Working Mumma

MUM STORY: Why becoming a mum made her more career-driven with Jordanne Collins

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Jordanne Collins, a working mum with her own web design company, and we explore the challenges, surprises, and joys of balancing motherhood and a career.
Jordanne shares how becoming a mother has changed her perceptions and priorities, making her more career-driven than ever before. She relishes the opportunity to show her children that they don't have to conform to societal expectations and can pursue their passions while making a positive impact on the world.
The conversation delves into the common guilt experienced by working moms, with Jordanne acknowledging that even though she loves her work, she still wrestles with the feeling of needing to give more to her children. She emphasizes the importance of defining one's own version of success and demonstrating to her kids that they can create their own paths in life.
Jordanne also discusses the benefits of finding a sustainable pace, taking time for self-care, and building relationships with other women entrepreneurs. She shares her strategies for slowing down and finding inspiration.
This episode offers an inspiring glimpse into the life of a working mum who has discovered her purpose, challenged societal norms, and found fulfillment by pursuing her career alongside motherhood. It serves as a reminder that being a working mum is a testament to the strength, efficiency, and the power to redefine success on your own terms.
 
Connect with Jordanne Website: jordanne.co
Instagram: @jordanne.co
 
Connect with Carina at Working Mumma
Free resource:  '3 steps to sharing the mental load' 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma 
Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
Website: workingmumma.com.au

MUM STORY: Finding Identity and Purpose in Motherhood with Leslie Carvitto

In this episode, I chat with Leslie Carvitto, a persona brand and lifestyle photographer, who became a mum in 2022 and currently navigating the juggle of being a business owner whilst raising a tiny human. 
Leslie shares her challenges and joys of motherhood and returning back to work in her own business after she became a mum. Work for Leslie was an anchor, providing a sense of purpose and identity amidst the changes of motherhood. The nature of her work meant that she was able to slowly ease her way back, but also allowed her to take on her first job 6-week postpartum. 
We also talk about a topic that isn't often spoken about and that's the conflicting and complicated emotions of motherhood. From feeling content and privileged, to longing for uninterrupted time and pre-baby life. The relentlessness of parenting, both physically and mentally, and the absence of a pause button are acknowledged. Leslie openly shares the identity shift that she has experienced and the impact on her both personally and professionally and the important role community plays.  
If you are a new mum or recently returned to work after maternity leave, this is a very relatable episode for you. 
 
Wanting to rebalance the mental load? Check out the free resource '3 steps to sharing the mental load'. 
 
Connect with Leslie
Follow Leslie on Instagram @lesliecarvitto.photography and her website www.lesliecarvitto.com
 
Connect with Carina at Working Mumma
Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma 
Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
Website: workingmumma.com.au
 

How the mental load impacts gender equality and working mums

The mental load is an issue that affects many mothers and women, resulting in burnout, stress, and anxiety. It regularly comes up as a key challenge for working mothers. 
In this episode, I look at what exactly is the mental load and some of it's features. It is invisible and will look different for everyone; as I share, it changes daily. Rather than giving you clear strategies (i.e. outsourcing) for managing the mental load, I look at the impacts and influences of the mental load to bring a new perspective into the conversation. 
I also share the idea of a MVT - Minimum Viable Task - the minimum tasks you need to do for your household to function and what you and your partner need to do for this to be a reality. 
Women spend nine hours a week more than men on unpaid work and care than men. This has impacts on women's mental health, and wellbeing and it has a ripple effect on organisations and gender equality.
When we talk about the mental load, it’s often referred to as a female topic, but this just highlights the issue and influence it has on gender equality. I am of the view that a contributing factor to gender equality is how well people share the mental load at home.
Organisations also have a role to play in supporting the mental load for both working parents through flexible work and hybrid work approaches and I discuss the influence of this relating to gender equality.
I also share some key observations and tips regarding mental load and encourage you to download the free mental load checklist to help you review the mental load between you and your partner. 
Download the free resource '3 steps to sharing the mental load'. 
 
Connect with Carina at Working Mumma
If you are looking for community, resources, and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au

Understanding childcare subsidy changes

In this solo episode, I go through the upcoming changes to childcare subsidy (CCS) in Australia. The childcare subsidy is a government-funded financial assistance program that helps families with the (increasing) cost of childcare. On July 10, 2023, some changes will be made to the program that provide better support to parents, and in this podcast, I'll explore what these changes are, why they are happening, and what you need to do to benefit from them.
 
Links to websites I have referenced in the podcast:
Service Australia website
Starting Blocks Childcare subsidy calculator
Link to ACCC survey on childcare price and availability (open 18 April - 31 May)
 
Connect with Carina at Working Mumma
If you are looking for community, resources, and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Strengthening Your Mindset with AJ Davis

Have you ever experienced mum guilt? Do you find yourself catching yourself sounding like your mum? You aren't alone. 
In this episode, I speak with mindset coach and rapid transformation therapist, AJ Davis, about navigating mindsets and beliefs to create a happier and healthier life. We discuss the impact of our beliefs from how we have been influenced by society & our parents, and how to challenge and transform limiting beliefs to break negative patterns. AJ Davis also shares practical tips for managing mindset and beliefs in day-to-day situations.
Some key takeaways from the episode:
Our beliefs and mindset have a significant impact on our confidence and we are able to be in control of this and change the story 
By challenging and transforming limiting beliefs you can break negative patterns and create a happier and healthier life and parenting experience
How you can flip your mindset to change your beliefs 
Why the outcome is not success 
The value in building up an evidence file of positive stories - helps with building our confidence and self-belief 
It's important to be aware of the impact of our beliefs and to be conscious about passing them on to the next generation
The different between big T and little T trauma and how we can navigate this 
We need to practice self-compassion and accept that we will pass on some things to our children can help us navigate the challenges of parenting
This is a great episode that will leave you reflecting on why you think and behave in different circumstances based on previous experiences in your life. You can change the story and AJ explain how you can do this. 
 
Connect with AJ David on Instagram @aj.mindcoach or her website changeyourthoughts.com.au
 
Connect with Carina at Working Mumma
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au

How to build a successful portfolio career with Ellen Hooper

Enjoy part two of my chat with Ellen Hooper on building a successful portfolio career. By definition, a portfolio career is when you have several unrelated jobs. Portfolio careers give you the opportunity to craft a future to help explore interests outside of your "traditional" role. Ellen has a job share position as the Head of People & Culture at a community bank, her own business the Growth Collective, and exploring board positions. 
This is an interesting chat to explore the opportunities of job sharing and how you can look at this for your own career. 
We chat about: 
* Benefits of a portfolio career
* Opportunity for wealth creation with multiple sources of income 
* The value of financial independence 
* Importance of setting boundaries 
 
About Ellen Hooper
Ellen Hooper does lots of things. She's a mum of two, an executive coach, the Co-Founder of The Growth Collective who specialise in workshops and training for new and emerging leaders, and the Chief People Officer at a community-owned bank, a role that she job-shares..
 
Connect with Ellen
On LinkedIn or Instagram @ellen.hooper.consulting and her website growthcollective.com.au
 
Connect with Working Mumma
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au
 

How to navigate job sharing with Ellen Hooper

Ever wondered about the benefits and opportunities that can come about through job sharing? In this episode with Ellen Hooper I discuss job sharing, the benefits, tips, and strategies to make it a successful partnership and arrangement between yourself, your job share partner, and your organisation. Ellen is experienced in job sharing and will share her career journey and how she started working with her business partner in a job share arrangement. 
This is the first of two episode with Ellen and the second is episode 93 on portfolio career. 
Ellen Hooper does lots of things. She's a mum of two, an executive coach, the Co-Founder of The Growth Collective who specialise in workshops and training for new and emerging leaders and the Chief People Officer at a community owned bank, a role that she job-shares..
 
Connect with Ellen
On LinkedIn or Instagram @ellen.hooper.consulting and her website growthcollective.com.au
 
Connect with Working Mumma
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au

Recovering from Parental Burnout: Strategies and Support with Lisa Dillon

Burnout is a topic that many people have experienced, and increasingly over the past 3 years. In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Dillon, a Public Health Postdoctoral Research Fellow.  
In this episode, Lisa explains the definition of parental burnout, which is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that one feels from the chronic stress of parenting. Unlike work burnout, parental burnout is a 24/7 job, and parents can't escape from their parenting responsibilities to recharge.
The statistics show that two-thirds of parents in paid work experience burnout, with 68% of mothers and 42% of fathers experiencing it. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem due to the lack of support and the need for parents to be 'always on' and everything from parent to teacher to sports coach and more.
Lisa discusses the different stages of parental burnout that if left unaddressed, parental burnout can lead to feelings of inefficacy, cynicism, and ultimately, depression. She also highlights the risk factors that increase the chances of experiencing parental burnout, such as being a single parent, having children with disabilities, experiencing mental illness, being isolated, and having perfectionist tendencies. 
Lisa and I both share our experiences and insights about the triggers and symptoms of parental burnout, including the pressure to do everything perfectly and the exhaustion of juggling work and childcare. We talk about how finding support, letting go of unrealistic societal expectations, and prioritizing self-care can help parents recover from burnout. Lisa shares the analogy of differentiating between glass and plastic balls to manage workload.
Parental burnout is a real and pressing issue that affects many working parents. However, as Lisa shares tips and advice, with the right strategies and support, it is possible to prevent and manage burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
If you need support from this episode, please reach out to COPE or your GP to support. 
 
Connect with Lisa
Connect with Lisa on Instagram @drlisa.researcher
Connect with Working Mumma
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au

Overcoming judgment as a working mum with Christie Nicholas, founder Mumpower

Working mums often feel judged – it could be their decision to want to have a career and be a mum, the hours they work, the time they spend with children, the decision to send their children to childcare, meals prepared, and the list goes on. Christie Nicholas and her marketing agency, Mumpower, recently conducted a study with Australian mums with some scary results. They found that 82% of mums feel judged, with 65% of mums who feel judged saying they are judged by other mums. 
In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Christie about the impact when women feel judged, the key factors that are causing this, discuss ideas on how to overcome judgment and the importance of having confidence in ourselves to cut out the noise and back ourselves.
 We talk about:
* The shift in marketing to mums over the past 13 years 
* The role of social media in brands buying journey and the positive & negative impacts this has on women, especially mothers
* Reasons why mums are feeling judged and it's not what you might think
* Impacts on feeling judged and how this has a flow on effect to our family 
* What we can do when we are feeling judged 
* Why mums are an amazing asset to any business
* The importance of shorting our stories as working mums to talk opening about the challenges of having a family and following our career aspirations 
* Why the rise of Tik Tok may have a positive impact 
* What Christie would tell herself as a younger mum 
I really enjoyed this insightful and engaging conversation with Christie. 
 
Connect with Christie & Mumpower: 
Website: mumpower.com.au
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christie-nicholas-33842414
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839544269574490
Instagram: @mumpower_au
 
Connect with Working Mumma
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. 
As always, I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma  or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au
 
 

Less Cupcakes, More Action: Tackling Gender Equality for Working Mums

There are many different themes for International Women's Day 2023 to highlight gender equality and how far we are away from it. Rather than just talking about what the issues are, in this podcast I share with you some strategies and actions that both individuals and organisations can take to make incremental changes to help move the needle in a positive direction. 
What would you like to see change and improve? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode and what ideas you have. 
 
In this episode I talk about:
* Why we need to support women going on maternity leave so they feel engaged and have a positive return to work experience. This group of women are often forgotten about but when this journey is well managed it potentially can support having female leaders. 
* Value of creating a community 
* Why we need to #sharetheload in the home to create equality and this has a ripple effect into organisations, along with greater sharing of caring responsibilities between both parents 
* Providing flexible work options and it isn't a one size fits all approach 
* Value of gender-neutral leave policies and why we need to pay superannuation on parental leave
* Importance of affordable childcare to support female workforce participation 
* Mental load in the workplace 
* Why you should engage your employee in creating policies and frameworks regarding your DE&I strategy 
* Reminder that it is ok to ask for help 
 
Lastly, please don't assume women will have all the answers. Yes, we are great at problem-solving, but gender equity of a societal program and we are trying to overcome literally hundreds of years of patriarchal systems. The goal is clear and we all need to work together. 
 
If you have an idea, please have the confidence to speak up, and if your company does not want to listen, well as Annabel Crabb said this week "anyway, don't work for dickheads".
 
 
If you are looking for community and support as a working mum, check out the Working Mumma Village digital membership workingmumma.com.au/working-mumma-village. Use the code VILLAGE10 to get a 10% discount on your membership. 
I'd like to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-mumma or Instagram @workingmummacommunity and check out the Working Mumma website workingmumma.com.au