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74,000 mothers lose their jobs every year. In 2020, I was one of them.
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Elizabeth Willetts shared this“It looks perfect on paper.” And yet… it doesn’t feel right. I hear this all the time. Successful women. Great roles. Good salaries. But something’s off. Because the version of success they worked towards… Doesn’t fit their life anymore. In this week’s Work It Like A Mum podcast, I sat down with Get Ahead's Natasha Doran, who walked away from a 20-year corporate career in insurance. A career most people would call “perfect”. But behind the scenes? There was doubt. Fear of the unknown. And that constant question: “Is this actually what I want?” One thing she said really stuck with me: Ambition isn’t always about the next promotion. Sometimes it’s about: → Working around school hours → Having flexibility → Building something that fits your life → And still doing work you’re proud of But here’s the bit people don’t talk about enough: You don’t figure it all out overnight. Natasha tried different paths. Explored different options. Questioned everything. Because real career change doesn’t look like a straight line. It looks messy. And sometimes… you have to try something before you know if it’s right. If you’ve ever looked at your career and thought: “This should feel better than it does…” This episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Have you ever stayed in something because it looked “right” on paper? Let us know in the comments 👇 ❤️ Because success should actually feel like success
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Elizabeth Willetts shared this“Free energy?” Honestly… who doesn’t want that right now? Had such a brilliant day at the Surrey Business Expo this week with my fellow Utility Warehouse Partner, the lovely Sarah Winterflood. And it turns out, talking about saving money on bills is a very popular conversation these days. No convincing needed. Because right now, people don’t want: More stuff. More subscriptions. More pressure. They just want their money to go a bit further. And that’s exactly what we were sharing. How people can: → Lower their household bills → Get cashback on everyday spending → And yes… even work towards things like free energy It still makes me smile that I get to talk about this now. Helping people save money on things they’re already paying for anyway. If you’ve been meaning to look at your bills properly… Or just want to see if you could be paying less… Drop me a message - happy to take a look for you too. 💬
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Elizabeth Willetts shared this75% of mothers still feel that choosing flexibility means the end of their leadership dreams. Emma Grede’s recent comments calling work-from-home 'career suicide' have sparked a massive debate. She argues that 'proximity to decision-makers' is the only way to get ahead. But is that actually true? Or is it just a sign of outdated leadership? ❌ Proximity doesn’t equal performance. ❌ Being in the room doesn’t guarantee results. ❌ Choosing your kids shouldn’t mean choosing the exit. If your boss needs to see you sitting in a chair to believe you’re working, you don’t have a flexibility problem. You have a trust problem. We need to stop punishing people for working differently. We need leaders who measure the value brought to the table, not the hours spent at the desk. Agree? Or is 'proximity' really the only way to get promoted in 2026? Let me know your thoughts in the comments 👇
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisI’m not going to lie… I love a sticker chart. 😂 And apparently, so do the kids. This is the one we’ve got on the wall at home right now - tracking our points towards a free family holiday courtesy of Utility Warehouse. Every time I get a point for helping someone save on their bills, they’re straight over with a sticker. Honestly, they’re more invested in it than I am. We’re currently on countdown to (hopefully) Antalya 🤞 And I still find it slightly surreal that this is something we’re working towards… Just from helping people save money on their bills. In the pockets of time I already had. It’s funny - when I first saw this, I thought it sounded a bit far-fetched. Now it’s a full family event every time a new sticker goes up. Not bad for something that fits around school runs, work and normal life. If you like the idea of earning your next holiday… And you secretly love a sticker chart too… Drop me a message to learn more. 💬
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisThe gender pay gap isn’t just closing slowly. It’s moving at a glacial pace. At the current rate, it will take another 30 years to close in the UK. And a staggering 123 years worldwide. That’s way too long. The problem? The "Flexibility Ceiling." We’ve made flexibility common at entry levels. But at the top? It’s still a 9-to-5 (or 8-to-8) grind. This forces far too many brilliant women (and men) to choose: → Their career progression. → Or their family. When leadership roles aren't flexible, we lose talent. We lose diversity. And we keep the pay gap wide open. The solution isn't complicated: ✅ Offer part-time leadership roles. ✅ Normalise job-sharing at the C-Suite level. ✅ Focus on outcomes, not desk time. The business case is clear. Diverse leadership = Better company performance. Flexibility at the top isn’t a "nice to have." It’s a business necessity. Are you ready to break the flexibility ceiling? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 👇
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisI didn’t join Utility Warehouse because I was passionate about utilities (I mean, who is 🤣) I joined because our mortgage had just gone up by £800 a month. From the outside, everything looked fine. Nice house. Nice car. Good jobs. But behind the scenes? We were putting the last couple of food shops on the credit card. Hoping nothing unexpected would come up. And feeling that constant, quiet pressure in the background of everything. We weren’t struggling. But we weren’t comfortable either. And if I’m honest… that middle ground is exhausting. I didn’t want another job. I didn’t want to sacrifice more time with the kids. I just needed something that could give us a bit more breathing room. So when I came across Utility Warehouse, I was curious. We were already customers, saving money on our own utility bills. And the idea of helping other people do the same - whilst earning alongside it - just made sense. But I hesitated. Because I worried about what people would think. Would they judge me? Would it look like I’d failed? Then I had a bit of a reality check. People will judge you whatever you do. So you may as well do what’s right for you. So I started. Very part-time. In the pockets of time I had. Around work, kids, life… everything. And over time, it’s grown into something I’m genuinely proud of. Not just because of the income. But because of what it’s given us: → Less pressure month to month → More options → And a sense of control I didn’t have before That’s my “why”. Not flashy. Not dramatic. Just wanting life to feel a bit easier. If that’s something you’ve been thinking about too… You’re not the only one. If you’re wondering whether this could work for you, let’s chat. 💬
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisStop calling it a "talent shortage..." It’s a flexibility shortage. 🛑 I hear it every day from employers: "We just can’t find the right people." "The market is too tight." "Nobody wants to work anymore." But when I look at their job ads? ❌ 5 days in the office. ❌ 9-to-5 (or later) expectations. ❌ Zero mention of part-time or flexible options. You aren’t struggling to find talent. You’re struggling to find people willing to sacrifice their lives for a commute. 🤷♀️ There are thousands of brilliant, highly-skilled professionals: especially mothers and carers: sitting on the sidelines. They WANT to work. They HAVE the skills you need. But they need: → To be at the school gate at 3 PM. → To avoid a 2-hour daily commute. → To be trusted to deliver on their own terms. If you aren't offering flexibility, you're fishing in a tiny pond while the ocean is right behind you. 🌊 The companies winning the "war for talent" aren't the ones with the biggest budgets. They're the ones with the most trust. Agree? Or do you think it really is a talent shortage? Let me know 👇
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisA weekend away… just because. 🥰 This summer, me and my husband are off to Amber Lakes. Food. Drinks. Entertainment. Hotel. All covered. And the best bit? Utility Partners can bring their other half, too. I remember when I first heard about things like this. I genuinely thought… “Yeah right.” But here we are. A weekend away together - without having to “work out how to afford it” - and without the kids too 🤣 And what I love most? It’s not just for a handful of people at the top. It’s normal people. Building something alongside work, kids, life… And getting rewarded for it. For me, it started as something small. Just helping a few people save money on their bills. Fitting it in around Investing in Women where I could. And over time? It’s grown into something that’s given us: → A bit more breathing room financially → Experiences we probably wouldn’t have prioritised before → And a community I genuinely love being part of I still don’t take any of it for granted. If you’ve ever looked at something like this and thought… “Surely not…” I get it. I was exactly the same. But, if you’re curious how it actually works (and fancy joining us on the next one!), drop me a message. 💬
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Elizabeth Willetts shared thisThat 5 PM meeting isn’t just a meeting. It’s an unseen barrier pushing women out of leadership. 🛑 Think about it: 5 PM is the universal "danger zone" for parents. → It’s the tea-time rush. → The childcare transition. → The start of the evening "second shift." When you schedule a critical "strategy session" or "catch-up" at 5 PM, you aren’t just being productive. You’re sending a clear message: "To lead here, you must be available when your family needs you most." It’s these small, daily exclusions that add up to a massive gender gap, throughout businesses. 💡 It’s not that women lack ambition. 💡 It’s that they’re being forced to choose between a seat at the table and their children. If we want to build inclusive teams, we have to look at the clock. ✅ Move the meeting to 10 AM. ✅ Record it for those who can’t make it. ✅ Default to asynchronous updates where possible. True leadership isn't about who stays the latest. It's about who delivers the most impact: regardless of what time they log off. Agree? Let me know your thoughts below. 👇
Elizabeth Willetts commented on a post
1h
This is brilliant and so well deserved. Huge congratulations Paula Stillman Chartered FCIPD - hope you are doing something lovely this bank holiday weekend to celebrate 🎉
Elizabeth Willetts commented on a post
6h
Huge congratulations Paula Stillman Chartered FCIPD - what a well deserved promotion. Absolutely delighted for you!
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Elizabeth Willetts liked thisElizabeth Willetts liked thisSomething amazing happened today. You know that little voice in your head — the one that nudges you to second-guess yourself, quietly whispering 'are you sure you're good enough?' — well, today I was promoted to Partner at Oxera and it told that voice to be quiet! I genuinely love this firm — the culture, the people, the work we do together. It's why I've stayed for over 20 years, and I'd do it all again without hesitation. Great organisations are built by great people, and I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by exactly that. A particularly massive thank you goes to my line manager, Deborah S. — for the unwavering support, the brilliant challenge, and honestly, for making the journey so much fun. You've been a huge part of this, and I won't forget it. Now, I'm going to pause, take a breath, and properly enjoy this moment — because milestones like this don't come around too often, and they deserve to be enjoyed!
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Elizabeth Willetts liked thisElizabeth Willetts liked thisSkiing is not a cheap endeavour (It’s also potentially dangerous, anyone else flattened their shoulder at no miles an hour recently?* 😉) Spending money abroad; buying extortionately priced pizzas, which were exceptionally average, staying hydrated and renting equipment soon took its toll. And yet, I found that I also saved 🤔 All those expenses, when paid for with my Utility Warehouse cashback card meant our energy and sims only cost us £18 in April!!! The moral of this story? We were going to spend that money anyway! (I could have potentially earned vouchers or discounts on other cards) but reducing our monthly utility bill felt like the best win 🏆 On average Utility Warehouse customers earn between £12-£35 cashback per month (depending on size of household) when they do their shopping with the cashback card, up to 10% with selected partners. This amount means you can effectively get some services for nada within that month, like a mobile Sim or a month of broadband It’s the simplest way to consistently reduce your bill (after you’ve made savings bundling services together). Interested in lowering your utility bills? I can show you how 💥 * I will stop going on about it soon
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Elizabeth Willetts liked thisElizabeth Willetts liked thisMy amazing colleague Paula Stillman Chartered FCIPD has been promoted to Partner today. As Head of HR, Paula is our trusted go-to expert on any matter involving human beings, not just professionally but also personally. After an impressive and eventful 22 years at Oxera Consulting LLP, we are looking forward to the next 22! You can hear more about Paula’s career and insights on this podcast with Elizabeth Willetts.
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Elizabeth Willetts liked thisElizabeth Willetts liked thisWhat a great start to the month 🔥🔥 Lots of small (and large) businesses would love another income stream but don’t have the time or headspace to take that on. We get it and that’s why we launched the connector programme 💪🏼 An email just before my alarm went off saying a chap I’d spoken to during the week had decided he wanted to pay less on his bills 🔥🔥 Which means £125 for me and £125 for the connector 💷💷 If you’d like to help your clients/customers pay less (so they can spend more with you) and earn extra money by a simple word of mouth referral then drop me a message.
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Elizabeth Willetts liked thisElizabeth Willetts liked thisThis week I recorded 3 client testimonial videos…and had 3 people not join my programme. Both matter. My heart is bursting after speaking to 3 incredible women who’ve just completed Accelerate and are now thriving in new roles. 🎉Seeing their growth. 🎉Celebrating their success. 🎉Hearing our work together has meant- not just for their careers, but for their whole lives. It never gets old. But at the same time… As the results and client wins rolled in, so did the conversations where we agreed: “Accelerate isn’t the right next step for you.” And that’s not a problem. That’s the standard. Because all women deserve support- but not all women are ready for mine. Not all women are ready for this level of investment, responsibility or expansion. And sometimes, I’m not the right person to support based on that persons needs. So I say it. And yes, that comes at a cost to me. It means saying no to income. It means trusting that the right women will know I’m for them. Most career coaches won’t make this trade-off. They’ll try to help everyone. They’ll dilute their message. They’ll overextend themselves. They’ll bend to fit. I’ve been there too. But I know my zone of genius. I know the woman who thrives with me. She’s ambitious, well-resourced, and already successful. ❌She doesn’t need convincing. ❌She doesn’t need carrying. ❌She’s not looking for hand-holding or quick fixes. 🔥She’s hungry for that next step and already thinking beyond it. 🔥She knows the value in future-proofing her career so she never has to question her value or be overlooked again. And I’m here for her. Only her. I know the work I’ve been put here to do. And I’m not prepared to settle. So if we’re not the right fit for whatever reason, I’ll happily refer you to a colleague when I can. And I’ll always send you on your way with genuine care because I want to see you win ❤️ And I’m just as grateful when you say no as when you say yes. Because I’m not here to chase or convince I’m not here to push or persuade. I’m here to be the obvious choice coach for the right woman. The woman who wants high level career advancement support - not saving. And for her - the idea of us not working together feels unthinkable. 🟢 2 spaces available for a May start in Accelerate. DM ACCELERATE if this feels like you.
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