Working Mumma show

Working Mumma

Summary: Are you a working parent looking for advice, inspiration and learning how others also manage the juggle? This podcast is for you! The Working Mumma podcast is designed to provide you with real-world tips, tricks and advice to all working mums (& dads) on balancing work and family. Each episode we’ll share interviews with fellow working parents, learn about their experiences in becoming a parent and deep dive into their topic of expertise. Your host Carina O’Brien, is a fellow working parent trying to manage the juggle of career and family. If you want free resources, tips & tricks to help you in being a working parent, then check out the freebies at https://www.workingmumma.com.au/tips-tricks and continue the conversation by joining the free Working Mumma Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/workingmumma/

Podcasts:

 How to approach maternity leave with confidence | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:31:34

This week marks a big milestone for me & that is that it's my first week of maternity leave. It's my second maternity leave & I have to say I've approached it differently from my first leave and had 2 very different experiences. Whilst things are fresh and before I have baby number 2, I wanted to share with you tips to help you prepare for parental leave with confidence.

 How to build your personal brand & progress your career with Sarah Makris | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:51:21

Looking for ways on how you can build your personal brand to have your dream career. Have you recently returned from maternity leave and looking to position yourself for future opportunities. Or wanting tips and advice on how you can develop your career. This episode with Sarah Makris will provide you with tips and advice on how you can do just this. Sarah helps senior executives elevate their professional brand, be recognised and valued in their industry, and attract their dream role. Throughout this podcast she helps you do just this. During this episode we cover: * How Sarah designed a career & business that fit around her family * Why you should set goals at the start of the year that aren't too easy but may put you out of your comfort zone * How to set career goals that you may not achieve in the next year, but taking steps to achieve in the next few years * Talk about staying relevant and employable whilst having a family * Why you should be always taking steps to build your personal brand and identity - even when you are on maternity leave * Tips and tricks on how to use LinkedIn to develop your personal brand and value * Suggestions on how to position yourself for part-time work * Discuss Sarah's actionable framework on how to build your personal brand As Sarah mentions during the podcast - if you have built your brand, you can have whatever career you want. Connect with Sarah Makris on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/sarah-makris/ or Instagram @sarahmakrisaustralia. Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn.

 Navigating identity shift and mum guilt with Taryn Wrezounik | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:44:23

In this episode I speak with Taryn Wrezounik - a sleep consultant, mum, wife & business owner. She is a huge believer in the power of turning inward and empowering yourself to be, do & have everything that you could dream of - as well as being a mum. I speak with Taryn about navigating the identity shift after becoming a mum. We talk about loosing your sense of self as a new mother and how we can regain our identities. Hear how you can take steps to regain your identity and define what parenting means to you. We also talk about mum guilt and how we can change our mindset and the stories we tell ourselves around this topic that impacts all mothers at some stage. Taryn shares strategies on how to overcome mum guilt. I like this quote from Taryn in the episode "There is nothing to stop us from following our dreams, only our own limiting beliefs and mindset " Connect with Taryn Wrezounik via Instagram at @themotherload_co. Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn.

 Strategies to reduce the overwhelm of motherhood with Mim Dart | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:02:10

This week I speak with Mim Dart who provides strategies on how to reduce the overwhelm of motherhood. Mim is a lifestyle coach who focuses on the overwhelm of motherhood. She explains that motherhood doesn't have to feel overwhelming and as mothers, we are allowed to have a positive experience of motherhood. We get so many mixed messages about motherhood, especially from social media, and this leads us to compare ourselves to others and increases the feelings of overwhelm and believe that we "should" be showing up in certain ways. These feelings can be debilitating, but as you will hear during the episode with Mim, they don't have to be. We discuss strategies you can use immediately to manage the overwhelm. A big part of this is about reflecting on what is important to you and your family and staying focused on this and blocking out all the external messages. Mim explains the season of motherhood can last >18 years and we don't deserve to spend this time feeling exhausted, burnt out, and unhappy. We deserve to live over a quarter of our lives happy and living our best lives possible. The good news, you can choose how you want to feel in motherhood and curate a life that aligns with this. It is ok to feel good during motherhood. We also talk about the importance of self-care and looking after ourselves as mothers. So much of the family's mood and culture comes from the parents, particularly the mothers. If you are feeling good Mumma, then it is likely that the rest of the family will feed off this energy. This shows the importance of filling your cup and the impact this has on those around you. Connect with Mim Dart via her website, Facebook or Instagram. Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn.

 How job sharing advanced Melinda Chaponnel's career | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:47:27

In this week's episode I speak with Melinda Chaponnel to learn about job sharing and how this has advanced her career. Mel has a corporates finance background in large corporates. She has experienced 2 successful job share arrangements, across 2 different companies and multiple roles. During this episode she shares her experiences, advice and tips for all topics relating to job sharing. You will quickly discover why Mel is an advocate for job sharing and why it should be more widely considered by organisations and not just for working mothers. Connect with Melinda via LinkedIn. Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Share your experiences as a mum managing the juggle in the annual Working Mumma Survey. Survey closes Tuesday 3 November.

 When your career ambitions change after motherhood with Yvette Sitters | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:42:25

This week on the podcast I speak with Yvette Sitters, founder of Manage My Wedding. Yvette had a long career working in hotel events, spending a large portion of her career at the Hilton London on Park Lane. Prior to kids she had aspirations of becoming the GM of a Hotel. But, 6 weeks into her maternity leave she came to the realisation that she didn't want to work for someone else and wanted to create a life and business around her family. Over the next 2.5 years she developed an app that she launched when her 2nd daughter was 12 weeks old. During this episode Yvette has many great tips and advice for fellow working mums (not only if you have a business) around productivity, managing the mental load and self-care. We discuss: * Yvette's career journey to date * Managing identity shift once she became a mum and how her priories changed * Challenges she has overcome (including her inner critic) to create her business * How she has created a business around her family * Planning approach to align to her work/life harmony * Managing the mental load * Advice for working mums looking to start their own business (including when is the right time to start - now!) * Mindset shift with having own business * Important of self care and how Yvette goes about this each day I like this quote from Yvette during the podcast on the realisation she didn't want to go back to her corporate role "the driver was to be at home with 2 girls and make decisions for family to be where I wanted when I wanted and not on someone else's terms" Connect with Yvette and Manage My Wedding via her website, Facebook or Instagram. Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. This episode is supported by a free e-Book "10 steps to help you transition from parental leave to pay day" . I'll also be launching a mini course early in 2021 on Returning to Work that will support you through this process in much greater detail. Click here to join the waitlist.

 How to get organised at home with Aparna Sundar | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:02:28

Today I speak with Aparna Sundar on how to get organised at home. Aparna is a KonMari consultant and in this episode we talk about how organising your home can have positive influences on your whole life. When we set up the discussion I thought the topic of home organisation was going to be about cleaning room by room, but as Aparna quickly made me realise it is so much more. We need to look at organising holistically and it is more of a mindset shift than anything else, thinking about your future self and organising is only a small part of that. During the episode we cover: * 6 steps to the KonMari(TM) method and how you can implement these today in your own home * Talking about the common myths and challenges when it comes to home organisation * Overcoming our own limiting beliefs * Organisation tips for baby, children, food preparation and storage * Involving children from a young age in home organisation and the benefits of toy rotation Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Connect with Aparna via her website or on Instagram @globalmindfuljourney Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time.

 Getting our mojo back after maternity leave with Jo Gobbo | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00:26

When we are pregnant about to go on maternity leave, we aren't really thinking about the return, instead focused on discovering our new role as a mum. Returning to work after a period of time on maternity leave is another big milestone and transition in our personal and professional lives. It is mixed with a wide range of emotions from lack of confidence, uncertainty to looking forward to going to the toilet on your own, adult conversation and everything in between. Returning to work can have its own challenges and you aren't alone in experiencing these. During today's podcast I speak with executive coach, trainer and facilitator, Jo Gobbo on getting our mojo back after maternity leave. Jo shares her experiences of returning to work after the birth of her son and shares her emotions in this journey. We cover a broad range of topics during the podcast episode including: * Confidence change with motherhood then returning to work * How to improve your confidence * Managing and being aware of the emotions that come about in the transition back to work * Importance of sharing the mental load with your partner * Factors that cause women to loose confidence prior to returning to work and strategies to overcome this * The concept of a "blended" identity for working parents merging our work and family lives - something that has been elevated due to Covid-19 * Impact of limiting beliefs and how we can overcome these * Example of a working mum who doubted her confidence and skills but after working on these she has been able to overcome her own limiting beliefs to take on a more senior position * How managers can support working parents, especially women, who have parental leave transition back into the organisation successfully and with confidence * Transition back to work, requires mental and emotional preparation We covered a lot on a topic we are both passionate about. Connect with Jo via Instagram or LinkedIn. Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. This episode is supported by a free e-Book "10 steps to help you transition from parental leave to pay day" . I'll also be launching a mini course later this year on Returning to Work that will support you through this process in much greater detail. Click here to register.

 Navigating & managing pregnancy loss with Amanda Bowles, Bears of Hope | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:59:47

This podcast episode I speak with Amanda Bowles, co-founder of Bears of Hope. Trigger warning - this episode discusses pregnancy loss and may bring up emotions. If you need to speak with someone, please reach out to Bears of Hope, COPE or Beyond Blue. The focus of the episode is navigating and managing pregnancy loss as well as how support people can best help the bereaved family. If you are the 1 in 4 women that have experienced pregnancy loss or know someone who has and wants to understand a little more what they are feeling and how you can help, this episode is for you. This is a very personal episode for me as my husband and I experienced pregnancy loss in February 2020 when we were told at our 13 week scan our unborn child had a rare medical abnormality and we made the hardest decision to terminate the pregnancy for medical reasons. During this experience, I was sent a bear by my mother's group from Bears of Hope and this introduced me to this supportive organisation and Facebook groups to support families that have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. It continues to be my safe zone with people that have been through similar experiences. The episode covers two central themes - the first for people that have experienced loss and the second for friends & family and how they can actively support the bereaved family. During this podcast we cover: * Emotions associated with grief and loss of a child * Discuss the question "why us" * Subsequent (rainbow) pregnancies, the emotions associated and tips on how to manage this * Connection with a child you were unable to meet * Managing grief between partners * Seeking help is a strength not a weakness * Advice for support networks on how they can actively help * Tips on how support networks can help * Advice on what to say to people that have experienced loss * Discuss the magical "12 week" milestone of a pregnancy to let people know you are pregnant I recorded this episode with two intentions. The first for families that have experienced loss know that you aren't alone, and secondly to help the support network learn how they can actively help a friend or family member. I hope this episode helps you in some way. Please reach out to Bears of Hope to discover more about this supportive organisation and the resources and support they have available. If you know someone that has experienced loss I encourage you to purchase a Bear of Hope.

 Resume tips & advice to be a standout candidate with Ashlee Thomas | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:45:25

In a competitive job market, having a standout job application is critical. For this week's podcast I'm excited to be joined by resume and career coach, Ashlee Thomas. She is a busy working mum of 2 boys and runs her own successful business focused on helping women find their next role in a flexible environment. Given the market and economy we currently live in with over 1 million Australians out of work, and it was already challenging for working mums to find a job that fit their career and lifestyle goals, this chat with Ashlee has so many hints, tips and advice for people wanting to stand out from other candidates. During this podcast we cover: •Ashlee's career & parenthood journey so far •What to and what not to include in a resume •How long a resume should be •Importance of having an active and current LinkedIn profile •Advice on re-entering the workforce after a period of time on parental leave •New skills mothers have gained since becoming a mum and the value of these to the workplace •Overcoming confidence and going for the role even when you believe you don't have all the skills on the position description •Changing careers and focus after becoming a mum •Importance of seeking out your ideal organisations to work for •Interview advice and how to form engagement with the interview panel •Why you should be interviewing the organisation as much as they are interviewing you to ensure it is a good fit Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Connect with Ashlee via her website, LinkedIn and Facebook. Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time. I'll be launching a mini course later this year on Returning to Work that will support you through this process in much greater detail. Click here to register.

 10 steps to help you confidently return to work after maternity leave | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:42:23

In today's podcast, I take you through 10 steps to help you prepare for your upcoming return to work so you will feel confident and ready to manage the juggle of career and family. Returning to work can be challenging. The person you were at work pre-baby is a little (or possibly a lot) different to the current version of you. The you that's returning to work has an additional role title and along with the amazing perk of unconditional love, comes a seemingly endless list of new role responsibilities! As you consider your return to work you may find that you have a new way of thinking. Babies impact our lives in sooo many ways, beyond what we may have ever expected. You've been looking after this new little human who is entirely dependent on you. Just as parental leave was a huge adjustment, returning to work is another major adjustment in the journey. With this, comes a whole new range of challenges, so it helps to be mentally prepared for this as possible. Before getting started, if you have the opportunity, grab a pen & paper as I've got lots of little gems throughout this podcast and if it's possible find a quiet space free from interruptions so that you can focus on you. This episode is supported by a free e-Book "10 steps to help you transition from parental leave to pay day" . I'll also be launching a mini course later this year on Returning to Work that will support you through this process in much greater detail. Click here to register. Before we get into it, I will also say that everyone has a different journey and experience of returning to work, just like parenthood. I know it might not all be a smooth transition and I know this from first hand experience. But, hopefully this podcast helps you prepare mentally, emotionally, physically and with your employer to make it as smooth as possible. Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time.

 Juggling family & career with Dr. Sarah Gleeson | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:47:49

Today I speak with Dr. Sarah Gleeson, based in Goondiwindi Queensland with her husband & three boys aged 3.5, 5 and 6.5. Sarah works at the Goondiwindi Medical Centre as a GP, at the Boggabilla Community Health Clinic & at the Goondiwindi Hospital in the Emergency & Obstetrics departments. She also teaches medical students at The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School. After several busy years both personally & professionally, Sarah had decided that 2019 was going to be her year of saying 'no' to new projects. But when her sister Liz approached her with the idea for Family HQ, she said yes without hesitation and over the next 14 months has worked with Liz to develop the ultimate health management app for busy families. During this episode we discuss: •Sarah's career pathway to where she is today •How she juggles a busy life as a doctor and being a mum to 3 boys •Tips and advice for sharing the mental load with her husband •How people have paved the way before her to have flexible work arrangements and supportive workplace culture •Discuss the myth 'does childcare help build up a child's immunity?' •When to send your kids to childcare/school vs keep them at home if sick •Medicine options for children and when to use ibuprofen vs paracetamol •Recording medicine dosage and why you should do this (especially with more than 1 child) •Why paracetamol is the leading cause of Liver failure for children in developed countries •Talk about Sarah's solution to help parents with administering and recording medicine - FamilyHQ Key piece of advice - use a single brand & single strength for consistency - so you know every time you pull out the medicine that you know what dose you should have. About FamilyHQ Family HQ is an all-in-one solution for families to give parents peace of mind when they need it most. It has been designed by a nurse and a doctor who are mums to 5 boys. It's a cloud-based app that enables 2 parents/carers to accurately record and securely share relevant, real-time information about their child's health and medication dosage/timing. Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Connect with Sarah via the FamilyHQ website, Instagram @dr_sarah_gleeson or trial the FamilyHQ app. Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time.

 12 tips to help you prepare for maternity leave | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:34:03

I know when I was about to go on maternity leave I was a mix of emotions. I was looking for ideas, hints and tips on how to prepare both emotionally as well as physically for maternity leave. Needless to say I made it up as I went. I hope this episode with 12 tips to help you prepare for maternity leave helps you as I wish I had been given these tips before I went on leave. Going on maternity leave is an emotional time. You have worked for a number of years, it has been a big part of your life working 40+ hours, 5 days a week and consuming much of your time. The prospect of maternity leave you will be stepping away for a period of time and handing over your work to another person can be difficult, you aren't alone if you are having trouble letting go. This period allows you time to reflect on your career so far and what you have enjoy and achieved so far. It also allows you time to consider the new challenge of motherhood and role as a parent. If you are a first time parent, there are many unknowns and the feeling of trepidation - this is entirely normal. By having some time to stop and reflect on your maternity leave and how you would like it to work, will help both you and your employer so you can manage the leave period. It also allows you to process how you are feeling and if there are any areas that are causing you anxiety, speaking to someone prior to the birth would be recommended. Enjoy this episode and best of luck with your upcoming birth and maternity leave. Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & self care. Until next time, have a great week.

 Managing anxiety with Sarah Purvey | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:02:28

Today I speak with Sarah Purvey, a Clinical Psychologist, practice owner of Eastern Shore Psychology, author of Keep Sane and Parent On, Positive Birth Program Facilitator and mother to a 6 yo and 4yo girls. We recorded this podcast in early July 2020 prior to the current outbreak of covid-19 in Melbourne. It is very timely and has many hints and tips for people that might be experiencing anxiety during this time. If this episode is a trigger for you, please reach out to Beyond Blue, COPE, a psychologist or your GP to assist. As you will hear it is a strength to seek help and not a weakness. During this episode Sarah and I discuss: •Sarah's family set up with her husband as a stay at home dad •Defining anxiety •What can we do if we recognise if we are experiencing anxiety - self helps and seeking help strategies are discussed •Managing anxiety during Covid-19 •Sharing the mental load between couples and how important this is especially for new parents and ongoing when raising children •Striving for being a "good enough" parent rather than perfect •Managing mum guilt when returning to work after maternity leave •Managing expectations of new mum during parenting journey There is a lot covered in this episode and I hope you enjoy everything we cover. If you are in Melbourne this episode might be of extra interest given the current stage 4 lockdown measures. I'm in this with you and hope you and your family stay safe. Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Connect with Sarah via her website, Instagram @sarahpurveypsychologist or her book "Keep Sane and Parent On" Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time. Until next time, have a great week.

 Why you should focus on developing your strengths to help build your confidence with Anne Koopmann | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:44:54

Today I speak with Anne Koopmann, a leadership coach, who works with individuals and organizations to empower courageous leaders, and fellow working mum. A big take away for me from this episode is the need to focus on and "leaning into" your strengths. We all can't be great at everything and we need to unlearn what we are taught about focusing on our weaknesses and instead focus on what we are good at because as working mums we often don't do this enough and we gain so much confidence from developing our strengths. During this podcast we talk about: •Resilience and confidence •Taking ownership of your own life and to realize that what you do is your choice •Why we should focus on our strengths and less on our weaknesses (even though we have been taught to do the opposite) •Why knowing your strengths can improve your confidence •Telling ourselves that we can't all be great at everything and it is normal to have weaknesses but not to focus too much on these and instead embrace your strengths •The 7 c's in the resilience toolbox •Tips and strategies for recognising your strengths •Working on your inner self and improving your self awareness •Knowing and understanding your circle of control Continue the conversation and join the Working Mumma Community, connect with me on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn. Connect with Anne via her website, on LinkedIn on Instagram @annekoopmann_leadlikeyou Check out the free 10 Strategies to Managing the Juggle to help you navigate work, family & you time. Until next time, have a great week.

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