Insights

If Easter had a message for our careers, it wouldn’t just be about chocolate eggs (although, let’s be honest, they help). It would be about renewal, rebirth, and perhaps most importantly… reassessment. Because for many women, careers have quietly been built on a foundation of sacrifice. Not always consciously. Not always willingly. But consistently. We say yes when we mean maybe. We stretch when we’re already exhausted. We prioritise being “helpful” over being heard . And som

Let’s be honest.If hormones had a LinkedIn profile, they’d be listed under: “ Influences everything but rarely gets credit.” From confidence in meetings to whether you can remember why you opened that email (again), hormone health is quietly shaping women’s careers every single day . And yet — in most workplaces — it’s still treated like a “personal issue” rather than a professional reality. Its time to get real about hormone health... for the business. As a career coach work

On 20th March , something rather magical (and scientifically precise) happened. The Earth tilted itself into perfect balance — not leaning towards or away from the sun — gifting us a rare moment where day and night stand almost equal. Lovely, isn’t it? Balancing the seasons: Winter and Spring. But beyond the astronomy, the Spring Equinox   offers something even more powerful: a gentle nudge to pause, reassess, and perhaps… bloom. For those of us navigating leadership, careers

If AI were a colleague, it would be that wildly efficient new starter who can draft meeting notes in 12 seconds, reorganise a spreadsheet before your tea goes cold, and still leave everyone slightly suspicious about what exactly it is planning next. For professional women in the UK, artificial intelligence is not some distant sci-fi plotline . It is already shaping recruitment, job design, promotion pathways, skills expectations and, quite frankly, the mood music of work itse

We’ve just celebrated International Women's Day on 8 March – a moment when the world reflects on the achievements and contributions of women everywhere. And this coming Sunday is Mothering Sunday in the UK, a day traditionally dedicated to appreciating the women who nurture families and communities. Both occasions are lovely reminders of how much women give to others. Sharing insights and ideas: meaningful conversations that spark growth and connection. Who is looking after

On International Women’s Day (Sunday 8th March) , we celebrate progress — but we also pause to challenge the leadership narratives that still shape how women experience power, influence, and opportunity at work. T his article is for women who have gathered experience, perspective, and resilience over the course of their careers. Women who have led teams, navigated complexity, and delivered results — yet are now asking deeper questions about meaning , impact , and how they wan

You know that feeling? It’s like standing barefoot in the middle of a muddy field: you can’t go back to the role, career or identity you’ve outgrown — but you also don’t know where the path ahead actually starts. Welcome to the awkward middle . Working out what you want to do next doesn't need to be too tricky. This is the space many people find themselves in during a career transition: no longer aligned with what they were doing, but unsure how to articulate what comes next

February can feel like a long, grey stretch — especially if you’re in the middle of a career change. Whether you’re navigating redundancy, re-evaluating your professional identity, managing menopause-related shifts, or simply feeling the nudge that something has to change , this time of year can heighten uncertainty and self-doubt. There are many ways to offer an act of kindness.... Against this backdrop sits Random Acts of Kindness Week , anchored by Random Acts of Kindness

This week includes Valentine’s Day , a day that I’m more inclined to call Galentine’s Day  (being a single woman and all). So I thought I’d write an article about women loving themselves  — because honestly, if we can’t turn our own potential into a lifelong love affair, why is anyone else lining up to dance with us? Welcome to the compassionate, slightly irresistible world of loving you  — your career, your choices, and yes, that amazing brain tucked behind your glasses (eye

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Ireland, where 1 February is celebrated as St Brigid’s Day. While St Brigid herself is fascinating, I found myself more drawn to the older roots of the day: Imbolc, the Celtic festival that marks the very beginning of spring. Imbolc is associated with   Brigid the Goddess – a powerful, pre-Christian figure from Irish mythology. Brigid represents wisdom, protection, creativity and personal growth. She is also known as a guardian of th

We’ve all been there — that awkward stage in life when it feels like the universe nudged (or shoved) us off the treadmill and into the metaphorical ball pit of confusion. One minute you’re on track, the next you’re wondering why your professional life resembles a slightly chaotic rom-com montage. But take heart: rough patches are not derailments . They’re more like… unexpected intermissions with free snacks. Yes, you can get your career back on track — with clarity, confiden

Every January, something curious happens. A “day” known as   Blue Monday  is whispered about in offices, shared in social feeds, and even splashed across news headlines as “the most depressing day of the year”. But before you reach for the duvet or resign yourself to low energy and low morale, let’s take a fresh look at what it is, why it matters, and how you can turn it into a moment of clarity, connection and career confidence . Our bodies are wired to respond to daylight,

Imagine this: you’re a seasoned copywriter who desperately needs help with your bookkeeping. Meanwhile, a brilliant accountant wants help writing punchy website copy. You could pay money  — or you could swap skills  and both walk away happy, smarter, and a little richer in connections. 💡 Welcome to the delightful world of skill swapping — where your talents become currency , collaboration becomes your secret business-growth strategy, and everyone’s a winner. What on earth is

At the start of this year, I saw a very established (US-based) LinkedIn-er share this statement: “HR exists to manage risk for the company, not to help us. Understand this so we know how to proceed… and prepare.” Cue a collective intake of breath from people professionals everywhere as the post gathered global momentum . 😱 (I’ve used the People title for the last 5 or so years, but I do see that HR is still widely used, so am utilising the simple “HR/People” format to cover

Ah, Christmas! The one time of year when mince pies, fairy lights and that urgent  need to finish all the Netflix shows collide into a deliciously chaotic two-week bubble of festivities, family and yes — potential career gold. 🎄✨ But hang on — before you dive head-first into festive oblivion (although please  enjoy that), what if I told you this season could  be your secret weapon for success in the year ahead? Have a Cool Yule, from me and Bob x Here’s how to make your Chri

Earlier this year, I wrote an article about deliberately throwing myself into something that scared me: a brand-new sport. Not because I was naturally athletic, nor because I wanted accolades. I did it because I wanted to feel proud of doing something outside my comfort zone. The goal wasn’t victory — it was courage, effort, and the thrill of confronting uncertainty head-on. First Slalom competition, one spill and four overtakers. First time EVER on a slalom run! Six months l

If someone had told me on 1 January 2025 that by December I’d be writing a retrospective about coaching conversations, corporate talks, Women’s Circles, podcasts, and all the moments that made me pause, I’d probably have given them a side-eye and muttered, “Are you serious?” And yet, here I am. Running Pause and Empower this year has meant embracing both the chaos and the clarity that comes when midlife transitions, menopause, career uncertainty, and life’s bigger questions c

If any of you follow me on Insta or Facebook, you might have spotted my post last Friday. I shared that I’ve started a gratitude diary — and I was feeling super  grateful. I’d just walked into the BBC studios on Oxford Street for a small filming segment on the Morning Live Show about menopause and creatine (yes, that trending nootropic!) — a highlight in itself. That evening I was due to present at the Bedford Women’s Circle on Women’s Rights in the Workplace. And this week,

It’s that time of year: the evenings are drawing in, the heating bill is mocking you, and you’re realising that your only  superpower lately has been turning rants into emails. You, dear reader, might just be teetering on the edge of burnout. But before you hit the wall — or worse, resign yourself to becoming a permanent fixture on the sofa — there’s hope. Let’s talk about how to hit reset, rediscover your spark, and get your work-life mojo back, all before the end of the yea

If you’re reading this, there’s a fair chance you’re navigating midlife, career change and the often-under-acknowledged swirl of menopause. Let’s be clear: this is not  a time to quietly fade into the background . It’s a hot flush-fuelled springboard for reinvention, for flipping the script on what “mid-career” means, and for embracing micro-revolutions — those small, dare-I-say cheeky acts of not giving a toss in the very best sense of the phrase. Having a laugh with clients