Returning to work after maternity leave can feel overwhelming.
Juggling career ambitions with new responsibilities while navigating systems that weren't always designed with working parents in mind.
This workshop will help you understand the challenges you're facing and equip you with practical strategies to thrive, not just survive.
We'll explore the systemic barriers that can work against returning mothers. From inflexible working cultures to inadequate parental leave policies and childcare gaps.
Then we'll focus on what you can control: letting go of the "perfect mother" myth and the "shoulds" that drain your energy; rebalancing the domestic and mental load at home using evidence-based approaches like the Fair Play Method; protecting your wellbeing by prioritising joy over endless to-do lists; and building your support network through coaching, workplace ERGs, and community connections.
Clarity on which battles to fight and which standards to drop, plus actionable strategies to reclaim your time, energy, and ambition.
Anyone preparing for or navigating their return to work after having children, or supporting someone who is.


Women’s Leadership and Parental Transition Coach
Helen Mason is a women’s leadership coach with a strong focus on supporting working mothers. She addresses the main leak in the female leadership pipeline - when women become parents. This drop-off significantly affects gender diversity at senior levels. An advocate for seeing more women in positions of power, Helen empowers her clients to confidently navigate the gendered challenges of the workplace, overcome ‘mum guilt,’ and step into leadership with authenticity and resilience.
In addition to her individual coaching work, Helen is a certified Systemic Team Coach and facilitator. She believes in the power of collective impact over individual effort and uses systemic approaches to help teams build trust, align around shared goals, and perform at their best.
Helen began her career in marketing within the veterinary sector, including roles focused on livestock technology and ruminant vaccines. She now lives near Milton Keynes with her husband, their two young children, and their spaniels, Stella and Milly.
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