Show Me The Way

Too often parents feel they have to choose between family life and their leadership career. But we shouldn't have to choose between an ambitious career and raising young children. Not only can it lead to the start of the wealth gap between women and men but it can also lead to a loss of confidence in returning to work, for both men and women who decide to take a break. We will hear from two people at the heart of driving change in this area. Verena Hefti is the CEO and Founder of Leaders Plus which celebrates and supports parents who unapologetically want both career and family. Natalie Goldwater has spent the last three years at the BBC building the Global Women in News network, the corporation's largest and most successful staff networks with over 2000 members globally in 25 locations around the world.

Verena's podcast: Big Careers, Small Children

It's 267 years before we'll get to close the financial gender gap and 132 before we get equal pay. And 37% of women globally earn around 37% less than men in similar roles.

Bloomberg TV anchor Caroline Hyde is at the heart of financial markets daily and knows the importance of getting more women involved in finance.

In this special episode of Show Me The Way, first broadcast live on LinkedIn she demystifies the world of financial markets and gives tips on where to start to get to grips with investing, pensions and saving.

As Martha Lane Fox so succinctly put it recently: "Your country needs you – to be a non-exec director".

It may seem like a pipe dream, or you may never have even considered it but when you've rolled your eyes at another corporate blunder, ask yourself, how would I have handled that differently. Then ask yourself, can I be part of the change?

And the answer is yes.

And the how is where Sarah Pierman from Dynamic Boards comes in.

She set up what is effectively a jobs board mining all the non-exec positions out because she didn't see enough people like her on the boards that she was on. So she decided to do something to change that.

Tune in to hear how you can become a non exec, broaden your network, your experience and get paid to do it.

My favourite tip:

"Nose in. Hands out."

Listen to find out what that means!

We may wish it weren't the case but how we present ourselves visually matters as much as what comes out of our mouths. Research shows that clothing influences first impressions. It affects how people perceive and interact with us. In this 20-minute masterclass I'm speaking to personal brand stylist Clare Chambers about how female leaders can use their wardrobe to improve confidence, perception and ultimately their careers. #femaleleadership #stylist #personalbranding

This episode is for everyone. Please listen. If you're a woman, you need to know about this. If you're not...you need to know about this.

Menopause. A word that often strikes fear, embarrassment, denial!

Its onset comes with a myriad of symptoms that affect many women differently. It may be a natural part of ageing that effects half of the population but its effects can have a severely detrimental effect on that 50%s working life.

Given it usually occurs between 45 and 55 years - its peak careerr/ earning potential...Research shows that 10% of women leave their jobs, and many more reduce their hours or pass up promotions because of their menopausal symptoms.

Not only does that hit the pay packet, it can hit your long term living too. Recent research has found that menopause could leave a £63,000 dent in a woman's retirement savings as a result of moving to reduced hours.

To talk about all this, and how she's navigated this time herself I'm joined by Paula Fry, Global Head of Fixed Income and FX Trading Liquidity at Bloomberg - the global financial data and media company who also has an impressive instagram following as @cityfashgal and appeared on Davina's Menopause documentary series: Sex, Mind and the Menopause.

Paula feared she was developing dementia when she began going through perimenopause in her early 40s.

She describes how the brain fog was so debilitating thing and how she questioned whether she was clever enough any more to do the job.

Please share this episode. It's by speaking up, and listening, that we normalise conversation about something that is so normal and recognise that as all of us will be working well into our 60s, we need to keep going during the menopause and support each other, and be supported to get through it. Otherwise we get lost. And we miss out on not only career opportunities but also a chunk of cash for later in life.

For Emmeline's bookshelf Paula recommends: Sally Hughes: Everything Is Washable

Welcome to this special edition of Show Me The Way podcast with me Naomi kerbel. It's special because we recorded it on LinkedIn Live Audio so you'll excuse some of the tapping and tinny sounsd as we get to grips with this new platform.

Today I'm talking to Kim Arnold, the founder of the world's No. 1 email writing training course, Email Engagement and Author of Email Attraction: Get what you want every time you hit send

Given we spend 6 years on email over the course of a lifetime (that's longer than time spent eating, socialising or going on holiday) it's time we focused on getting it right so we can do less of it and have more fun!

This episode is packed with top tips and information. Please share widely and buy the book which I have found invaluable. The book: Email Attraction: Get what you want every time you hit send

"This isn't a story. This is my confession. I have killed my ex's new partner." Punchy opening to this feminist revenge thriller by debut novellist Scarlett Brade.

In it Charlotte is dating a famous boxer. All is champagne and roses, until it's not and social media has a huge part to play.

On Show Me The Way Scarlett explains how she came to write the book, how she got an agent, life imitating art as she'd had a relationship with a famous boxer which inspired the book, and her 'gal' group which got her through the break up.

For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends The Unmorrow Curse - a mythical fantasy perfect for 8-12 year olds. Its author also happens to be her sister Jasmine Richards.

What was the most painful breakup of your life? Was it a romantic relationship or was it a friendship? Certainly for me both rank pretty highly in terms of sucker punches in my history. On today's show, Claire Cohen, author of BFF? The Truth About Female Friendship suggests that from infancy we are fed a diet of 'Best Friends Forever' - the idea that you should have a female soulmate to whom you tell all your secrets and who always has your back. A myth she tells me that she wants to bust. She's coined a new term: BBFN - best friends for now.

Rather than spending years striving for a vision of female friendship that isn't realistic, she has spoken to dozens of experts and suggests we look for what suits us best and appreciating what we've already got.

Claire also explores toxic friendships and how to figure out if you're in one; competition within a friendship being the last taboo and how to pay it forward if your friendship plate is full. Finally she encourages us to celebrate and show some love to those longlasting friendships that have stood the test of time.

For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends: Bess Kalb's Nobody Will Tell You This But Me.A brilliantly original memoir of a grandmother speaking to her granddaughter from beyond the grave, telling the story of her life with hilarious candor and love.

Welcome to Show Me The Way - the podcast that speaks to women at the top of their game about what it takes to get there.

Emma Moseley is a feminist campaigner and the voice behind the hugely popular instagram account @EmmaInProgressUK which dissects misogynistic behaviour on reality TV. And right now her life is deep in Love Island.

By shining a light on these relationships playing out she creates a space to have a conversation about what is right and what is definitely wrong in modern love.

For Emmeline's bookshelf Emma recommends All About Love by bell hooks.

Love it or loathe it. As soon as the first letter of the month turns to J, the reality show Love Island is EVERYWHERE from slogan tees to water bottles to wash bags.

Now in the past the show's been sponsored by fashion brands like BooHoo and the stars often go on to do collections for sites like Pretty Little Things but the programme makers have faced a backlash for promoting fast fashion – there has been criticism of poor standards for for workers and the environmental impact is huge. So ITV studios have made a major shift. eBay is the new sponsor. And all the items will be pre-loved. i.e. second hand…so basically you can't shop the look exactly but you can shop a look of the look. Their aim – to help shoppers "find the pre-love of your life." And my guest on Show Me The Way this week is someone who believes that "everything a person needs to wear or use is already in existence."

Stay tuned for tips on how to buy the best pre-loved and how it really can make a difference to the planet and your pocket.

My guest today is Emily, founder of Emily London – vintage and preloved style. She's a former fashion and beauty journalist for Tatler and Vogue and e-commerce exect for Net-a-Porter's TheOutNet and Refinery29…so basically she knows a LOT about fashion.