Return to Work
Women’s Circle
Returning to work after extended leave can be an exciting time for many women but it can also present unanticipated challenges and conflicting emotions which can lead to feelings of isolation, shame and self-doubt. Too often, this results in many women not seeing the value they bring and getting the recognition they deserve for it. Many end up changing organisations as they don’t feel they fit in anymore or they felt their organisation didn’t support them on their return. Sadly, too many women step away from a corporate career completely because they feel don’t have any other choice. Things are too different from how they were before they left.
It is great that more organisations are offering support to women on their return but these tend to focus on external factors like upskilling, market trends and mentoring. Based on what I was hearing from friends and clients, what women really needed was a space to regain a sense of who they really are at this stage of their life and career. A space to bridge the gap between who they want to be at home and who they want to be at work.
Programme Aims
- Creating an independent space for women returners to navigate the emotional experience of returning to work provides a rare but invaluable opportunity to reset, and start this new chapter with a clearer sense of identity, of what value they bring and how to ask for what they need
- Fostering a sense of community among women with shared experiences is an underused source of power for the greater good because when women feel less isolated and work together, everyone wins!
- The programme themes intentionally include content from The Way Home Consulting’s leadership programme so that women return to work with strengthened leadership capabilities
- The programme can harness tangible anonymous feedback to inform and empower organisations to create or enhance policies and procedures which enhance their employee experience using the insights gained from the programme
- Investing in retaining women makes great business sense in terms of more balanced, equitable leadership teams, inclusivity, attracting talent and nurturing a people-centred culture
Who Is It For?
- Professional women returning to work after extended leave e.g. maternity, long-term illness, caring for children or other dependents. This includes women who have returned in the last 12 months and are finding it difficult to stay
- Women from all industries, locations, roles and experience levels are welcome
- Programme enrolment will be on a first-come, first-served, voluntary basis and limited to 8 women. Women can enrol privately or be enrolled by their organisations
- Opportunity for organisations to enrol returners on an independent programme designed to support and empower the individual woman as well as increase engagement and retention rates for the organisation and harness that woman’s real potential
What’s Included?
- Strengthscope® assessment
Strengthscope® is a strengths-based assessment which measures what gives people energy across 24 performance areas. It is the only strengths-based assessment which has British Psychological Society test registration status. It is designed to help people identify what makes them truly unique, enabling honest and authentic conversations. It empowers them to develop and stretch their strengths, as well as productively overcome blockers to their performance. Read more about Strengthscope here - 2 x 1:1 online coaching session (90 minutes)
– 1 x pre-programme session to review Strengthscope® assessment and set goals for the programme or the return
– 1 x post-programme session to review goal achievement and make a plan for the way ahead - 6 x monthly online group coaching sessions (90 mins)
- Programme workbook and coaching exercises, group coaching slide decks
- Optional: tripartite online coaching session with returner and her performance manager facilitated by me, the programme coach
When Is It?
- Fridays 10.00 – 11.30
- Session 1: 26 September 2025
- Session 2: 17 October 2025
- Session 3: 07 November 2025
- Session 4: 28 November 2025
- Session 5: 09 January 2026
- Session 6: 30 January 2026
Individual 1:1 sessions will be scheduled separately
Why Choose This Programme?
I am an ICF-accredited parental transition coach as well as a leadership coach. I have previously held roles as a commercial solicitor, a project manager on construction sites and a certified change manager supporting organisations. I understand the challenges faced by women in the workplace and I am deeply passionate about supporting them to lead with authenticity and advocate for healthier organisational cultures for everyone.
I am not interested in box-ticking so this programme will be raw, real and lots of fun! Through the content, tools and insights from women on the return transition journey together, women will feel supported and energised to give themselves permission to feel, think and do what they want – finally!!!
%
of those women returners who don’t feel supported by their organisation on their return will leave their job within 1 year (From Labour Ward to Labour Force Report, November 2024). Organisations who have women on their leadership teams are 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability (McKinsey). Therefore, it makes business sense for attraction, retention and profitability to invest in structures and cultures which support women, the majority of whom have caring responsibilities.
This programme borrows content from my women in leadership programme which helps returners to develop their authentic leadership style and return to work with more assertiveness and authority.
