How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty

• Rachel Carrell: The brutal reality of childcare systems around the world

  In this powerful conversation, I am joined by the brilliant Rachel Carrell, CEO and Founder of Koru Kids, an innovative childcare provider operating in 10 cities in the UK.Rachel shares the story of how Koru Kids came to be (spoiler: it wasn’t built in 18 months), the brutal reality of childcare systems around the world, and why the motherhood penalty is not a personal budgeting problem, but a structural failure.From shift-working nurses to after-school pickup logistics, Rachel unpacks the real-world ripple effects of underfunded childcare and unequal parental leave, including what it costs women’s careers, family planning, and economic growth.This one’s for the mums doing it all, the dads wanting to step up, and anyone ready to rethink the system we’ve all been squashed into.We speak about:· Why good childcare is essential infrastructure, not a luxury· The profound life decisions people are forced into due to lack of support· How Koru Kids is solving “the hardest childcare problems” (hi, shift-working solo mums!)· The real reason population rates are plummeting· The invisible memos society sends to mums and dads· What really happens when dads try to book a nanny…· Rachel’s two-ended magic wand to smash the motherhood penalty for goodResources Discussed · Koru Kids https://www.korukids.co.uk/Connect with EmmaThis podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

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• Haylee Killip: NOD: urgent, on-demand childcare

  We love talking to people who are trying to smash the system and Haylee Killip is one of these people. A business that was born out of the struggle of a corporate career and the juggle of being a parent. And specifically finding childcare that was flexible. She tried everything when she was a new mum and could not find what she needed. Whether it was an extra pair of hands so she could work in the other room at home, or someone to provide care for a sick child so she could deliver a key client meeting or even time out to go and get a haircut. So NOD (Nannies On Demand) was born, as she says - the Uber for Nannies. We speak about her business, her observations and also she shares her experience as a Mum. The conversation covers:Her business NOD: urgent on-demand childcare to support parents who do not have a village around them.How we have flexible working but not flexible childcare. How her NOD nannies are like a warm hug coming into your house. How the motherhood penalty can happen almost subconsciously. The importance of a focus on wellness and putting yourself firstResources Discussedhttps://www.getnod.io/Connect with EmmaThis podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nzhttps://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/

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• Katherine Cornish and Vanessa Simons: Relationships Grounded In Trust

  In this special episode we talk to Katherine Cornish and Vanessa Simons (both from Fisher Funds) about their experiences as single parents. To share their reflections on the motherhood penalty and how they would change the system. To understand the challenges that might be different and what some of the solutions are that help. Both Katherine and Vanessa become solo parents under different circumstances and they courageously share their stories with us. They share them in a real and unfiltered way which I know so many listeners will find comfort in. We talk about hard things including grief, choices and the importance of leadership relationships that are grounded in trust. It is a unique episode and one that I am proud of. Thank you Katherine and Vanessa, you both smashed this conversation with your clarity, your reflections and your courage. We speak about:The trust between a leader and a working parent. As a single parent, there is no respite. On the plus side, there is the simplicity of not needing to negotiate with another parent. Playing the cards you are dealt. This phrase helped Vanessa to have control over her situation as she was experiencing grief of losing her partner.The importance of getting structure (“rigorous logistics”) and planning in your week. Outsourcing to a cleaner if you can afford it - “it makes my heart a little lighter”. And online shopping - this is buying you time - and something that all three of us do! Saying no to volunteer work - and knowing that it won’t be forever. Brutally prioritise your day and be open with your leader about this. Give yourself permission to choose the least worst outcome. As you can do anything but not everything. The power of a CEO that you can be transparent with and makes you feel like the responsibilities in your life are ok and not bad for your career. Empathy as a leadership quality we need in all our leaders. Magic wand to develop a kinder capitalist society that enables us to priortise our families. Permission to choose what works for you when it comes to working. Resources DiscussedWoolworths online grocery orders!Connect with EmmaThis podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

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• Kate Mangino: Equal Partners

  It is not often that you get to talk to an international author and accomplished practitioner in tackling harmful gender norms and promoting positive social change. But in this episode we do as we are talking to Kate Mangino, PhD. Kate is the author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home, which addresses the social norms that underpin household gender inequality - and offers practical advice as to what each of us can do to change them. (Yes, part of our gender problem is structural, which requires policy change. But much of our gender problem is social – which requires US to change.) Kate has also published in Time, Slate, Harvard Business Review and Good Housekeeping. Equal Partners has been featured in The Atlantic, CNN, BBC World News and The Guardian, as well as dozens of podcasts, including We Can Do Hard Things and What Fresh Hell. You can read more about Kate's work at www.katemangino.com. We speak about:The beginning of Kate’s career where she worked in women’s empowerment and management training but had a realisatation that this was not what was holding women back. How care giving is coded as women’s work. This is not tied to our biology. But there are unspoken cultural norms. The media has had a massive role in it. There is a price to pay when you become a mum and that includes a risk of sacrificing your health and your time. There are challenges for dads to find a space to talk to other dads. How we don’t even really know what being an equal partner means and the influence of what we saw our parents do. What to do if you feel like you are a control freak about how things are done at home. Why it is not helpful for one partner to say “just write me a list?”Kate’s magic wand to increase understanding that there is so much to be gained from dads being equal partners at home. Resources Discussed“Equal Partners” by Kate Mangino “Untamed” by Glennon DoyleWe Can Do Hard Things podcast“Unfinished Business” by Anne-Marie Slaughter Connect with EmmaThis podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping."To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected]

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• Tania Domett and Prue Tyler: Who Is Carrying The Light?

  This is a unique episode where we take a little pulse check on where we are with The Motherhood Penalty with Prue Tyler and Tania Domett. I started this podcast in September 2023 to start conversations about smashing the system that creates the motherhood penalty. In this episode we talk about how far we have come, we talk about who is carrying the light and of course - what they would use their magic wand for!Prue Tyler is the director of Shift Advisory and Shift Compliance. Shift is all about normalizing flexible working and part-time working primarily in the legal and financial services industries. Prue is also Co-Chair of FSC Empower Women. Tania Domett is a social researcher and she founded her business Cogo eleven years ago where they work across a range of sectors including Finance, DEI, gender equity, family violence, disability, youth, and mental health. She is also co-director of Project Gender, which is a social change agency and feminist innovation studio.We speak about:The Part Time Power List - this was powerful to see - we need to change this at a senior level - not just a junior level. Crayon is carrying the light - being able to look at parental leave policies across employers. Creating transparency The need to support working parents beyond the return to work - pick ups and being flexible is needed. The glimmers of hope in dads being supported at work and paid partner leave. The importance of talking about money - Hi Money! Is a great organisation - helping women to talk about money. We need to link arms with men. One way to do this is to normalise part time working for men - as well as women. Allyship is important and Joe Consedine is carrying the light. The role for Women in Leadership conferences - networking is a good role but they are expensiveThe importance of sponsorship - how you can cultivate someone to be your sponsor. Getting good and talking about your brand and your proposition. Resources DiscussedSHIFT Advisory, Prue is Founder and Director of this business which is reshaping professional services – providing on-demand senior consultants (lawyers from SHIFT Advisory and Risk & Compliance, and Corporate Governance Consultants from SHIFT Compliance). https://shiftadvisory.co.nz/Cogo, Tania is Director of Cogo, a research agency that uses creative approaches to deliver insights, helping our clients make good investment decisions and grow stronger communities. https://www.cogo.co.nz/FSC Empower Woman https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fsc-empower-women/Project Gender https://www.projectgender.co.nz/Tania Domett - How To Smash the Motherhood Penalty - Season Two Capsule - The Motherhood Penalty https://capsulenz.com/featured/the-motherhood-penalty-part-one/Crayon: NZ’s First Parental Leave Register https://www.gocrayon.com/Hi Money! https://himoney.co/Gender at Work - Workplace...

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