PWM has been designed to delve into the many and varied stories and experiences of women who have returned to work after becoming a mother. Inspired by the stories of determination, guilt, courage, doubt, hopelessness and ambition when coaching women returning to work, Ruth Moody began this deep inquiry into the successes and failures of women as they navigate this complex journey. It has been created as a resource for other women to learn from and a place to turn to when women are feeling lonely.
‘Just managed to listen to the latest podcast and just wanted to say that I LOVED it!’
As a mum to two small boys, I know all about the challenges of juggling work with parenting – the good, the bad and the ugly. I work with businesses, supporting their women returning to work after having a baby through 121 coaching. I’ve heard so much about the guilt, the struggles and the successes from women who are doing a fabulous job of being both mother and professional working woman, and so I created this podcast to share some of these wonderful stories and invaluable advice.
For the last 20 years I have also been running Farscape Development, a people development consultancy. Our focus is on behavioural development and helping people in organisations to thrive. We work with senior leaders delivering leadership development programmes and 121 coaching, helping them to develop greater self-awareness and build more effective working relationships.
‘Loving the podcasts. Got me through train trip to Birmingham this morning. I’m a bit emotional though! Obviously opened
something up for me’‘Your voice is the most perfect podcast voice ever! I want to listen all day’.
Professional Working Mum with Ruth Moody is a podcast designed to explore the highs and lows of parenting whilst also holding down a professional role. In each episode Ruth interviews a different woman in a senior role who has experienced the transition of returning to work and the juggle of combining motherhood with work. As an executive coach, Ruth has worked with many senior women supporting them to thrive at work and at home and she explores some of the lessons that her guests have learnt through holding this dual role of mother and professional working mum.
For some women their return to work has been an eagerly awaited positive choice, whilst for others it has been an unfortunate necessity, and for many it’s something in the murky middle of excitement, relief, and acceptance. Many women feel alone as they navigate the journey of returning to work. They often carry the mental burden of parenting, and they are also experiencing matrescence, which has a huge impact on how they view the world, their sense of identity and self-belief.
The podcast is reflective, insightful and meaningful and helps guests to uncover both their emotional and practical experiences of working and parenting. Through sharing these moving, funny and challenging stories, Ruth aims to open the conversation around juggling motherhood and work and help to reduce the guilt and feelings of failure that are often experienced by women who are trying to do both.
As well as being a significant resource for other women as they learn from other women’s experiences, it is also a place of comfort. Women often feel alone during this transition and this podcast is designed to support them and ensure that they feel the human connection of these shared experiences.
‘I’ve just finished listening to the Professional Working Mum podcast. Thank you! It felt uplifting, a good mix of normalising the doubt we all feel and the success possible by doing the best we can in all areas of our lives’
