Big Careers, Small Children

Today on the podcast, Verena Hefti MBE chats with Dr Ana Catalano Weeks, Senior Lecturer at the University of BathDr. 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.

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

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

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.

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 + SawConnect with Rachel on LinkedIn.Mentioned in this episode:Cross Sector Fellowship

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

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.

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

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 SandbergFind out more about the brilliant work of Unlocked Graduates at https://unlockedgrads.org.uk

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/newsletterWe hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and invite you to follow us on social media @leaders_plus #BigCareersSmallChildren

“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

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.comPre-order Jessica's book Holding It Together - How Women Became America's Safety Net here.

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 childrenWhy your child needs meaningful connection and not necessarily hours of your timeHow to be focused at work without feeling guiltyHow to make children understand that you have to and want to workWe hope you enjoy our conversation.To find out more about Dr Martha head to her website at www.drmarthapsychologist.comFind 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.

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 LinkedInFind out more about Confessions of a Working FatherFind out more about Men for Inclusion

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 LinkedInFind out more about The Felix Project

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 progressionWhy so many working parents say they think that having children has held them back in their careersWhat the data tells us regarding why certain working parents are still progressing and how to replicate this for more working parentsWhat 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 PenaltyFind advice on negotiation in Big Careers, Small Children episode #22 with Paul Fisher.

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.orgFollow Janet on Twitter: @JanetDaby

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

 “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.

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 differentlyA look at the latest evidence and research around authority and genderWhat can we all do to deal with this authority gap in day-to-day lifeHow can we change things for future generationsMary 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.

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

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

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.

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 [email protected]

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 changesBeing your authentic self at workHow she became an Executive DirectorWhy the term imposter syndrome isn’t always helpful We hope you enjoy the conversation.Show Notes:Invisible Women (Caroline Criada Perez) Fertility Matters at WorkEdelman Trust Barometer

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 FellowshipEarly 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

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 workloadWhy delegating is crucialHow 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.

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 FellowshipEarly 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

“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 involvesHow to get a Non-Executive Director positionWhat being on a board actually meansHow you can successfully work your networkHow you can combine a Non-Executive Director role when you're a parent of young childrenWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Show Notes:Listen to Bruce Daisley's "Eat Sleep Work Repeat"Visit the Women on Boards websiteListen 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 SeptemberOur award-winning Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents progressing senior careers who want to lead positive change. Find out more.

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.

“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.comFor 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.comDaisy Chain - a free online platform where people can match with flexible employers daisy-chain.comInvesting 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

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.

“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 developmentHow to network in a way that feels authentic to youThe impact a sponsor can have on your career3 tips for non-natural networkers Connect with Drake Peabody on LinkedIn.

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-dayWhy most moments of microstress come from interactions with someone elseWhy 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 microstressHow 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.orgLearn more about the Microstress Effect App on Google Play or in the Apple App Store.

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.

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 careerRecognise and successfully navigate changeDeal with challenges like a ‘bad’ managerDefine your own work-life rhythmDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really makes a difference.

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.

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 LucyWomen on Boards: www.womenonboards.netNurole: www.nurole.com Dynamic Boards: www.dynamicboards.co.ukFirst Flight Non-Executive Directors: www.firstflightnonexec.com

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.

“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 topThe importance of a powerful virtual network and how to build itMoving beyond “imposter syndrome”Part-time salary negotiations and understanding your real valueWhether you should talk about yourself as a working parent in a job interviewHow to sell your skills when you don't like promoting yourselfWe 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.

“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 forThe practicalities to consider when you're child is off school for holidaysHow 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.

"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 @pollymackenzieShow Notes:Herb Cohen - You Can Negotiate AnythingJames O'Brien - How to be Right in a World Gone WrongEmail [email protected] if your organisation is doing awesome policy work and you want to be included on the list of companies

“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 

“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 firstWhat has changed for working parents in the last 30 years, particularly in the NHSHow to approach difficult conversations by being humanGuilt and judgement of working parentsThe transformative power of coachingShow Notes:Employee Engagement & NHS Performance Read the article by Michael West & Jeremy Dawson herePersonality test: Myers-Briggs Personality Test Find out moreFree Coaching for NHS Scotland Staff Find out moreAre 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 FellowshipOur 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.

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 yourselfWhy 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 FellowshipOur 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.

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.comShow Notes:"Wives of the Organization" article by Anne HuffDiscover 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 FellowshipOur 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.

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 workingWhy 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 workWhy 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 FellowshipOur 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.

“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 parentHow to ensure you're not impacted by the pension pay gapHow 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 FellowshipOur 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.

“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 ReportWhy it's so hard to combine a big career and childrenWhat the report identifies as the crux of the issueWhy objectives and contribution to the team matter more than timeWhy so many women are leaving middle management jobsThe 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 SerendipityThe Equal Parent, by Paul Morgan-BentleyApplications 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 FellowshipOur 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.

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 workDriving change and the gender pay gap in the NHSPostnatal depressionOvercoming challengesGuiltDeciding when to have childrenFlexible working in the NHSFeatured: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 | Listen now on SpotifyAre 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 FellowshipOur 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.