within our organisations to enable more working mothers to stay in the jobs they love, plus practical things we can do when we feel overwhelmed by work and parenting. To find out more about Professor Shani Orgad's book Heading Home; Motherhood, Work, and the Failed Promise of Equality click here. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E34 · Tue, September 01, 2020
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE - How to Deal With Microaggressions & Unconscious Bias at Work & Tips to Become a Key Person of Influence
This week our guest is Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, the first female Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Hayaatun shares with us exactly what led to her being seen as a key person of influence, offering tips and practical steps for listeners on how you too can increase your visibility at work. It's clear she has worked incredibly hard to progress in her career and become a confident speaker, unafraid to use her voice to champion others, especially those from underrepresented groups in society. This passion for diversity and inclusion she has brought to the Royal Academy of Engineering. During this discussion, she is extremely honest about the microaggressions and unconscious biases she has sadly been at the receiving end of throughout her career. Offering useful advice for others on how she copes with this day-to-day and why it's important to challenge this kind of behaviour. She also shares openly what went through her head when she first went for the CEO role whilst her kids were still at Primary School, including how she makes things work for her young family. Finally, we learn why we should talk more about self-care and less about balance, which should involve relaxing with some trashy TV! This is certainly one of the most uplifting conversations we've had on the podcast and we really hope you enjoy the episode. Find out more about the #ThisIsEngineering campaign at www.thisisengineering.org.uk . Follow the Royal Academy of Engineering on Twitter @RAEngNews and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E33 · Tue, August 25, 2020
Dom Holmes - How to Work Part-Time in a Senior Client Facing Role & How to Make Smart Career Choices Based on Your Values
My guest this week is Dom Holmes, Head of Employment Law, and a Partner at the International law firm Taylor Vinters . Dom is one of the few male partners in law to work part-time. As he and his team advise employers with extremely time-sensitive and complex employment issues, it is incredibly fascinating to hear how he manages to balance his incredibly busy role and parenthood, by working 4 days a week. There are lots of helpful reflections and practical tips in this conversation. Including useful tips for ensuring you don't simply end up doing 5 days' work but on 4 days' pay and a glimpse into how Dom structures his day, manages his time and sets his priorities so that he's effective both at home and at work. Dom also shares the quick 10-minute task you can do this week if you're keen to explore flexible working for your leadership role which will be incredibly useful for anyone looking to move part-time. Dom is extremely passionate that you can be a really good and effective parent and have a really rewarding career. He also feels strongly about encouraging more open discussion for parents (male or female) who wish to explore flexible working in a leadership role. A thread that runs through our discussion is how important it is to think about and identify your own personal values when crafting your vision for home life and your career and this is something that will really resonate. Enjoy this week's episode. Follow Dom on Twitter @DomHolmes147 and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Dom is also a mentor on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E32 · Tue, August 18, 2020
Alex Pang - How to Get More Done By Working Less & Convincing Your Employer on the Benefits of a 4 Day Week
Could a shorter 4-day working week or a shorter working day boost our productivity, improve our mental health, and increase our profitability? Our guest this week Alex Pang believes so. Alex is a former Silicon Valley tech-consultant and the author of an important new book titled 'Shorter', which is about how working less will revolutionise how companies get things done in the future. Writing from his own personal experience, Alex noticed during how on sabbatical from work he suddenly became so much more productive. This led to him researching globally how resting more and working less could benefit both employee and employer. In this episode, we chat about why exactly you get done more when you work less. About how to set boundaries around time management, and importantly, about why parents are often some of the most productive people out there and why parenthood should come with a premium and not incur a penalty. One of Alex’s revolutionary ideas is that a 4-day working week is what is going to change the future. He has done a huge amount of research to show that trimming down to 4 days does, in fact, make people more productive and crucially, makes companies turnover even more income. He shares how best to approach your employer to advocate for a 4 day week, including how allies will be crucial to help persuade on the benefits. He also shares details of some of the progressive companies that have already implemented the 4 day week or condensed working hours and how they are reaping the surprising rewards of increased profitability and productivity! You can follow Alex on Instagram and Twitter @askpang and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Pick up a copy of Alex's book Shorter on Amazon. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic in July 2020. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E31 · Tue, August 11, 2020
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox {Part 2} - How to Increase Your Impact Without Increasing Your Workload & Why Your 40s & 50s Might be Your Best Decades at Work
This week we welcome back Avivah Wittenberg-Cox for Part 2 of her insightful discussion on gender balance and increasing your impact at work. Avivah is an author, speaker, and CEO of 20-first , a leading global gender-balance consultancy that works with multinational firms on modern leadership approaches, supporting them to be more gender-balanced. In this follow up episode Avivah shares how she deals with perfectionism and workload, why being lazy and having a high impact really aren’t mutually exclusive and why your 40's and 50's could just be your best years when it comes to your career. She also discusses why the partner you choose can be one of the most important influences on your career. Plus details of the method she swears by to keep her on track with her quarterly professional and personal goals. Follow Avivah on Twitter @A_WittenbergCox and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Her latest graphic book is available on Amazon now . Avivah is also a mentor on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded in February 2020 prior to the COVID-19 Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
Tue, August 04, 2020
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox {Part 1} – Gender Balance at Work: How to Convince Senior Leaders Who Don’t Care About Gender Equality to Take Action to Support Parents
This week on Leaders With Babies, Verena is joined by the author and acclaimed speaker Avivah Wittenberg-Cox to discuss influencing senior leaders on gender equality at work. Avivah is the CEO of 20-first , a leading global gender-balance consultancy that works with multi-national firms on modern leadership approaches, supporting them to be more gender-balanced. With so many important discussion points it was impossible to cut the conversation and not lose any of the brilliant insight, so instead, we have split it into two parts. In part one, you'll hear Avivah's freshest thinking on the best way to convince senior leaders who don't care about gender equality to take action today and support parents. Including the best way to engage those colleagues who are least interested in gender equality at work, the most powerful arguments to use for why this really matters, and why data is always a girl's best friend. Follow Avivah on Twitter @A_WittenbergCox and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Her latest graphic book is available on Amazon now . Avivah is also a mentor on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E29 · Tue, July 28, 2020
Dr Maja Korica {Part 2} - How to Network Virtually & Increase Your Visibility With Senior Leaders
This week we welcome back Dr Maja Korica, Associate Professor of Management and Organisation at Warwick Business School to the podcast. In a follow up to episode 28 of Leaders With Babies , Dr Korica delves even further into what it takes to get ahead at work in the context of the new socially distanced, virtual environment. Including the best way to establish trust online. In this episode, you'll learn how to apply key research on networking to ensure you make a positive impression in a virtual environment, how to influence senior leaders when there is no water cooler conversation and you can't meet face-to-face, the best way you can approach someone senior for a favour when they don't know you and how you can ensure you're fully listened to in a virtual context when you (potentially) have children bursting in on your Zoom calls! Dr Korica is an anthropologist of the Business Elite, she researches how CEOs, Boards, and Senior Leaders really behave and why analysing in-depth the drivers behind their decision making processes. She was recognised by Thinkers50 in 2017 as “one of the management thinkers most likely to shape the future of how organisations are managed and led." You can follow Dr Korica on Twitter @DrKorica and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic in July 2020. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E28 · Tue, July 21, 2020
Dr Maja Korica {Part 1} - How to Get Senior Leaders to Really Listen, Finding a Sponsor & Tips for Career Progression
Our guest this week is Dr Maja Korica, Associate Professor of Management and Organisation at Warwick Business School. An anthropologist of the Business Elite, she researches how CEOs, Boards, and Senior Leaders really behave and why analysing in-depth the drivers behind their decision making processes. She was recognised by Thinkers50 in 2017 as "one of the management thinkers most likely to shape the future of how organisations are managed and led." In this episode, Dr Korica shares valuable insight into managing workplace politics with integrity, what you really need to do to get senior leaders to listen and take notice of your ideas and the practical steps you need to take today to further your career. Including why networks and sponsorship are crucial to reaching the senior leadership positions. You can follow Dr Korica on Twitter @DrKorica and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E27 · Tue, July 14, 2020
Dr Sue Black OBE - How to Shape the Career You Want, Tips to Get Promoted & Women in Tech
Our guest this week is Dr Sue Black OBE, Professor of Computer Science at Durham University. Sue is a passionate advocate for more women in tech and has spent the last 20 years campaigning for more recognition and support for women in computing. This led to her founding BCS Women the UK’s first online network for women in tech, and #techmums, a social enterprise that empowers mums and their families through technology. On this week's Leaders With Babies episode, Sue shares her remarkable and often inspiring story, offering plenty of practical advice you can apply to your own career today. Having left home at 16 (after dropping out of her grammar school with no A-levels) she went on to marry at 20, before becoming a stay-at-home mum to 3 small children. At 25 she fled her husband and sought shelter in a women’s refuge, and from there she transformed her life, going from barely being able to afford to eat to becoming an acclaimed University Professor. Throughout Sue's career, one thing has been constant - she has always put herself forward for opportunities and promotion. In this episode, she shares advice for anyone who is stuck in their job and unsure how to move forward. Including how to successfully shape your own career so that you can truly love the work you do. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Follow Professor Black on Twitter @Dr_Black and Leaders Plus @leaders_plus . Find out more about the #techmums initiative here. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast, it really helps more people to find us. This episode was recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic in June 2020. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E26 · Tue, July 07, 2020
Anita Kerwin-Nye - How to Know Your Worth, Challenge Prejudices & Lead Authentically & Why Chickens Are Critical To Lockdown
This week Verena is joined by Anita Kerwin-Nye, Director of Strategy and Engagement at YHA. Anita is passionate about calling out inequality and has had an interesting and varied portfolio career in the charity and education sectors, moving effortlessly between consultancy and senior leadership roles. In this episode, she shares her expert advice on going freelance and charging what you're worth, as well as her best tips on how to lead authentically, particularly in the charity sector. There's a frank and interesting discussion on the impact of class on career progression, including advice on being authentic and challenging prejudices in the workplace and why diversity and inclusion in leadership really matters. She also draws on her own experience bringing up 4 children alongside her leadership career, with particular focus on the practicalities of bringing up children with significant learning difficulties, offering insight for other parents doing the same. Finally, she shares why chickens have been critical to her family's lockdown experience! Anita is a Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. Find out more here . You can follow Anita on Twitter @anitakntweets Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe, plus make sure you’re following us on social media @leaders_plus. This episode was recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic in June 2020. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E25 · Tue, June 30, 2020
Dr Jennifer Petriglieri - Surviving Lockdown! How Working Couples Can Thrive Whilst Juggling Careers & Home Schooling During Times of Crisis
The Coronavirus crisis and period of prolonged lockdown has posed some unique challenges for dual-career couples, many of whom are now juggling two busy workloads as well as homeschooling. To help couples manage their family's needs both at home and work and grow together during this stressful time we welcome back to the podcast Dr Jennifer Petriglieri. Jennifer is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD in France and the author of the brilliant book Couples That Work . Regular listeners may remember that Dr Petriglieri first joined us back on episode 16 for discussion around the impact of relationships and how they can support career progression. Following on from this the latest conversation focuses on times of crisis, like the current Coronavirus pandemic, and examines how dual-career couples can best support each other when juggling work, relationships as well as homeschooling demands when all under one roof 24/7. Jennifer shares the practical steps that can be done this week to cope as a couple during this stressful period of change and insecurity, including the 3 essential things every couple must do if they are to thrive. Enjoy the episode and please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe, plus make sure you’re following us on social media @leaders_plus. Visit Dr Petriglieri's website here. This episode was recorded in June 2020 during the Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E24 · Tue, June 23, 2020
Dr Suhana Ahmed: How to Lead in a Crisis & why Biscuits and Handcream are Essential
It's fair to say our guest on this week's episode has been on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19. Dr. Suhana Ahmed is a Consultant Psychiatrist who leads an inpatient ward for the elderly. Sadly many of her patients have caught Covid-19, and some tragically have lost their battle. In this frank discussion, Dr. Ahmed shares how leading in a crisis such as the Coronavirus Pandemic has forever shaped her as a leader. The key learnings she has discovered during the past 8 weeks, as well the practical advice she would give to someone leading during a crisis right now. There is also an honest chat about postnatal depression, the feeling of mum guilt, and how she juggles such a demanding and high profile role around her young son, Daniel. Finally, Suhana shares why small and simple acts of kindness - like buying hand cream or a tin of biscuits - can make all the difference to the team during such times of crisis. We hope you enjoy this week's episode, despite the tough subject matter it is an incredibly empowering and uplifting conversation. Suhana is part of the 2020 Cohort of the Leaders Plus Fellowship, her place has been partly sponsored by the NHS London Leadership Academy’s Women in Leadership Network . Find out more about the Fellowship Programme here . Follow Dr. Ahmed on Twitter @SuhanaAhmed10 And please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to the Leaders With Babies podcast and make sure you’re following us on social media @leaders_plus. This episode was recorded in June 2020 during the Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E23 · Tue, June 16, 2020
Prof Rosie Campbell: The Impact of Covid-19 on Parents, Gender Equality & Career Progression
This week on Leaders With Babies Verena is joined by Professor Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics and Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King's College London. Professor Campbell shares her insight on parenting whilst in a leadership role, plus we explore what the latest research tells us about career progression for women. There's also an important discussion on the impact of Covid-19 on gender equality at work , including the potential negative impact of Lockdown on working mothers and the importance of evaluating performance during the crisis fairly. Plus, how to set boundaries at work, increase your visibility and tips for setting yourself up for career progression. Follow Rosie on Twitter @profrosiecamp . Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to the Leaders With Babies podcast and make sure you’re following us on social media @leaders_plus . This episode was recorded during Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E22 · Tue, June 09, 2020
Paul Fisher: The Art of Negotiation: How to ask for a Pay Rise & Request Flexible Working
It's fair to say that Paul Fisher, Associate Fellow and Programme Director of the Oxford Programme on Negotiation at the Saïd Business School , is an expert when it comes to the art of negotiation and persuasion. Paul kindly shares his expertise when it comes to successful negotiation at work, including how best to structure your argument when requesting things like pay rises, flexible working, and training opportunities. He also shares the clear framework you can use to improve your chances of receiving a pay rise and advises on how you can set clear boundaries to support your negotiation. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to the Leaders With Babies podcast and make sure you're following us on social media @leaders_plus. This episode was recorded during Lockdown. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S3 E21 · Thu, May 28, 2020
Workload Management Panel Discussion - Strategies for Coping During Lockdown
Managing workloads in senior roles can be challenging at the best of times, but with the added stress of full-time childcare during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown, ALL parents are feeling the strain. To launch Series 3 of the Leaders With Babies Podcast we are sharing our recent panel discussion (hosted by Leaders Plus and Doyenne) where we discuss managing teams, managers, and home life during lockdown. Listen to a range of inspirational speakers who each have taken a different approach to manage their own workload whilst combining senior careers with bringing up children. You will walk away with concrete ideas to tackle your own workload, strategies to cope during the pandemic, plus expert advice to ensure your career can flourish in the future. Thank you so much for listening and please don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe, it really makes a difference. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E20 · Sun, March 22, 2020
Dr. Martha Deiros Collado - CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL: Talking to Children About Covid-19
This past week has been life-changing for all of us and like many other parents, we wish to ensure that our children do not bear any long term scars from this turbulent and unsettling period. On this week's podcast, we are doing something a little different and we are sharing the audio from our recent webinar with Dr. Martha Deiros Collado , which focused on talking to young children about Coronavirus. Dr. Martha is a clinical psychologist supporting children who go through severe illness and trauma. During the discussion, she tells us honestly about how young children express anxiety, what we should say to them and how to deal with it when you yourself are experiencing strong emotions in front of the children. The session focuses mainly on toddlers and preschoolers but is also very relevant to primary school-age children. We hope you find it useful. You can find the resources mentioned in this episode on the Leaders Plus website www.leadersplus.org.uk/coronavirus Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E19 · Tue, March 17, 2020
Alexandra Marks CBE - Maternal Instinct, Societal Expectations & Balancing a Magic Circle Law Career With a Young Family
Our guest this week is Alexandra Marks CBE, Deputy High Court Judge and Retired Partner at Linklaters LLP . In this powerful discussion, we look at maternal instinct and whether pursuing a career impacts your maternal bond with your children. We talk about social expectations of mother's, as well as the realities of being a female partner with children at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. Plus, Alexandra shares the best advice she has ever received and her top tips for managing workload. Alexandra is a mentor on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme and has previously been named one of Debrett’s 500 most influential people in Britain. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E18 · Tue, March 10, 2020
Kath Austin - Starting Your Own Business & Developing a Strong Brand, Mum Guilt & Being a Present Parent
On episode 18 of Leaders With Babies Verena is joined by fellow entrepreneur Kath Austin. Kath is the CEO and founder of the fast-growing, multi-award-winning company Bee Bee Wraps , who create sustainable, reusable beeswax food wraps. Kath is a mother of two and talks openly about what it takes to start your own business, including how she juggles her successful start-up with raising her girls. She shares the highs and lows of taking the business from her kitchen table to shop shelves, including her appearance on BBC's Dragons Den. Plus her top tips for staying present with the children when there are 101 things to do. There's also an interesting discussion on mum guilt, imposter syndrome and the pitfalls of social media and mobile technology. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E17 · Tue, March 03, 2020
Sam Bethune - Setting Up HSBC's Flexible Working Network & Advice on Finding a Job Share
This week Verena chats to Sam Bethune who, along with her job share partner at the time, spearheaded the Flexible Working Network at HSBC . Sam (a previous Fellow of the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme ) shares her incredible story of how working in a job share at HSBC led to them setting up the flexible working culture at the organisation; including how the process actually emerged organically, how they were able to get senior leader buy-in and the exact steps they put in place to originally create this valuable global network. There's also an interesting discussion on the common themes and challenges around flexible working from their research, as well as top tips on managing workload and why job share is such a viable option for most employees. This episode is absolutely crammed full of actionable advice on finding a job share, working flexibly and driving change in your own organisation. We hope you find it useful. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E16 · Tue, February 11, 2020
Dr Jennifer Petriglieri - How Dual Career Couples Can Thrive at Home & Work & Top 3 Things to Strengthen the Positive Impact of Your Relationship on Your Career
This week Verena is joined by Dr Jennifer Petriglieri, an Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD in France and the author of the brilliant book Couples That Work , to discuss how dual-career couples can thrive in relationships, at home and in work. We know instinctively that being in a relationship can have a massive impact on your career progress and long-term happiness. In this episode of Leaders With Babies, we focus on how couples in ambitious careers can successfully tackle the challenges they will face throughout their lives together and thrive. Jennifer shares the concrete steps you can take today to strengthen the positive impact of your relationship on your career. Plus there's a breakdown of the 3 types of couple approaches to careers and a reminder that our partner is often our secret weapon when it comes to our long-term career success. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E15 · Tue, February 04, 2020
Ruth & Colin Stuart - Combining Ambitious Careers, Sharing the Mental Load and Dealing With Challenges as a Couple
This week on Leaders With Babies Verena is joined by our first ever couple, Ruth and Colin Stuart. Ruth and Colin (who are parents to a young daughter) both have successful leadership careers in their own right. Ruth as Head of Strategy Development at the CIPD (the main membership organisation for HR Directors) and Colin as a respected astronomy author and international speaker. In order to progress your career and get to the most senior jobs, it can be essential to have a supportive partner. In this honest and open discussion, the pair chat about how their relationship has evolved since having a child, what they do to support each other now and how they deal with challenges as a couple. As both pursue ambitious careers Ruth and Colin share some of the practical steps they've put in place to support their family, plus how they manage the 'mental load' and ensure it's not one persons job to project manage the family! Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E14 · Tue, January 28, 2020
Mother Pukka - Campaigning for Flexible Working, Miscarriage and the Realities of Working With Your Partner
This week Verena chats to the journalist, author, social media influencer and flexible working campaigner Anna Whitehouse - otherwise known as “Mother Pukka.” Using #flexappeal , Anna has been a pioneer in calling for flexible working for ALL and her mission is to help businesses breakdown the fear around flexible working. Anna shares how the #flexappeal campaign got started, plus some brilliant, real-life, flexible working examples from businesses such as BP, HSBC and Deloitte. Plus there is plenty of practical advice on getting flexible working requests approved. There's also powerful and open discussion on miscarriage, setting boundaries and avoiding burnout, as well as the realities of working closely with your partner Thank you so much for listening and please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E13 · Tue, January 21, 2020
Laura Harrison - Building Relationships When You Hate Networking, Negotiating Pay From a HR's Perspective & What Happens Behind Closed Doors When You Submit a Flexible Working Request
Ever wondered what happens behind closed doors in HR when you submit a flexible working request? This week on Leaders With Babies, Verena is joined by Laura Harrison, a former HR Director who has worked for organisations including PwC, EY, Aviva and CIPD. Laura is a co-founder of the Human Change Agency and also a mentor on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme and is passionate about combining her love for her work with her love for her children. In this candid discussion, Laura shares her top tips for building meaningful relationships at work, even if you dislike networking or simply don't have the time to attend events. Plus there's brilliant advice on negotiating salary from a HR's perspective, insight into what really happens behind closed doors in HR when a flexible working request comes through the door and how to ensure having children doesn’t stop your career progression. Laura has generously offered a one-off mentoring session for one lucky Leaders With Babies listener. The next 10 people who download our Fellowship Application Pack and drop an email to Verena at verena@leadersplus.org.uk will be entered into a prize draw to win. Full terms and conditions can be found on leaderplus.org.uk. Good luck! Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E12 · Tue, January 14, 2020
Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE - Mental Health, Having Purpose & the Importance of Being True to Your Values When Progressing Your Career
This week on Leaders With Babies, Verena is joined by Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE, the former National Clinical Director of Mental Health for NHS England. For over 20 years Geraldine has held senior roles in mental health policy, regulation and clinical management, at national and London regional levels. She advises internationally on mental health service design and quality improvement, all while working as a practising clinician and juggling her own children and now grandchildren. In this episode, there is an insightful discussion on the importance of having purpose in your work, including how if we are to do amazing things we need to surround ourselves with inspiring people. Geraldine shares the interventions that have helped manage her own mental health whilst progressing her busy NHS career, juggling children and managing multiple roles. Plus, there's advice on negotiating boundaries and workload. She urges us to remember that as our working life may be a long one we are in fact running a marathon and not a sprint. After all, there is plenty of time to achieve all we wish to if we have faith in our values. Finally, Geraldine shares her own personal favourite memories from combining her NHS leadership career and parenthood. Including the joy of a Friday afternoon iced bun with a treasured colleague and why having a bit of fun at work is really very important indeed. This episode is kindly supported by the London Women's Leadership Network at the NHS London Leadership Academy who we are delighted to announce are now generously part-sponsoring 4 places on our Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme . Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S2 E11 · Tue, January 07, 2020
Tim Allen - Taking Shared Parental Leave & How to Ensure You Don't Miss Out When it Comes to Appraisal
In the first episode of Series 2 of the Leaders With Babies Podcast, Verena is joined by Tim Allen, a partner at PWC and a mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship . Tim is a pioneer in taking shared parental leave (SPL) and was one of the very first partners at PWC to take extended time off following the birth of his first daughter, Stella. There's important discussion on the practicalities of taking SPL when in a leadership position, including how to ensure you don't miss out when it comes to future appraisals and pay rises. Tim shares his key learning points from taking SPL, the positive impact it has had on his approach to leadership, what he'll do differently for future leave and why communication with your partner is key when it comes to managing expectations. Plus, Tim explains how it's our duty to strive for equality when it comes to childcare and parental leave. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E10 · Tue, November 26, 2019
Poppy Jaman OBE - Overcoming Workload Overwhelm, Managing Your Wellbeing & Mental Health
This week in the tenth and final episode of Series One of Leaders With Babies, Verena talks to Poppy Jaman OBE, CEO and founding member of City Mental Health Alliance. Poppy openly shares her own struggle with post natal depression in her early 20's and how through that challenging period she founded and led one of the most successful and fastest growing mental health charities in the UK. There's important discussion on managing workload overwhelm as a leader with young children, plus why it is crucial that we create work places which are mentally healthy at their core. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E9 · Tue, November 19, 2019
Tanya Stevens - Advice on Flexible Working & Practical Tips When Applying for Senior Leadership Roles
Joining Verena this week is headhunter Tanya Stevens, who shares her practical tips for parents of young children who wish to apply for a senior leadership role either today or in the future. Tanya, who is principal headhunter at Society's global not-for-profit practice, has some brilliant advice on flexible working. Including the best time to mention flexible working when applying for a new position and the factors that really make a difference when it comes to interview. Plus there is discussion on making the jump to a C-suite role, including the essential skills that can set you apart from the competition. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E8 · Tue, November 12, 2019
Ufi Ibrahim - Senior Leadership & Single Parenthood
This week Verena is joined by joined by Ufi Ibrahim, Chair of the Hotels Energy Board and former CEO of the British Hospitality Association, who has had an illustrious international senior leadership career in the hospitality and tourism industry. Ufi shares her experience navigating single parenthood at a young age; why she never stops studying and how she developed the resilience and ambition to succeed whilst raising her son and progressing her career. Plus there’s inspiring discussion on the importance of continued learning and why it’s vital to your career progression to develop a strong and reliable support network. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E7 · Tue, November 05, 2019
Susannah Hardyman - CEO Role in 4 Days & Miscarriage
In episode 7 of Leaders With Babies, Verena is joined by Susannah Hardyman; CEO and Founder of the award-winning educational charity Action Tutoring and a Leaders Plus Fellow. There's powerful discussion around miscarriage, the best way to ask for a pay rise post-maternity leave, managing workload and how to make a busy CEO job work in 4 days. Susannah also shares the positive impact of the Leaders Plus Fellowship and coming to the realisation that there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to combining work and family life. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E6 · Tue, October 29, 2019
Prof Dame Jane Dacre - First Ever NHS Job Share & Gender Pay Gap Review
This week Verena Hefti is joined by Consultant Rheumatologist and former President of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Prof Dame Jane Dacre. From working in one of the first-ever general medicine job shares to negotiating part-time work, in this insightful discussion, Prof Dame Dacre opens up about her experience juggling three small children with a very busy medical career. Including why hearing the words 'no, you can't' only spurred her career on further. There is also discussion on leadership and gender, specifically Prof Dame Dacre's most recent work leading the first and biggest gender pay gap review in the NHS. This episode is kindly supported by the London Women’s Leadership Network at the NHS London Leadership Academy. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E5 · Tue, October 22, 2019
Nick Wilkie - Career Breaks & Judgment of Parents
Episode 5 of Leaders With Babies features Nick Wilkie, the first male Chief Executive appointed by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the UK's largest charity for parents. Born in Manchester and raised in the Peak District, Nick now lives in London and is a father of three young children. In this brilliant discussion, Nick talks candidly about stepping away from his Chief Executive position at the NCT to be a full-time parent, allowing his partner to return a full-time leadership position and how he will ensure that headhunters still remember him when he returns. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E4 · Tue, October 15, 2019
Dame Helena Morrissey - Senior Leadership & Diversity
In episode 4 of Leaders with Babies host Verena Hefti chats to the wonderfully inspiring Dame Helena Morrissey, a financier, author, wife and mother of nine. As well as being Head of Personal Investing at Legal & General, Helena is Chair of the Diversity Project and Founder of the 30% Club , a groundbreaking initiative to get 30% of boards female. She is also the author of the brilliant book A Good Time to be a Girl . In this insightful interview, Helena shares the highlights of her fascinating senior leadership career in the City and why diversity is crucial to getting the best results. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E3 · Tue, October 08, 2019
Elizabeth Emens - Managing Life Admin, Avoiding Overwhelm & Exhaustion
In episode 3 Verena Hefti talks to Professor of Law and author of the brilliant book ‘The Art of Life Admin’, Elizabeth Emens about managing the spiral of day-to-day tasks that can often overwhelm and exhaust us. Elizabeth explains how lifelines are essential in helping us navigate parenthood and return back to our original intentions. She also shares practical tips on better managing our life admin, so that we can steal back time in our day to do the things that spark joy and help us achieve our dreams. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E2 · Tue, October 01, 2019
Hannah Essex - Making a Job Share Work
In Episode 2 of the Leaders with Babies Podcast CEO and founder of Leaders Plus, Verena Hefti interviews the brilliant Hannah Essex, Co-Executive Director at the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), a position she job shares with Claire Walker. Hannah shares her positive experience job sharing with Claire at the BCC and her essential advice for anyone who is keen to explore job sharing at their company, as well as the practicalities of making a job share work. Plus as a busy mum of 3 Hannah opens up about how being well organised is vital to her busy career, allowing her to combine work and family life. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
S1 E1 · Tue, September 24, 2019
Dr Susie Minson - NHS Leadership Career & Juggling a Young Family
In Episode 1 of the Leaders with Babies Podcast CEO and founder of Leaders Plus, Verena Hefti interviews the inspirational Dr. Susie Minson, a consultant paediatrician at the Royal London Children's Hospital and Clinical Lecturer at St Bartholomew's Hospital and The London Medical School. Susie is also a proud mum of 3 young children and a past Leaders Plus Fellow. In this frank and open discussion, Susie discusses her biggest learning points when it comes to combining her ambitious leadership career, whilst at the same time raising her young children. Plus the day-to-day challenges she has faced and the practical tips she adopts that make juggling work and home life that little bit easier. This episode is kindly supported by the London Women's Leadership Network at the NHS London Leadership Academy. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now. Applications are now open for our NHS Fellowship Our FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.
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