In this research-rich and deeply practical episode, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Prof Gudrun Sander, Director of the Institute for International Management and Diversity Management IIDM-HSG at the University of St. Gallen, about what workplaces must do if they genuinely want to support working parents and close gender progression gaps.

A global expert on gender equality, leadership, and organisational culture, Prof Sander brings decades of evidence-based insight into what really moves the needle and what doesn’t.

She unpacks why many well-intentioned initiatives fall short, the key levers that actually shift equality outcomes, and how organisations can redesign work so that parents can thrive without penalty.

Together, they explore:

✔️ Why having a family should be treated as a normal part of an employee’s career path

✔️ How organisations can remove systemic barriers that disadvantage working parents

✔️ The real reason visibility matters as much as performance for progression

✔️ Why women don’t need to be “perfect” to step into stretch opportunities

✔️ What companies get wrong when designing policies like parental leave

✔️ How hybrid work can either accelerate equality or deepen inequalities

✔️ Practical steps leaders can take today to build a more inclusive culture

✔️ How to support managers so they can properly support parents

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🔹 How to design workplace systems that genuinely support working parents

🔹 Why visibility and sponsorship matter more than ever

🔹 How perfectionism and confidence gaps limit progression, and what to do about it

🔹 The organisational behaviours that predict better gender equality outcomes

🔹 How leaders can role-model balance without losing credibility

🔹 Why diversity policies fail and what makes them effective

Show Notes:

• Connect with Prof Gudrun Sander on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about the Competence Center for Diversity, Disability and Inclusion at the University of St. Gallen here.
• 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.

Episode 177: [Future of Work] Denise Wilson OBE How the UK is Working to Achieve Gender Balance at Board Level & What Still Needs to Change

Episode 212: [Future Of Work] Dominic Holmes – How Flexible Working Will Redefine Success and Efficiency at Work

In this inspiring episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Ahed Serhal, HR Director, La Prairie Switzerland, about how she transformed guilt into growth while building a global career and raising 10-year-old twins abroad.

Living without nearby family support, Ahed shares her honest reflections on balancing ambition and parenthood — from morning school selfies to open conversations with her employer and children. She reveals how learning to let go of guilt, plan with purpose, and communicate openly helped her find true balance and confidence as a working parent.

Together, they explore:

✔️ The mindset shift that helped Ahed turn guilt into growth

✔️ How to progress your career while living abroad without family support

✔️ Why being vocal about what you need builds trust and balance

✔️ How parenting can strengthen your leadership through empathy and structure

✔️ The power of partnership and planning when both parents travel for work

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🔹 How to let go of guilt and define balance on your own terms

🔹 Why openness with your manager (and your children) is key to thriving

🔹 How to create systems that support both your career and your family

🔹 Why parenting can make you a more strategic, grounded leader

🔹 The one mindset shift that helps you progress without traditional support networks

• Connect with Ahed Serhal on LinkedIn
• Learn more about beiersdorf.com
• 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.

Applications are closing in a few days for the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship (Deadline: Tuesday 11 November). It is a nine-month leadership development programme supporting ambitious working parents in leadership or managerial roles to progress their careers while staying present for family life.

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.

Episode 195: Control Isn’t Everything: Embracing Kindness in Life, Parenting, and Leadership

Episode 194: How to Create Counterbalance in Your Life & Career

In this honest and inspiring episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Heather Blundell, UK CEO at Grayling, and mum of two young boys.

Heather shares her personal journey of combining ambitious leadership with parenthood — from taking work calls during bath time to confidently blocking out school pick-ups in her diary. She reflects on the pivotal karate-class moment that shifted her approach to presence, and why setting boundaries has made her a more intentional, effective leader.

A working parent at the top of her game, Heather offers a refreshingly real perspective on leadership, family life, and the cultural responsibility CEOs hold to model balance.

✔️ The powerful realisation that changed Heather’s approach to presence as a parent and leader

✔️ Why she sets more boundaries now as a CEO than in previous roles

✔️ How becoming a parent made her a more decisive, compassionate, and time-efficient leader

✔️ The cultural ripple effect when senior leaders model balance at work

✔️ How to let go of perfectionism and focus on what truly matters

✔️ Navigating playground imposter syndrome as a senior leader

✔️ Why parenting can enrich, rather than hinder, leadership ambition

🔹 How to set transparent boundaries at a senior level without losing credibility

🔹 Why presence, not perfection, creates impact at work and home

🔹 How parenting can sharpen your leadership clarity, efficiency, and empathy

🔹 Practical ways to lead by example and shape organisational culture

🔹 Why “having it all” is a myth — and how deliberate choices make the difference

• Connect with Heather Blundell on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Grayling UK here
• 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.

Episode 209: {CEO Series} Dr Nara Daubeney - How To Let Go of Guilt and Redefine Success as a Working Parent

Episode 203: (C-Suite Series) Jane Hollinshead - How to Navigate a Squiggly Career and Find Success on Your Own Terms

In this episode of Big Careers, Small Children, part of our brand-new Series 16, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Jess and Darryl Abelscroft about how they navigated shared parental leave and what they learned along the way.

Jessica Abelscroft, Director, Abelscroft Consulting, and Darryl Abelscroft, Future Safety and Innovation, Civil Aviation Authority, both former Leaders Plus Fellows, share their reflections on splitting leave, balancing careers, and parenting equally.

✔️ The practicalities of navigating HR systems and dividing time off

✔️ The emotional challenges of handing over leave and adjusting roles

✔️ The lasting benefits for their children, who see both parents as equal caregivers

✔️ Why shared parental leave strengthened their careers as well as their family life

✔️ The changes needed in policy to make shared leave more accessible

• Equity at home creates equity at work: Shared leave builds confidence and balance in both parenting and careers.
• Expect complexity: HR processes are not straightforward — early planning makes a big difference.
• The emotional side matters: Handing over leave can be tough, but it sets the stage for long-term equality.
• Children gain too: Equal involvement of both parents shapes healthier expectations of family roles.
• Policy reform is essential: Better pay and simpler systems would make shared leave viable for more families.

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

Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus 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.

Episode 208: Nadia Bunyan MCIPD & Tatiana Pignon - How to Successfully Implement a 4-Day Week Without Sacrificing Impact

[Future of Work] Episode 185: Lucy Kemp - How AI Will Impact the Future of Work & How to Prevent Women From Leaving the Workforce

In this forward-thinking episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dominic Holmes, Employment Law Partner at Kilgannon Law and Leaders Plus mentor.

Dominic shares his expert insights on the evolving landscape of employment law, the future of flexible working, and how the UK workplace needs to adapt if we’re serious about equality and productivity.

A working parent himself, Dominic reflects on going part-time early in his legal career and how that shift transformed his effectiveness both at work and at home.

✔️ Why flexible working should be the default, and what proposed legal reforms might mean for employees and employers alike.

✔️ How organisations can move beyond presenteeism and value output over hours worked.

✔️ The personal and organisational benefits of part-time leadership.

✔️ Why the current legal system still fails many working parents—especially women—and how to build a better one.

✔️ The real reason we need a cultural and mindset shift around productivity and long-hours culture.

✔️ How Dominic manages senior client relationships while working a four-day week.

✔️ What a fair, inclusive future of work might look like for the next generation.

🔹 Why reduced hours can make you a more focused and effective leader

🔹 How legal reforms could reshape employer obligations around flexibility

🔹 Why traditional “commitment” metrics fail working parents

🔹 The risks of defaulting to full-time roles without justification

🔹 Practical ways to challenge assumptions about career progression and presence

• Connect with Dominic Holmes on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Kilgannon Law at kilgannonlaw.co.uk
• Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org.
• Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
• Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn.
• Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

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

Episode 208: Nadia Bunyan MCIPD & Tatiana Pignon - How to Successfully Implement a 4-Day Week Without Sacrificing Impact

[Future of Work] Episode 185: Lucy Kemp - How AI Will Impact the Future of Work & How to Prevent Women From Leaving the Workforce

In this inspiring episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Rebecca Brosnan, CEO and Founder of The Halo Planner, and Non-Executive Director across several listed and non-profit organisations.

Rebecca shares her remarkable journey from high-pressure executive roles in finance to building a flexible, international portfolio career, all while raising two young children without sacrificing ambition or family life.

She talks openly about the messy reality of balancing senior leadership and motherhood, the importance of intentional planning, and why it’s possible (and necessary) to redefine success on your own terms.

✔️ Why building a successful board career with young children is possible — but messy.

✔️ The practical systems and mindsets that helped Rebecca balance senior leadership and parenthood.

✔️ How to plan your way to a thriving career without sacrificing presence at home.

✔️ Why NGO boards can be just as rewarding and impactful as corporate boards.

✔️ How to set boundaries without guilt and stay intentional with your time.

✔️ The role of support networks, planning tools, and saying no (without fear).

✔️ Practical steps for anyone wanting to start a portfolio career.

• How to create a portfolio career that aligns with your family priorities.
• The power of meticulous long-term and short-term planning for working parents.
• Why messy does not mean unsuccessful — and how to embrace it.
• How to balance ambition, purpose, and parenting without guilt.
• Why saying no is a leadership skill (and how to do it without burning bridges).

• Connect with Rebecca Brosnan on LinkedIn
• Learn more about the Halo Planner at thehaloplanner.com
• Follow Halo Planner on Instagram: @thehaloplanner
• 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.

Episode 209: {CEO Series} Dr Nara Daubeney - How To Let Go of Guilt and Redefine Success as a Working Parent

Episode 203: (C-Suite Series) Jane Hollinshead - How to Navigate a Squiggly Career and Find Success on Your Own Terms

In this inspiring episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Louise Donaghey FRAeS, Group Head of Engines at International Airlines Group GBS, who will soon be one of Leaders Plus’ Senior Leader Mentors, about her remarkable career in aviation, leadership in male-dominated environments, and her experience of being the sole breadwinner in her family for nearly two decades.

Louise shares candidly about managing the pressure of high-stakes roles while raising two children, how she learned to embrace vulnerability as a strength, and what it really takes to stay present as a parent when the stakes at work are high. Her story is full of honesty, practical wisdom, and powerful reframing of success, motherhood, and leadership.

✔️ What it means to lead as the sole breadwinner in a family

✔️ Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness

✔️ How to deal with judgement from others (especially fellow parents)

✔️ Practical strategies to be present with your children while succeeding at work

✔️ How to shut out guilt and define success on your own terms

✔️ Why ambition can grow because of parenting, not in spite of it

✔️ The value of scaring yourself with roles that stretch you

• How to balance career ambition and caring responsibilities
• Why perfection is a myth and authenticity matters more
• How to handle judgment and stay confident in your choices
• Strategies for setting boundaries and managing your energy
• The mindset shift needed to thrive as a working parent and leader

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

Our multi-award-winning Leaders Plus 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.

Episode 199: (C-Suite Series) Elizabeth Willetts - How to Break the Glass Ceiling While Juggling Career Ambitions and Parenthood

Episode 203: (C-Suite Series) Jane Hollinshead - How to Navigate a Squiggly Career and Find Success on Your Own Terms

In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dr Nara Daubeney, CEO & Co-Founder of Phaim Pharma and NHS Surgeon.

Nara is also a mum of four. She shares her deeply honest and inspiring reflections on what it takes to build a big career and raise a thriving family without sacrificing either.

From designing Easter hats at 5am to leading a clinical-stage biotech company, Nara brings warmth, clarity, and wit to a conversation about redefining ambition, letting go of guilt, and building systems that work for your life, not against it.

✔️ Why guilt is baked into motherhood and how to release it

✔️ How to balance ambition with presence during different parenting phases

✔️ Why support systems are essential (and how to build your own, even without nearby family)

✔️ What makes someone ready to be a CEO

✔️ How leadership and parenting challenges mirror each other

✔️ What teens really need from you, and how that shapes career decisions

✔️ Why perfection isn’t the goal, and how embracing imperfection is freeing

• How to redefine success on your own terms
• Why motherhood and leadership are not in conflict
• The mindset shift that helps you build a sustainable career
• How to set boundaries and run your life like a system
• The role of authenticity, values, and reflection in leadership

• Connect with Nara Daubeney on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Phain Pharma: www.phaim.co.uk
• Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org.
• Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
• Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn.
• Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

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

Episode 186: Nathalie Holdstock - How to Thrive as a Shift Worker When You're a Parent of Young Children

Episode 179: Dr Sonia Damle – How to Navigate Shift Work as a Parent & the Benefits of Self-Rostering in the NHS & Beyond

Episode 146 - Dr Jasmin Islam: How to Set Boundaries & Ask for What You Need When Balancing Career & Family

In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Nadia Bunyan MCIPD, Director of People and Impact at Global Witness, and Tatiana Pignon, Associate Director at Autonomy.

They discuss how to implement a 4-day working week in a way that supports both staff wellbeing and organisational performance. Nadia shares lessons from leading a successful 4-day week pilot at Global Witness, while Tatiana brings insights from supporting over 100 organisations through similar transitions.

✔️ What organisations get wrong when moving to a shorter week

✔️ How to build trust and ensure leadership models healthy behaviours

✔️ Why co-creating the model with staff matters

✔️ How a shorter week supports working parents

✔️ What to consider when navigating global teams, peak periods, and emergencies

✔️ The mindset shift needed to move away from presenteeism

✔️ Practical steps for organisations starting their 4-day week journey

Whether you're a senior leader or a working parent curious about flexible working, this episode offers practical advice and real-world experience to inspire change.

✔️ How to move to a 4-day week without compromising impact

✔️ Why wellbeing and performance can go hand-in-hand

✔️ The role of culture, leadership, and trust in making it work

✔️ How flexible working can support inclusion and equity

• Learn more about Global Witness: globalwitness.org
• Learn more about Autonomy: autonomy.work
• Connect with Nadia Bunyan on LinkedIn
• Connect with Tatiana Pignon on LinkedIn
• Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore additional resources at leadersplus.org.
• Follow Leaders Plus on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
• Connect with our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE on LinkedIn.
• Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our 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.

Episode 190: Does the Four Day Week Really Work?

Episode 178: [Future of Work] Lizzie Penny & Alex Hirst – How Workstyle (Rather Than Flexible Working) Could Change the Way You Work Forever

Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful international career while raising young children - without family support nearby?

In the latest episode of Big Careers, Small Children, Verena Hefti MBE chats with our first-ever father-daughter duo: Life Sciences Consultant Jo Taylor, who currently resides in Switzerland, and her father, John Pyle, who spent 35 years in the oil industry.

Both John and Jo have pursued global careers in senior leadership roles while navigating the challenges of parenting in different countries. Jo also brings a unique perspective as both a parent and a child who grew up moving across countries, offering insight into how the experience has evolved across generations.

They share their personal experiences, the realities of raising a family abroad, and the strategies that helped them balance professional growth with family life.

If you’re considering working internationally or are already managing career and parenting across borders, this episode offers invaluable insights, practical advice, and a challenge to the common assumptions about what’s possible.

Together They Explore:

• How to handle worries or guilt about the impact of travelling with work or moving abroad on your children.
• Simple ways to signal to employers you're ready for a global role.
• How working internationally can make you a stronger, more flexible and resilient leader.
• The challenges and adjustments of relocating as a family, including the impact on the travelling partner.
• Why an international career can be life-changing and deeply fulfilling.

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

How to Build a Global Career as a Parent – Insights on pursuing senior leadership roles internationally while raising young children, including how to signal interest to your employer.

Strategies for Thriving Without Family Support – Practical advice on managing childcare, work-life balance, and building a support network abroad.

Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability – How to navigate cultural differences, career transitions, and unexpected challenges while raising a family overseas.

Practical Tips for Parents Considering an International Move – Key factors to consider before relocating, from schooling to workplace culture and family dynamics, including the impact on your children and partner.

5-Minute Actions to Start Your International Career Journey – Practical, quick steps you can take today to explore opportunities and prepare for a global career move.

Show Notes:

• Connect with Jo Taylor on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast and explore 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.