In this episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Sylwia Wołos, Chief Strategy Officer at Ground Truth Intelligence and a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme.

Sylwia shares her inspiring journey of building a successful career in the demanding field of risk management and compliance while raising three children. She discusses the challenges of navigating the C-suite as a working parent, tackling gender inequality in senior leadership, and breaking the stigma around balancing ambitious careers with family life.

Together, they explore:

• How Sylwia’s upbringing in Poland fuelled her passion for combating financial crime and corruption.
• Practical strategies for managing priorities and setting boundaries as a senior leader and parent.
• The importance of rethinking success and adapting career goals to align with personal values.
• Why parents shouldn’t apologise for balancing family and work responsibilities.
• Tips for effective networking, even as an introvert, and the transformative impact of mentoring.

This heartfelt and insightful conversation offers valuable advice for ambitious working parents striving to progress their careers while prioritising their families.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to lead with compassion and embrace flexibility as a parent and leader.
• The significance of redefining success and pursuing a career on your own terms.
• Why mentoring is beneficial for both mentors and mentees.

Show Notes:

• Connect with Sylwia Wołos via her LinkedIn Profile.
• 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.

More BCSC episodes you might love:

• {CEO Series} Polly Neate - How to Find Purpose in Your Work
• {CEO Series} Laura Citron – Why the CEO Role is Perfect for Working Parents

In this special 200th episode of the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, our Programme and Impact Manager, Helen Fraser, takes the interviewer’s seat to chat with Leaders Plus Founder and CEO, Verena Hefti MBE. Verena reflects on the journey of starting Leaders Plus, the lessons learned from interviewing 199 inspiring guests, and the challenges and triumphs of combining an ambitious career with family life.

In this candid conversation, Verena shares how her own experiences of returning to work after maternity leave led her to create an award-winning social enterprise that supports working parents to progress their careers without sacrificing family life. She discusses the importance of role models, the challenges of setting boundaries, and how Leaders Plus is driving real change in the workplace.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Leaders Plus was founded and the impact it has had on working parents.
• The challenges working parents face in progressing their careers and how to overcome them.
• The power of setting boundaries and finding a balance that works for you.
• Practical tips for combining career progression with family commitments.
• How Leaders Plus is shaping employer policies and driving cultural change for parents in leadership.

Verena also reflects on receiving an MBE, what it means for the organisation, and the importance of focusing on purpose-driven leadership.

We hope you enjoy this milestone episode!

Show Notes:

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.

• 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.

More BCSC episodes we think you'll love:

• Episode 199: (C-Suite Series) Elizabeth Willetts - How to Break the Glass Ceiling While Juggling Career Ambitions and Parenthood
• Paul J. Sullivan – How to Become a Lead Dad & Parent Out Loudly

Are you ready to redefine career success while raising a family?

In the first episode of the C-Suite series, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Elizabeth Willetts, Founder of Investing in Women and author of the upcoming book Flex: Smart Strategies to Build A Successful Career Around Your Life. With over 17 years of recruitment experience, Elizabeth is passionate about empowering professionals to find fulfilling, flexible, and part-time work that fits their lives, and helps close the gender pay gap.

Elizabeth shares her insights on how flexible work can unlock opportunities for ambitious parents, why intentional time management is a game-changer, and how to stand out in the job market with a CV that shines, even in the era of AI.

This practical and inspiring conversation is perfect for anyone navigating the challenges of combining a high-powered career with parenthood.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

• Elizabeth’s book, Flex, is out in January 2025.
• Connect with Elizabeth Willetts via her LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn Page, and Instagram, and explore her work at Investing in Women.
• Learn how flexible work options are reshaping the future for professionals and their families.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How flexible and part-time roles can support your career and personal goals.
• Practical tips for writing a standout CV that highlights your impact.
• The power of intentional time management to achieve your dreams.
• Why negotiation is essential when securing flexible work arrangements.

More BCSC episodes you might love:

• {CEO Series} Polly Neate - How to Find Purpose in Your Work
• {CEO Series} Laura Citron – Why the CEO Role is Perfect for Working Parents

Discover more about the multi-award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship, designed to support ambitious working parents on the path to senior leadership. Learn more at Leaders Plus.

Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

For the first time, our CEO, Verena Hefti MBE, takes the mic solo in this special, bite-sized episode of the Leaders Plus: Big Careers, Small Children podcast.

As the season draws to a close, Verena shares heartfelt reflections on balancing the magical yet demanding holiday period, offering powerful strategies for:

• Prioritising yourself amidst the chaos
• Creating a meaningful holiday without burning out
• Sharing family responsibilities equitably

Drawing on gold nuggets from past episodes and her own experiences, Verena encourages us to reassess, set boundaries, and say "no" to the non-essential as we wrap up the year.

Tune in for an empowering and time-efficient conversation that will leave you ready to take on the holiday season with clarity and courage.

We hope you enjoy the conversation, and we’ll be back in January with a brand-new series of episodes!

Show Notes:

• 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.

In this episode you will learn:

• During the busy holiday season, it's important to prioritise self-care and make brave decisions.
• Discussing family responsibilities openly can help distribute the mental load more equitably.
• Using frameworks, like the STAR framework, can guide us in making better decisions about opportunities.
• Setting boundaries and saying no can lead to more meaningful opportunities aligned with our values.
• Recognising that the mental load often disproportionately affects women can prompt important discussions at home.
• Leaders should model work-life balance to create a supportive environment for their teams.

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.

BCSC Episodes Mentioned in This Podcast:

• #168 Big Careers, Small Children: Dr. Ana Catalano Weeks – Managing Mental Load While Balancing Careers and Parenthood
• #193 Big Careers, Small Children: Sally Hamm & Matt Hamm – How to Communicate With Each Other as a Dual Career Couple
• #80 Big Careers, Small Children: Professor Vanessa Bohns
• #87 Big Careers, Small Children: Laurie Weingart
• #194 Big Careers, Small Children: Tom Shaw- How to Create Counterbalance in Your Life & Career
• #196 Big Careers, Small Children: Brigid Schulte- Overcoming Overwork with Strategies for a Balanced Life

Leader's Plus Blog Mentioned in This Podcast:

• Resources for Managing Your Mental Load

Can prioritising yourself make you a better parent and professional?

In this episode, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Dr. Whitney Casares, paediatrician and author of Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be to explore why self-care isn’t a luxury but a lifeline for working parents.

Drawing from her expertise as a paediatrician, Dr. Whitney emphasises that putting your own well-being first is the key to raising happy, healthy children - especially those with additional needs.

She tackles the guilt parents often feel when balancing ambitious careers with family life and shares practical strategies for setting boundaries, integrating work and life, and creating space for what truly matters.

This inspiring conversation challenges parents to redefine success and embrace their unique strengths as they navigate their personal and professional journeys.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Dr. Whitney's book Doing It All is available in bookshops and via Amazon.
• Connect with Dr. Whitney on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

In this episode you will learn:

• Self-care for parents is crucial; taking care of your well-being helps your children.
• Setting boundaries with kids creates a healthier work-life integration for working parents.
• Embracing your authentic self can be a superpower in leadership and career advancement.
• Prioritise clarity in your life by identifying core values and saying no to distractions.
• Integrating work and family life requires intentional moments of focus and presence.
• Delegating tasks and decluttering your environment can significantly reduce stress and increase productivity.

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.

Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

More BCSC episodes we think you'll love:

• Nicky Lowe - How to Avoid Burnout as a Working Parent
• Paul J. Sullivan – How to Become a Lead Dad & Parent Out Loudly

Can we truly have thriving careers without sacrificing family life?

In this episode, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Brigid Schulte, author of Overworked: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, about the pervasive issue of overwork and its impact on individuals and families.

Brigid emphasises the importance of redefining what success looks like in the workplace, advocating for a shift from measuring productivity by hours spent to valuing meaningful output.

They discuss practical steps for individuals to take, even in unsupportive environments, highlighting the need for boundaries and prioritising what truly matters. The episode offers insights into how both personal choices and organisational changes can foster a healthier work-life balance, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Brigid's book Overworked is now available in bookshops and via Amazon.
• Connect with Brigid on LinkedIn.

In this episode you will learn:

• Work culture often rewards overwork and long hours, negatively impacting family time and well-being.
• Individuals should define their values and prioritise what truly matters to them at work.
• Leadership beliefs significantly shape workplace culture, influencing policies around work-life balance.
• Organisations should measure success not just by output, but also by employee well-being.
• Small changes at work, like asking for flexible hours, can lead to significant personal benefits.
• Creating a supportive work environment requires collaboration with employees to understand their needs.

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.

Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus by signing up to our Newsletter.

More BCSC episodes we think you'll love:

• Dr. Malissa Clark - How to Set Boundaries as a Workaholic & Learn to be More Present as a Parent
• Jane Green - How to Approach Your Employer for Reduced Working Days and Tips on Transitioning to a Flexible Role

Trigger warning: miscarriage 

Today, Verena welcomes Carin-Isabel Knoop for an especially thought-provoking podcast episode on embracing kindness in life, parenting and leadership. 

Very apt, given earlier this week, we celebrated #WorldKindnessDay.

Carin is the Executive Director of the Harvard Business School Case Research and Writing Group and was previously a consultant at McKinsey and Price Waterhouse Coopers. 

The conversation includes reflections on managing as a solo parent whilst pursuing an ambitious career, learning to let go of control, filling support gaps, and considering how we can all contribute to more compassionate workplaces.

Carin and Verena also have a moving discussion about supporting someone through pregnancy loss.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Read Carin and Verena's 2024 Mother's Day proclamation.
• Learn more about Compassionate Management of Mental Health in the Modern Workplace.
• Follow Carin on Medium.
• Find support during miscarriage via The Miscarriage Association.

Interested in progressing your career after having children? The award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.

Can you build a successful career without sacrificing your well-being? 

This week, Verena Hefti MBE speaks with Tom Shaw, author of Counterbalance: How to Build Your Career Without Ruining Your Life and a Senior Leader Mentor at Leaders Plus.

Tom talks about counterbalance and why it's important to be intentional about what matters most.

Together, Tom and Verena explore making difficult decisions, reducing burnout, and thriving in your career without compromising your life. Tom also shares the key attributes for combining career, family and our personal lives, so we can create a truly fulfilling life whilst also protecting our wellbeing.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Tom's book Counterbalance is now available in bookshops and via Amazon.
• Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.

If you are looking to progress your career after having children then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities, who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.

When you're a dual career couple, it can be tricky to coordinate schedules and balance work and family life.

This week, Verena Hefti MBE is joined by married couple Sally Hamm and Matt Hamm, Occupational Medicine Physicians (who worked together as Air Force Flight Surgeons), who share four children alongside their busy senior careers.

Sally and Matt open up about how they have evolved their thinking around combining raising their family and progressing their careers. 

The couple share practical advice on how they prioritise what they say yes to and strategies for communicating with your partner to ensure you truly share the load.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Connect with Sally and Matt on LinkedIn.
• Find resources for dual career couples, including our free couples checklist, on the Leaders Plus website: www.leadersplus.org/resources/couples

If you are looking to progress your career after having children, then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.

In this episode, Verena discusses the importance of allyship in the workplace.

She is joined by Brad Johnson and David G. Smith, authors of the book: Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace.

As well as discussing what men can do to support their female colleagues, Brad and David discuss ways we can all support members of minorities in order to help everyone thrive professionally.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes:

• Good Guys is out on the 13th of October, pre-order here
• Visit Workplace Allies at www.workplaceallies.com
• Interested to join our Leaders Plus ESG peer support network? Get in touch

If you are looking to progress your career after having children then the award-winning Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is specifically designed for working parents with management responsibilities, who want to progress their careers and reach their full potential professionally. Find out more.

In this episode, Verena is joined by Tiffany Sauder, CEO of Element Three and mother of four.

Tiffany breaks down some of the key factors which have led to her inspiring success. 

From prioritising what really matters to the power of networking, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking for tangible career and family advice.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This episode is part of our CEO Series, spotlighting parents with young children who hold a CEO role.

Show Notes:

• Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn
• Find out more about Element Three.

A senior-level career doesn’t have to come at the expense of being a present parent. If you are interested in progressing your senior job and balancing your family life, take a look at our Senior Director's Fellowship: www.leadersplus.org/seniorleadersplusfellowship