In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Sylwia Wołos, Chief Strategy Officer at Ground Truth Intelligence and a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme.

Sylwia shares her inspiring journey of building a successful career in the demanding field of risk management and compliance while raising three children. She discusses the challenges of navigating the C-suite as a working parent, tackling gender inequality in senior leadership, and breaking the stigma around balancing ambitious careers with family life.

Together, they explore:

• How Sylwia’s upbringing in Poland fuelled her passion for combating financial crime and corruption.
• Practical strategies for managing priorities and setting boundaries as a senior leader and parent.
• The importance of rethinking success and adapting career goals to align with personal values.
• Why parents shouldn’t apologise for balancing family and work responsibilities.
• Tips for effective networking, even as an introvert, and the transformative impact of mentoring.

This heartfelt and insightful conversation offers valuable advice for ambitious working parents striving to progress their careers while prioritising their families.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to lead with compassion and embrace flexibility as a parent and leader.
• The significance of redefining success and pursuing a career on your own terms.
• Why mentoring is beneficial for both mentors and mentees.

Show Notes:

• Connect with Sylwia Wołos via her LinkedIn Profile.
• Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org.
• Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
• Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn.
• Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowships support parents committed to career growth while enjoying family life. Expertly designed to keep parents on the leadership path, our programme tackles gender pay gap issues and empowers parents to thrive. Learn more here: Leaders Plus Fellowship.

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• {CEO Series} Polly Neate - How to Find Purpose in Your Work
• {CEO Series} Laura Citron – Why the CEO Role is Perfect for Working Parents