Big Careers, Small Children

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 @SuhanaAhmed10And 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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/coronavirusAre 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 partnerThank 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 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.

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 [email protected] 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.