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 Lucy

• Women on Boards: www.womenonboards.net
• Nurole: www.nurole.com 
• Dynamic Boards: www.dynamicboards.co.uk
• First 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 top
• The importance of a powerful virtual network and how to build it
• Moving beyond “imposter syndrome”
• Part-time salary negotiations and understanding your real value
• Whether you should talk about yourself as a working parent in a job interview
• How to sell your skills when you don't like promoting yourself

We 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 for
• The practicalities to consider when you're child is off school for holidays
• How 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 @pollymackenzie

Show Notes:

• Herb Cohen - You Can Negotiate Anything
• James O'Brien - How to be Right in a World Gone Wrong
• Email [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 first
• What has changed for working parents in the last 30 years, particularly in the NHS
• How to approach difficult conversations by being human
• Guilt and judgement of working parents
• The transformative power of coaching

Show Notes:

• Employee Engagement & NHS Performance Read the article by Michael West & Jeremy Dawson here
• Personality test: Myers-Briggs Personality Test Find out more
• Free Coaching for NHS Scotland Staff 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 Fellowship

Our 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 yourself
• Why 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 Fellowship

Our 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.com

Show Notes:

• "Wives of the Organization" article by Anne Huff
• Discover 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 Fellowship

Our 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.