Let’s make it work baby – the fabulous Catherine Brooks

Let’s make it work baby – the fabulous Catherine Brooks

Catherine Brooks

Catherine Brooks is a Principal of Moores (a Melbourne law firm), workplace relations and child safety expert and author of the new book Let’s Make it Work Baby: A Kick-Arse Guide to Personal and Professional Success for New Parents. It was an absolute delight catching up with Catherine to chew the fat on flexibility and to chat about her new book. We know you will gain some great tips from this conversation, and you can also purchase the book via Amazon or leave a review of this podcast and be in the running for a give-away of the hard copy version (listen to the podcast for inspiration and instructions)! For more tips, you can also follow Catherine on Instagram @letsmakeitworkbaby

Carolyn & Priscilla – Absolutely Fabulous in their own way!

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It’s a Friday lunchtime.  We could be at the gym, we could be reading a book, we could be running around crazy, performing any number of juggling acts, like most days, oh yes, and we could be at work…  but instead we are  drinking champagne, eating delicious food from The Mabel, and chewing the fat on flexibility. 

The fact that we each have the flexibility to do so is worth celebrating, but for single mums, Carolyn and Priscilla, flexibility is not a luxury but a necessity.    

Carolyn and Priscilla join us to chew the fat on the flexibility it takes to raise a child on your own – from deciding how many days to work once the kids are at school, to learning how to stop and smell the roses (roses?), to being able to ask for help, to feeling like you are not alone… and then there’s the conversation about … oh, that’s right, we had pressed stop by then thank goodness!  There was a limit on the warts and all… just!

Carolyn and Priscilla are both human resource champions.  They have both managed  and developed their careers whilst raising their children, sought out the flexibility they needed, and very much kept their sense of humour throughout.  They shared with us openly and candidly their challenges, what they wish they had known and what they do to make the juggle work for them.  We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.  Thanks Carolyn and Priscilla for your generosity, openness and for the ripsnorter laughs. 

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Thanks to the Mabel for a great lunch.

Finding Your Balance

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It’s a pleasure to bring you the altogether fabulous Jo Stevens.  Jo is someone who is ridiculously talented, hard working, courageous, smart, delightful and effortlessly classy.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Jo for over 8 years now and she helped me pass the dreaded Performance Management Class at Uni – I’m forever grateful Jo!  

Jo and her gorgeous partner Jamie, have a little guy Alfie and some ups and downs along the way which Jo talks about which will break your heart.  We want to acknowledge and thank Jo for sharing her heartfelt story with us, her candour, raw honesty, yet gentle and exploratory way of embracing life, hurdles and all that she shared was truly humbling for me.

Her approach to flexibility, pursuing life and passions and sharing the family load is gorgeous.  She’s considered, smart, breathtakingly refreshing in her pursuit of life.

I take my hat of to you Jo Stevens, you amazing Lady.  Knowing you professionally was an honour, but to have a journey with you into some of your most sacred world and for sharing it with us, was truly special, I sincerely thank you.

Ladies and Gents, the amazing Jo Stevens.

The Monks’ Word ….

The delightful, talented, clever Andy Monk joins us to discuss his views on flexibility.

WARNING: He has an infectious laugh, with gorgeous dimples (seems to be a Monk Family thing) a brain that is amazing and a down to earth good bloke persona.  He’s clever, manages several business, is the Chair of Australian Organic, an Adjunct Associate Professor, has two gorgeous kids who he is the primary carer for, what can we say, he’s an all around good guy!

This episode is punctuated by no vino sadly, but we gladly scoffed cups of tea, apple slice, custard tarts, lamingtons, cheese and crackers – an interesting combination!

His views are refreshing, we talk about how to challenge the work status quo, blokes crashing the morning coffee after the school drop-off, the importance of networking, the mindset of flexibility and who are the hardest, most productive and effective employees?

My Work Wife

Jane & Jo have joined us for this special edition and talk about their work journey through working full-time, having a family, maternity leave, returning to work and finally their magnificent job-share arrangement.

It is a cracking interview of really inspiring and dedicated women who have carved a wonderful and rewarding path for themselves.  We recorded this lovely interview over a vino or two, please excuse the background noise.

Enjoy!