In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat to Danielle Chew, a senior leader at ANZ and co-chair of the ANZ Whānau Network, an employee-led group transforming the experience of working parents inside one of Aotearoa’s biggest organisations.

Danielle shares her personal story of navigating motherhood, senior leadership, part-time work, caring responsibilities, and the very real juggle so many parents face. She opens up about raising two young daughters, becoming a primary carer for her grandmother, and the moment she realised workplaces must change if parents are going to thrive.

Together, we unpack the realities of flexible work, parental leave, the “line manager lottery,” why dads need to be part of the conversation, and the huge role organisational culture plays in either empowering or burning out working parents.

It’s an honest, practical and uplifting episode for any parent trying to make work and life fit together and for any leader committed to doing better.

We speak about:

· How Danielle built a senior career at ANZ while working part-time

· The family and cultural experiences that fuelled her passion for supporting working parents

· Why she founded the ANZ Whānau Network and how it’s driving strategic change

· The barriers parents face inside large organisations and how to shift them

· The “line manager lottery” and why leadership capability matters more than policy

· Why parental leave for dads and secondary carers is essential for equity

· How flexible work, part-time roles and good job design keep women in the workforce

· Why most people are caregivers and why caregiving is not a niche issue

· The conversations every working parent needs to have with their partner, leader and themselves

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode, I chat with Michelle Allbon and Julia Bower, the powerhouse duo behind The Fractional Directory, a progressive platform redefining what leadership and productivity look like in today’s world of work.

Michelle and Julia share the story of how they met as new mums in an antenatal class and went on to build a global business helping leaders and companies embrace fractional work, a model that challenges the outdated 40-hour work week and creates new opportunities for parents, women, and top-tier talent to work differently.

Together, they unpack the cultural and structural barriers holding companies back from embracing flexible leadership, how the Fractional Directory is driving change across New Zealand, Singapore and Australia, and why “part-time” should no longer mean “less than.”

This conversation is packed with insights on career reinvention, female leadership, systems change, and motherhood without compromise. It’s honest, smart, and deeply inspiring.

We speak about:

· How Michelle and Julia turned their shared frustration into a global startup

· What “fractional work” really means, and how it differs from part-time or consulting

· Why flexible leadership models are key to smashing the motherhood penalty

· The cultural and policy barriers stopping companies from adopting new ways of working

· How Singapore’s government is leading the charge with a national fractional hiring pilot

· Why “hours ≠ value”, and why we need to measure productivity by outcomes, not time

· How mothers can reclaim ambition, identity and financial power through new work models

Connect with Michelle and Julia Fractional directory: https://www.fractional.directory/ Follow Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleallbon/ Follow Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialbower/

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-

year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217

In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat with Roam With Kids founder Renata Wiles to talk about the invisible work of parenting, financial fairness, and the conversations every couple needs to have before, during, and after becoming parents.

Renata shares how a lockdown pregnancy, one income, and the realities of raising two young kids inspired her to build Roam With Kids, an app helping parents find child-friendly cafés, playgrounds, walks and events across Aotearoa. But this episode goes much deeper than business.

We unpack everything from KiwiSaver gaps and shared finances to equitable partnerships, parenting mental load, and why every household needs a “coffee budget” for sanity and self-care. It’s an empowering, down-to-earth conversation that will leave parents feeling seen, validated, and ready to make small but mighty changes at home.

We speak about:

· How Renata turned her parenting experience into a thriving startup, Roam With Kids

· The KiwiSaver gap: why women fall behind financially during caregiving years, and how to fix it

· What an equal partnership really looks like at home

· How to talk about money, roles, and responsibilities with your partner

· The truth about starting your own business as a parent

· Why “the coffee budget” is essential for mental health

· How to raise kids who see equality modelled at home

Resources Discussed

Follow or connect with Sophie:

· Instagram: @roamwithkids, @renataroaming

· Website: https://roamwithkids.app/

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode, I chat with Nicola Raynes-Pene, Partner at KPMG, mother of three, and 2024 Part-Time Power Lister, about what it really takes to build a thriving senior-level career while working four days a week.

Nicola shares her story of burning out during the GFC, returning to Aotearoa, and reshaping her life and work rhythm to protect her health and her family. She opens up about how boundaries, allyship, and honesty with colleagues and clients have helped her succeed without sacrificing well-being.

We explore the deeper systems that fuel the motherhood penalty, from outdated attitudes to the language we use around “part-time” work, and what leaders, partners, and businesses can do to create a fairer, more inclusive workplace for all parents.

If you’ve ever wondered how to combine ambition and balance, this episode is proof that you can lead on your own terms and still be present for the people you love.

We speak about:

·     How Nicola built a senior career on a four-day week without losing momentum

·     The realities of burnout and why she re-engineered her career around health and family

·     The importance of boundaries and clear communication with clients and teams

·     Why authentic male allyship is key to smashing the motherhood penalty

·     How KPMG’s paid parental-leave policy is driving real change for both parents

·     Why we need to redefine “part-time” and design roles for all genders

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. 

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."

To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] 

www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat with Josie from Play Based Pēpi to talk about the very real journey of parenting, relationships, and rediscovering who you are after kids.

Josie unpacks conversations she and her husband have had around parenting their three children and the work that goes on inside and outside of the home.

She shares the challenges, the laughter, the love, and the growth that comes from being a team.

We explore the mental load, the invisible work that often goes unseen, and the importance of showing up for each other, even when life feels messy and chaotic.

This episode is a candid look behind the curtain of modern family life, where no one has it all figured out, but everyone’s trying their best.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underappreciated, or just needed reassurance that you’re not alone in this parenting gig, this one’s for you.

We speak about:

· How parenting can shift your sense of self and identity

· The emotional labour and invisible work behind family life

· What it really means to “share the load”

· Why communication and empathy matter more than ever

· How small moments of connection can rebuild a relationship

Resources Discussed

Follow or connect with Sophie:

· Instagram: @playbasedpepi

· Website: playbasedpepi.myshopify.com/

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who

are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode, I chat with Jane Sweeney and Carolyn Kerr, co-founders of Anthem, one of New Zealand’s leading communications and marketing agencies.

Together, they unpack how they’ve built a purpose-led, family-first workplace that challenges industry norms and how flexible, trust-based leadership can help smash the motherhood penalty for good.

Jane and Carolyn share candid stories from their own careers, from being leading women in PR to raising families while leading major campaigns, and reveal how Anthem became a model for modern, human-centred business.

They talk openly about flexibility that works for everyone (not just mothers), the part-time penalty, normalising men as caregivers, and why empathy and equity are key to building truly inclusive workplaces.

If you’re a business leader, parent, or advocate for workplace equality, this episode will inspire you to rethink how work can work for all.

We speak about:

·     The founding story of Anthem and how Jane and Carolyn built a “no sweatshop” culture

·     Why flexibility must go beyond gender and job titles

·     How trust, transparency, and human connection drive performance and retention

·     The unseen “part-time penalty” and how to challenge it

·     Real-life examples of progressive policies, from phased returns and job shares to paw-ternity leave

·     Practical advice for employers to support working parents (and all caregivers)

·     The cultural shift needed to normalise men working part-time

·     Why equitable pay, flexible roles, and open conversations matter more than ever

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. 

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."

To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] 

www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

Welcome to this bonus and unique episode where as part of the TVNZ documentary “The Motherhood Penalty TBC”, I interview Tāmati Rimene-Sproat. Well, in fact, Tāmati actually interviews me in advance of him becoming a first time dad. We talk about what his expectations are as he looks forward to becoming a dad, what kind of a dad he wants to be and he gets curious about how he might best support his partner.  Tāmati shares his memories of how hard his Dad worked for his family and how that role model has influenced him along with how he might want to re-frame what success is in being a Dad.  

Resources Discussed

• https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/counting-the-beat
• 
  

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. 

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."

To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] 

www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat with Sophie Moskowitz, founder of Imperfect Parents, to unpack what it really means to parent in today’s world, without the pressure to be perfect.

Sophie shares how her experience as a mum of three and an early childhood teacher led her to create Imperfect Parents, an inclusive community offering antenatal classes, postnatal groups, and playgroups that focus on the well-being of parents, not just babies.

We explore the themes of equity at home, parental guilt, perfectionism, and the mental load of caregiving. We discuss how to share the load with partners, how to navigate returning to work, and why creating safe spaces for honest conversations can change everything for working parents.

From “maternal gatekeeping” to the myth of “baby brain,” Sophie offers a refreshing, compassionate take on modern parenting and the importance of building community around imperfection.

We speak about:

· Why “good enough” parenting is healthy for both parents and children

· How to navigate guilt, resentment, and perfectionism as a working parent

· The importance of shared caregiving and equitable partnerships

· How to advocate for yourself when returning to work after parental leave

· The power of inclusive parenting spaces and safe conversations

Resources Discussed

Follow or connect with Sophie: · Instagram: @imperfectparents.nz

Website: www.imperfectparents.co.nz/

You can also hear Sophie on the Why Do You Parent Like That? podcast, where she’s a regular contributor.

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode, I chat with Jane Wrightson, New Zealand’s Retirement Commissioner, to unpack how motherhood impacts women’s long-term financial security.

Jane shares her personal experience of becoming a mother in the 1990s without paid parental leave and highlights how policies like KiwiSaver, superannuation, and workplace flexibility directly shape women’s financial futures.

From the gender pay gap to the retirement savings gap, she explains why even short breaks from the workforce have long-lasting effects, and what families, employers, and policymakers can do to change the system.

This candid conversation blends policy insights, practical advice, and big-picture thinking about how to value caregiving and create fairer systems for mothers in Aotearoa.

If you’ve ever wondered how career breaks, flexible work, and financial planning intersect with gender equity, this episode will give you both clarity and a call to action.

We speak about:

· Why the motherhood penalty shows up in retirement savings

· How KiwiSaver contributions (or the lack of them) compound over time

· The importance of agency and open conversations with employers, partners, and whānau

· What employers can do to reduce inequity and close the pay gap

· Why NZ Super is a feminist issue and what changes Jane believes would make a real difference

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat with Emily Parks, marketing manager at the Dr. Libby Group and host of the Have It All podcast, about the realities of working parenthood, the messy middle of motherhood, and why honest conversations matter.

This candid conversation offers practical insights and gentle encouragement for parents navigating career, kids, and everything in between.

If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing it all, or wondered if anyone else feels the same, you’ll love this episode.

We speak about:

· The pressures of “having it all” and where those expectations come from

· Why outsourcing, flexibility, and systems at home can be game changers

· How the mental load affects women, even when partners share responsibilities

· The identity shift many parents experience after having children

· Why conversations with yourself are just as important as conversations with your partner, workplace, or community

Resources Discussed

· Listen to Have It All on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3JS44o7ZEUAdhgT73Xwkqz

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/