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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.uk/newsletterWe hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and invite you to follow us on social media @leaders_plus #BigCareersSmallChildren
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Has your employer recently called you back to the office?Our guest today is Rosie Hewat, Group Chief People Officer at fintech company Kuda.In 2024, many organisations have begun to pull their workers back to the office. As an experienced HR and people management professional and an advocate for flexible working, Rosie shares practical advice on how you can handle this request.Plus, listen for tips on requesting flexible working and what to do if your flexible working request is rejected.Enjoy the conversation.Show notes:Find out more about Rosie at www.rosiespeople.com Find out more about the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships www.leadersplus.org/fellowship
What do the people who get flexible working requests approved have in common?Today we welcome Elizabeth (Liz) Willetts, CEO and Founder of Investing in Women to the podcast to discuss her work advocating for the power of part-time and flexible working.Liz shares her top tips for getting your flexible working request approved, including when it is best to mention flexible working during interview stages.Plus, why Liz believes the future of work is hybrid.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Show Notes:Connect with Liz on LinkedInFind out more about Investing in WomenListen to the Work it Like a Mum podcastApply now for the award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship.
Do you ever feel under pressure to be the perfect parent?Verena Hefti MBE chats with Charlotte Boujassy, Director of Talent & Leadership Development Europe for a Japanese pharmaceutical company.They discuss why it's so important to talk loudly about working flexibly at a senior level, how to deal with the pressure of perfectionism when you're a working parent and progressing your career after you have children.Born in France, for the past 10 years, Charlotte has lived and worked in Munich. She co-parents her two daughters alongside her now ex-husband.Enjoy the conversation.Show notes:Connect: Send Charlotte a message on LinkedInBook: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckResearch: Kathleen McGinn - Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy AdultsFellowship: Find out more about the Leaders Plus Fellowship
Today we welcome to the podcast Thorey V. Proppe, the CEO and founder of Alda, an Icelandic tech company which developed DEI software for workplaces globally.Iceland consistently ranks among the highest countries in the world for gender equality.Thorey shares:What is working for gender equality right now in IcelandWhat we can learn from this success to implement in other countriesWhy data is the best way to improve DEI policies and help close the gender pay gapEnjoy the conversation.Show notes:Find out more about the Alda DEI software at alda.coDownload the 22/23 Reykjavik Index for LeadershipListen to Michelle Harrison, CEO of Kantar discuss the 22/23 Reykjavic Index on Big Careers, Small ChildrenFind the Third Shift Book on AmazonAccess Mental Load resources from Leaders Plus
Today we're joined by Brita Fernandez Schmidt, transformational coach and author of the brilliant book Fears to Fierce. Brita has spent 25 years championing women's rights across the world, and strongly believes that every woman has a fierce power to fulfill her own dreams.We discussed how we can learn to trust our own intuition, be intentional with our actions and manage our fears.Enjoy the conversation.Show notes:Find out more about Brita and her book Fears to Fierce Listen to Mary Ann Siegart on episode 81 of the Big Careers, Small Children podcastFind Gert Gigerenzer's book The Intelligence of Intuition
This week we welcome Lea Henry, co-founder of the award-winning creative childcare agency CocoRio.Together with her business partner Corinna Bordoli, Lea co-founded CocoRio because she worried about the quality of childcare available. As she couldn’t keep her kids with her 24/7, she wanted to ensure their overall development and emotional well-being would be catered for.Lea shares practical advice on how she manages the competing demands of a baby, a toddler and a growing business.A common theme during the discussion is perfectionism and letting go of the perfect time to do things. We discuss how to manage perfectionism and deal with feelings of guilt, plus why it's so important to set clear boundaries and tips on how to do it. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Show notes:Connect with Lea Henry on LinkedIn.Find out more about CocoRio: https://cocorio.co.uk Download the Career Progression Gaps report.Read the book: Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life) by Thomas Erikson.
How can women thrive in a traditionally male-dominated work environment?Today we welcome to the podcast Polly Ogden Duffy, Managing Director at prime sales and lettings agency John D Wood & Co. London.Polly, who is married with two children, is passionate that women CAN have it all and shares why she believes being ambitious as a working mother is no bad thing.Having worked her whole career in a traditionally male-dominated environment, Polly shares the advice she would give other women progressing their career, including why you don't necessarily have to 'act like a man' to move into those senior positions.The property industry, as a whole, is not known for embracing flexible working, but Polly - who works compressed hours - is a huge advocate for working flexibly and encourages her team to bring their whole self to work. She shares how she makes this work.Finally, Polly shares her tips for surviving and thriving at work on very little sleep during those first few months of parenthood.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Show notes:Find out more about John D. Wood & Co. London.Find Polly on LinkedIn.Download the brochure for our award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship.
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
“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
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Brilliant podcast, tackling issues that many working parents face on a daily basis. I look forward to each new episode!