In this week’s episode of the Work it Like a Mum Podcast, I’m joined by Jo Langley. She opens up about her experience of joining Utility Warehouse (UW) as a partner and how she’s built it alongside family life and her existing marketing business.

Jo talks about the reality of starting something new, from hitting her Fast Start bonus in her first month to juggling priorities as a mum, and how UW has given her an extra income stream, peace of mind, and new opportunities.

We also chat about the bigger shift in how people work today, with more than 20 million people in the UK running side hustles — and why multiple income streams are fast becoming the norm.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The moment Jo realised she needed another income stream
• How rising costs (mortgage, car, kids!) pushed her to look for solutions
• Why UW felt like a natural fit and how she got started
• The training, support and mentoring that helped her succeed quickly
• Incentives big and small – from family holidays to pizza nights
• The diversity and support within the UW partner community

Key Takeaways:

• Flexibility is everything: UW allows you to work around family life and existing commitments.
  
  
• Fast results are possible: Jo earned £2,300 in her first month with just 15 hours of work.
  
  
• Training and support make the difference: Mentoring and structured guidance help you start confidently.
  
  
• Side hustles aren’t just about money: They give your family peace of mind, security, and opportunities.
  
  
• Anyone can do this: With the right tools and mindset, UW can work for a wide variety of people and backgrounds.
  
  
• Diversity and community matter: The supportive team and diverse partner network are key to ongoing motivation and success.
  
  
• Incentives make it fun: The rewards keep you focused and motivated, from family holidays to small treats.

Why Listen:

Whether you’re curious about UW, exploring a side hustle, or want to hear a real and honest story of balancing family and business, this episode is for you.

Show Links:

Connect With Our Host, Elizabeth Willetts Here

Connect With Joanna on LinkedIn Here

Learn More About Joining UW Here

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

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Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

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This week on the Work it Like a Mum Podcast, I’m joined by Maria Hvorostovsky — leadership coach, host of The Anatomy of a Leader, and one of Europe’s top executive search consultants. With 20+ years of placing senior leaders (including the first CEO of JW Anderson), Maria knows what makes leaders thrive and where founders stumble.

She shares her journey from a family of musicians in Russia to running her own business, launching a podcast, and building a leadership ecosystem. We dive into reinvention, the messy middle of motherhood and business, and why creating space for yourself, even a solo night away, is non-negotiable.

💡 What We Cover

• Maria’s journey from psychology student to top headhunter & entrepreneur
• Why she founded Anatomy of a Leader and her mission to inspire change
• What founders often get wrong when hiring (and how to get it right)
• How to make your CV & LinkedIn stand out to recruiters
• The three emotional skills every great leader needs
• Why creating space, from meditation to “joy creators”, is vital for women
• How saying no, outsourcing, and boundaries protect your energy

✨ Key Takeaways

Leadership starts with self-leadership: regulate, name & channel your emotions.

Hire for tomorrow: great founders recruit teams, not just one “fix-it” hire.

Your CV is just the start: your reputation and relationships carry the most weight.

Creating space isn’t selfish: even 10 minutes of stillness can fuel clarity & confidence.

Redefine success: joy, boundaries, and purpose matter as much as career titles.

🎧 Why Listen

This episode is a masterclass in reinvention, leadership, and permission to put yourself first — while still chasing big ambitions.

Show Links:

Connect With Our Host, Elizabeth Willetts Here

Connect With Maria on LinkedIn Here

Visit Maria's Website Here

Follow Maria on Instagram Here

Listen to Her Podcast Here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

On this week's Work it Like a Mum Podcast episode, we’re joined by Emma Thomas, executive coach, consultant, and podcast host, who helps people unlock potential and navigate big life transitions. After 30 years in academic publishing, Emma was made redundant in 2022. Instead of returning to corporate life, she reinvented herself. Now she coaches clients, runs her own podcast, and leads Managing the Menopause, helping employers create menopause-supportive workplaces.

We discuss the messy middle of midlife — when work, parenting, ageing parents, and health collide. Emma shares her redundancy story, why she turned to podcasting during the pandemic, and how menopause can be a catalyst for growth rather than decline.

💡 What We Cover

• How redundancy sparked reinvention.
• Why podcasting is easier than you think.
• The juggle of work, kids, and ageing parents.
• Menopause vs. “everything else” stress — and how to tell the difference.
• Stopping people-pleasing and embracing boundaries.
• Why letting go of perfection matters.

✨ Key Takeaways

Midlife is a turning point — overwhelming, but also a chance to reset.

Redundancy can be the start of something better.

You don’t need perfect plans to begin — progress beats perfection.

Boundaries create space for what matters most.

Let go of impossible standards — you’ll gain energy and freedom.

🎧 Why Listen

If you’ve ever felt like life is “lifing” too hard, or wondered whether it’s too late to pivot, this conversation will remind you that it’s never too late to start again. Emma’s story is proof that reinvention is possible, podcasting is accessible, and midlife can be a time of joy, boundaries, and brave new beginnings.

Show Links:

Connect With Our Host, Elizabeth Willetts Here

Connect With Emma on LinkedIn Here

Visit Emma’s Website, The Triple Shift Here

Visit the Managing the Menopause Website Here

Listen to The Middling Along Podcast Here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

This week, we're joined by Carmen Powell, CEO of ISC Group — the global network advancing women in the insurance sector and beyond. With over 20 years’ experience across industries and continents, Carmen knows what it takes to reach the top and bring others with you.

We talk candidly about the “silent sacrifice” so many women make, why guilt still shadows working mums in 2025, and how to rewrite the script so your career and wellbeing thrive side-by-side. Carmen also lifts the lid on the exciting side of insurance, the power of community, and why it’s time we rebranded working motherhood.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to grow a global career without losing yourself
• The truth about networking, mentorship, and asking for what you need
• Why working motherhood deserves a positive rebrand
• Practical ways to share the load and drop the guilt
• Why self-care is a career investment, not a luxury

✨ Key Takeaways

• Community is a game-changer – Surround yourself with people who understand your challenges.
• Guilt isn’t a given – You can rewire your thinking and set boundaries that work for you.
• Work needs a rebrand – A career can bring confidence, independence, and fulfilment, not just stress.
• Partnership is teamwork – Share responsibilities like co-founders running a business.
• Self-care fuels success – Making time for yourself isn’t selfish, it’s strategic.

🎧 Why Listen

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by the demands of work, family, and everything in between, this episode will leave you feeling seen and armed with strategies to change the narrative. Carmen shares real-world insight from leading a 10,000-strong global women’s network and practical ways to protect your ambition and wellbeing.

Show Links:

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Connect with Carmen here

Visit the ISC Group website here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

In this bonus episode of Work It Like a Mum podcast, our very own founder, Elizabeth Willits, goes solo to share 18+ years of recruitment know-how. She’ll walk you through how to write a CV that opens doors, master LinkedIn so opportunities come to you, and ace interviews with confidence, keeping your career momentum strong, even in the quieter months.

Summer break is around the corner, and while the pace of life slows down for many, it can be the perfect time to pause and assess your career progress.

This is the first session of our Momentum Masterclass Series, a six-week programme designed to help you maintain momentum in career growth and job search throughout the slower-paced summer months.

📌 What She Covers

• CV essentials: what to include, how to write a standout profile, and turn duties into achievements
• Grouping roles to show progression, plus highlighting education and key wins
• Keyword tactics to beat ATS and avoid common mistakes
• LinkedIn optimisation: profile tweaks, network building, and smart posting
• Researching companies and interviewers
• Interview prep: STAR method, presentation tips, and thank-you follow-ups
  
  

💡 Key Takeaways

• Lead with value — show how you’ll make a difference.
• Keep it clear, skimmable, and results-focused.
• Use numbers to prove your impact.
• Build your network before you need it.
• Prep like a pro to boost confidence.
• Follow up to stay top of mind.

Plus:

• Real-world examples from Elizabeth’s clients and candidates
• Advice for handling career changes, employment gaps, maternity leave, and voluntary roles
• How to avoid common pitfalls in cover letters and follow-up messages

💡 “Strive not to be of success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

Stay motivated. Stay seen. Stay on track.

Show Links:

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Visit the Investing in Women Website here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

In this inspiring episode of the Work it Like a Mum Podcast, I’m joined by Anaïs Comot, career strategist and founder of Her Code. Anaïs shares her personal journey from burnout in the corporate world to finding her calling in coaching.

Her mission? To empower 100,000 women by 2035 to build careers they’re truly passionate about.

We talk about the importance of aligning your work with your values, navigating big transitions (like motherhood or moving abroad), and how Anaïs is building community and impact through her coaching and her membership platform, Her Circle.

We discuss:

• Anaïs’ early career burnout and the lightbulb moment that led her to coaching
• Why she left procurement to pursue purpose-driven work
• How becoming a mother reshaped her perspective on ambition, boundaries, and impact
• The messy reality of taking maternity leave while self-employed
• The power of networking and how to do it without feeling awkward
• Why women need to redefine success on their own terms

Key Takeaways:

Burnout can be a breakthrough – Anaïs’ story proves that hitting rock bottom can lead to powerful transformation.

Your values matter – She shares how identifying her number one value (growth!) changed everything.

Motherhood shifts your mindset – From working smarter to prioritising legacy and impact, Anaïs explains how becoming a parent made her even more focused and driven.

Success isn’t one-size-fits-all – Titles and salaries aren't the only benchmarks. Anaïs encourages listeners to ask: What does success mean to me, now?

Networking is like gardening – It's not about instant results. It’s about planting seeds, nurturing relationships, and being consistent.

Seasonality matters – Whether it’s sleepless nights or shifting priorities, Anaïs shares why recognising the “seasons” of life and career is key to staying resilient.

Why You Should Listen:

Juggling motherhood and career? This episode is your reminder that it’s possible to build a career around your values, your family, and your definition of success. Whether you're returning to work, considering a pivot, or just need a boost, this conversation offers the clarity and encouragement you’ve been looking for.

Show Links:

Connect with Anaïs here

Visit her website here

Find Anaïs on Instagram here

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

In this week's Work it Like a Mum Podcast episode, we speak with Karen Arndt, an accomplished media, tech, and marketing leader turned legal tech disruptor. Karen co-founded WhatWouldAJudgeSay.com, a groundbreaking platform helping couples in England and Wales get clear, judge-led insight into how their finances would be split in a divorce, without going to court or paying extortionate legal fees.

With a career that’s taken her from Amsterdam to Tokyo, New York to Berlin, and now back to Yorkshire, Karen shares how her professional journey and personal experience inspired her mission to modernise and humanise divorce.

What We Cover

• Why court should be your last resort
  
  
• How to handle financial disclosure without a meltdown
  
  
• What’s actually in the marital pot (yes, even gifts)
  
  
• Why your solicitor isn’t your strategy
  
  
• How to build your “Team You”
  
  
• Keeping kids and cash separate
  
  
• What to do right now to protect yourself

Key Takeaways

You don’t need a £500/hr solicitor- you need clarity and calm

Form E is brutal- but doable with support

Pensions, crypto, debt- it all counts

Courts are slow, expensive, and traumatic- avoid if you can

Most divorces take 12–18 months- longer if you wing it

Get a grip on your finances spending, and credit now

Don’t try to do it alone- build your team

Divorce is emotional and financial chaos. This episode cuts through the noise with straight-talking advice on what really matters when separating: money, mindset, and staying out of court.

🎧 Listen if you're lying awake wondering:

“Am I protected?”
“How do I start?”
“Am I being too kind... or too harsh?”

Show Links:

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Connect with Karen here

Visit the ‘What a judge would say’ website here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!

Send us a text

In this bonus episode of Work It Like a Mum, I’m joined by brilliant career advancement coach Leanne Cooper to help you raise your profile, grow your influence, and unlock opportunities—whether you’re ready for a new challenge or laying the groundwork for a future move.

Summer break is around the corner, and while the pace of life slows down for many, it can be the perfect time to pause and assess your career progress.

This is the third session of our Momentum Masterclass Series, a six-week programme designed to help you maintain momentum in career growth and job search throughout the slower-paced summer months.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

- Create a standout LinkedIn profile that positions you for promotion or your next role
- Network with intention—online and offline—without feeling awkward or salesy
- Build a powerful personal brand that opens doors to opportunities (without burnout)
- Position yourself as the go-to expert in your field
- Take control of your visibility and influence in the job market

A few key takeaways:

Building a Purposeful Network and why it matters.

How to Craft Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn and Why it's the foundation of your career success.

Unlocking Hidden Opportunities with the power of networking.

Transform Your Mindset for the key to a show-stopping career.

Surround Yourself with Success. You can't be what you can't see, so get inspired!

Show Links:

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Connect with Leanne here

Learn more about Leanne’s work here

Boost your career with Investing in Women's Career Coaching! Get expert CV, interview, and LinkedIn guidance tailored for all career stages. Navigate transitions, discover strengths, and reach goals with our personalised approach. Book now for your dream job! Use 'workitlikeamum' for a 10% discount.

Support the show

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode!

Follow us on Instagram.

Join over 1 million customers and counting who are saving money on their household bills with Utility Warehouse. Discover how much you can save here.

And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!