Work It Like A Mum – Details, episodes & analysis

Can becoming a mother actually enhance your career prospects? Dive into this eye-opening episode of "Work It Like a Mum”, where we talk to Pauline Brookes and Clara Emanuel, the sisters behind Moderna Media. They've launched workwelle, a platform dedicated to empowering working mothers by blending wellness, career development, and community support in innovative ways. Listen now to discover how you can redefine success and thrive at home and in your career.

In This Episode:

• Inspiration Behind workwelle: Journey into the origins of workwelle and see how it’s transforming the professional landscape for mothers.
• Beyond Conventional Wellness: Explore the comprehensive support systems available to help the unique challenges working mothers face.
• Structures for Success: Learn what women need to excel in their roles as professionals and parents.
• Career Evolution Post-Motherhood: Hear Pauline and Clara discuss how motherhood reshaped their professional paths and led to enriching career transformations.
• Redefining Work-Life Integration: Shift your perspective on returning to work with insights on creating rewarding and flexible career paths after maternity leave.
• Corporate Cultural Shifts: Uncover workwelle’s impact on corporate practices to better accommodate working mothers.

Key Quotes: "Reimagining your career post-motherhood isn’t just possible—it’s empowering." – Clara Emanuel

"Let’s turn the challenge of motherhood into a career advantage." – Pauline Brookes

Why You Should Listen: If you’re pondering how motherhood will impact your career, or if your organisation wants to support working parents better, this episode is a must-listen. Discover practical strategies and inspirational stories that challenge the status quo and illustrate how integrating motherhood and career is not only possible but advantageous.

Show Links:

• Follow workwelle on Instagram
• Visit the workwelle website

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Ever wondered what it takes to break through barriers in a predominantly cis-male industry? Join us as we sit down with Thea Bardot, the innovative founder of Lightning Travel Recruitment. Thea shares their riveting journey from the high-stakes world of luxury travel to establishing a recruitment agency that prioritises diversity and mental health. Along the way, Thea reveals the personal transformation that came with navigating her identity as a trans, non-binary individual and how health challenges sparked a much-needed career shift.

Discover the unique strategies that set Lightning Travel Recruitment apart. Thea talks about building a brand that genuinely cares for its candidates, and how initiatives like the Lightning Lounge provided essential support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn the crucial role LinkedIn plays in personal branding and community engagement and why authenticity and representation are more vital than ever in today's job market. Thea's insights offer a fresh perspective on creating welcoming spaces for all candidates, making this episode a must-listen for job seekers and employers alike.

We also dive deep into workplace inclusivity and mental health implications. Thea speaks candidly about the challenges neurodivergent individuals face, especially those who are transgender, and the importance of flexible work environments. From leveraging LinkedIn for career success to advocating for trans inclusivity in the workplace, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiring stories. Don't miss this powerful call to action to become proactive allies and champions of diversity in your own workplace.

Show Links:

Connect with Thea Bardot on LinkedIn

Connect with your host, Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn

Find your next job in luxury travel with Lightning Fast Recruitment here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Balancing work and family life during the summer can be challenging, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to integrate healthy habits that benefit the whole family. Join us for a conversation that promises to energise your summer! I’ll be chatting with Wilma MacDonald, a leading nutritional therapist from Maverick Motherhood, about how to maintain your health and well-being during the busy school holidays.

In our chat, Wilma shares practical, easy-to-implement tips and strategies you can follow even on your busiest days.

🥦 What We Cover:

– Nutrition tips that are quick and effective for busy parents.

– How to use small pockets of time for significant health benefits.

– Managing stress and maintaining energy with kids at home.

– Simple and nutritious meal-planning ideas for the whole family. This episode is designed for those who want to enjoy the summer without compromising their health or work.

💡 Why This Matters: Keeping yourself and your family healthy during the holidays isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about creating sustainable habits that support your lifestyle year-round.👇

Listen now to ensure you don’t miss Wilma’s invaluable insights. Let’s make this summer your healthiest and happiest yet!

Show Links:

Connect with our guest, Wilma Macdonald, on LinkedIn

Connect with your host, Elizabeth Willetts, on LinkedIn

Visit the Maverick Motherhood Website

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Today I'm delighted to chat with Maureen Kirwan, a Portfolio Manager at the Investment Management firm Henderson Rowe who had a five-year career break before returning to work in her current role. 

We’re talking about her experiences working in the male-dominated Financial Services sector and living as an ex-pat in Saudi Arabia.

Maureen shares her experiences about living in Saudi Arabia and the differences she experienced as a woman living there and in the UK. Maureen talks about trying to break back into Financial Services and Trading after her career break and what had changed in the industry while she was away.

Show Links:

Connect with Maureen Kirwan on LinkedIn.

Check out Henderson Rowe here.

Investing in Women is a leading UK job board helping you find your dream part-time or flexible role with the UK's most family-friendly AND forward-thinking employers. Find your dream job today.

Connect with Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn.

This episode is kindly sponsored by Henderson Rowe - one of the UK's cutting-edge Investment Management firms. They worry about your financial future - so you don’t have to, and act as your trusted partner, giving you financial peace of mind.  If you're interested in hand-tailored investment advice, visit Henderson Rowe's website to learn more about how they can support your and your family’s financial future.

Henderson Rowe is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of an investment may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the money you invested.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Just before Lianne Baker was due to return to work after her first maternity leave, her Employer rejected her flexible working request. She was told, “It’s full-time or nothing”, leaving her with no choice but to resign.

After months of applying for jobs and getting nowhere, in Lianne’s frustration, she wrote a post about her experiences on LinkedIn that went viral. Almost a million people saw her post, and she received thousands of supportive comments and messages from people. Lianne learnt she wasn’t alone.

It’s been four years since THAT vial post, and Lianne is now Head of People at Enfuse Group – a management consultancy focusing on digital transformations. It’s a role she loves and one she works part-time.

This story is about resilience, getting out of your comfort zone, and not taking no for an answer.

If your flexible working request has been rejected, or you’re struggling to find a part-time job, listen to this episode for some much-needed inspiration about how strong, powerful and resourceful women can be.

Show Links:
 
Connect with Lianne Baker on LinkedIn.

Check out Enfuse Group here.

Follow Lianne's Instagram accounts, @riponhouse1887 and @myvictorianhouselove

Connect with Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn.

Investing in Women is a leading UK job board helping you find your dream part-time or flexible role with the UK's most family-friendly AND forward-thinking employers. Find your dream job today.

This episode is kindly sponsored by Henderson Rowe - one of the UK's cutting-edge Investment Management firms. They worry about your financial future - so you don’t have to, and act as your trusted partner, giving you financial peace of mind.  If you're interested in hand-tailored investment advice, visit Henderson Rowe’s website to learn more about how they can support your and your family’s financial future.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Motherhood can feel like an endless treadmill of meals, cooking, washing, ironing, being available to our children 24/7 and balancing it all around having a job, yet we’re not allowed to complain about it.

In this special Work It Like A Mum podcast episode of a recording of a live chat streamed on Facebook and LinkedIn, Elizabeth invites coach Lucy Higgins to talk about the ‘perfect mother’ myth and how it supports a patriarchal view of women. She explains why the ‘perfect mother’ myth is damaging and then encourages us to push back so that we can be the mothers that we want to be.

Lucy gives her wishlist of the support that she’d like to see for mothers in society and outlines her vision of how women should be at the centre of motherhood, not their children. She lists the changes that we can put in place in our own lives and calls on us to talk big, not small so that we can make motherhood more authentic and manageable. At the end of the chat, Lucy shares where you can go online to find more support and resources to start your transition away from being a ‘perfect mother’.

If you enjoyed this chat and want to support the mothers in your network, share this episode and follow Elizabeth for more honest, raw interviews with guests who want to improve women’s lives.

Read the full episode show notes here.

Investing in Women is a leading UK job board helping you find your dream part-time or flexible role with the UK's most family-friendly AND forward-thinking employers. Find your dream job today.

Get your free professional CV template here and land an interview for your dream job here.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn.

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Listen to a bonus Work It Like A Mum Podcast Episode of a previous Facebook/LinkedIn Live recording where Elizabeth chatted with the fabulous, funny and friendly Tova Leigh - star of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Tova grew up in Israel and trained as a lawyer but had a career and life pivot in her early 30s and moved to London to become an actress. She met her now-husband, and they have three children together, and Tova regularly blogs about her family and gender issues.

Tova tells Elizabeth about her childhood and why she decided to become an actress. She talks about her first few difficult years starting out in acting and how she found work by writing and directing her own independent films. She also talks about her journey into motherhood and how she coped with the pressure of being a new mother by venting her emotions on Facebook.

Elizabeth and Tova touch on some of the complex issues that women have to deal with in today’s society, from online hate to violence to gender stereotypes. Tova shares her thoughts on one of her personal bugbears, being asked to work for free ‘for exposure’ or because people assume that as she loves her work, she would be willing to do it for free. She lists her book recommendations and offers advice to women starting out in business.

This is a really fun, engaging interview that’ll light up your day.

Read the episode show notes here.

Investing in Women is a leading UK job board helping you find your dream part-time or flexible role with the UK's most family-friendly AND forward-thinking employers. Find your dream job today.

Get your free professional CV template here and land an interview for your dream job here.

Join the Work It Like A Mum Facebook community here.

Connect with Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Welcome to the Work It Like A Mum Podcast. 

In this space, everyone is invited to pull up a seat, where we get into honest, refreshing and eye-opening conversations about what it really means to be a working mum and the beautiful, messy lessons that come with it. 

I'm Elizabeth Willetts, and I'm obsessed with helping as many women as possible achieve their boldest dreams after kids and helping you to navigate this messy AND magical season of life. 

Like you, I’m a working mum who

• Cleans Weetabix off the walls.
• Wrestles to get my daughter dressed before nursery 
• Is always the last one to arrive at school 
• Makes three different versions of dinner to accommodate my fussy kids (and for someone who hates cooking, that’s a big ask!)

And

I love my kids more than life itself.

I've got over 17 years of Recruitment experience and am the Founder of the Investing in Women Job Board. But not too long ago, I was at a crossroads with my own career. After being made redundant during the height of the pandemic and the subsequent struggle to find another part-time job at my level, I almost gave up on my career dreams. 

But after seeing too many of my friends sidelined at work for wanting flexibility, I knew I had to play my part in addressing the inequalities that still exist in our working world. By highlighting to Employers the positives, a flexible workforce can bring and helping as many people as possible find professional and rewarding part-time and flexible jobs that bring them joy.

But we can't be what we can't see, so in this show, I'm honoured to be chatting with remarkable women redefining our working world across all areas of business. They'll share their secrets on how they've achieved extraordinary success after children, set boundaries and balance, challenges they've faced (and how they've overcome them) to define their own versions of success.

Shy away from the real talk? No way! Money, struggles, growth, loss, boundaries and balance - we cover it all!

Think of this as coffee with your mates, mixed with an inspiring Ted Talk sprinkled with the career advice you wish you'd really had at school!

Every episode is brimming with ideas, tools, hints and tips you can put straight into practice so you, too, can have a career you adore. If it helps you achieve your dreams, we'll cover it - with raw honesty and a few laughs to ensure you are seen, heard, promoted and hired - whilst keeping your sanity at home!  

So grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine), make sure you're cosy and get ready to get inspired and chase your boldest dreams, or just survive Mondays.

This is the Work It Like A Mum Podcast.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Have you ever wondered if you could go into business with your best friend?  Then you won't want to miss this week's Work It Like A Mum podcast episode, where we chat with Kristy Roff and Suzanne Evett, who, after meeting at a baby class, decided to go into business together and run a successful franchise together.   If you've ever wondered about how to make the leap from parent to entrepreneur, thought about running your own franchise, or wondered if you really could set up a business with your friend, then this episode is tailor-made for you!

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

- From Playdates to Paychecks: Hear how Kristy and Suzanne turned their new-mum meetups into a thriving business partnership. They share the personal and professional shifts that led them from parenting classes to co-founding a successful franchise.

- Perfect Partnership: Explore how they split their roles to play to their strengths—Kristy’s knack for networking and business development complements Suzanne’s operational wizardry. Their complimentary skill set is their secret sauce for business success.

- Choosing a Franchise Over Fresh Start: Dive into why buying into a franchise with Get Ahead was a game-changer for them. Kristy and Suzanne discuss the benefits of stepping into an established brand with existing support systems and how this choice was pivotal in scaling their business quickly and effectively.

- Flexibility First: Learn how flexibility forms the core of their business ethos, influencing not only their personal lives but also their business model. This approach has attracted a team and clients who value work-life balance as much as they do.

- Navigating Growth and Setbacks: Kristy and Suzanne get real and hold NOTHING back. They open up about the hurdles they've faced, from navigating economic downturns to scaling their operations, and share their key strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Why This Episode Is a Must: Whether you're a parent thinking about a post-kids career or curious about the franchise route, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical advice from two women who’ve walked the path.

Favourite Quote: "We never get that Sunday night dread. We built a business that fits our lives, not the other way around."

Show Links:

Connect with Kristy Roff on LinkedIn

Connect with Suzanne Evett on LinkedIn

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Join us for a game-changing conversation with communication expert Nima Abu Wardeh as she dismantles the myths around confidence and redefines what it means to truly stand out. If you're ready to transform how you speak, listen, and present yourself in your career and beyond, this episode is for you!

What You'll Uncover in This Episode:

1. Debunking Confidence: Dive into why Nima challenges the traditional notion of confidence and how reshaping this concept can open new doors for personal and professional growth.
2. Nima’s 3 C’s of Confidence: Embrace a practical approach to building genuine confidence through Credibility, Comfort, and Consistency—elements that can revolutionise your impact at work.
3. Credibility Unpacked: It's time to move beyond degrees and titles. Explore how real credibility is shaped by your actions today - and your vision for tomorrow.
4. How to Be Comfortably Authentic: Learn why true comfort means more than the right outfit!
5. Consistency That Commands Respect: Discover how consistent actions and words significantly influence how others perceive and rely on you.
6. Supercharging Communication: Nima highlights why mastering communication is the ultimate skill that determines the quality and trajectory of your life.

Why This Episode Is a Must: Ever felt like you're just not getting through? Or maybe you've doubted your previous choices? Let Nima guide you through turning your communication into your most powerful tool yet. This isn’t just about talking the talk; it's about walking the walk and getting the life and career you deserve!

Favourite Quote: "Confidence isn't just about feeling sure of yourself; it's about being perceived as capable and reliable. It's about making your actions speak as loudly as your words."

Show Links:

Connect with Nima Abu Wardeh on LinkedIn

Connect with your host, Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn

Check out Nima's website, The Brilliant Communicator, here

Sign up for Nima's Free Webinar, How to Become The BRILLIANT Communicator in Your Niche, here

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!