And Why a Career Break Is Not a Career Killer. With Management Consultant Tiggy Atkinson.
Today’s guest is Tiggy Atkinson, a Partner at Nine Feet Tall, a boutique management consultancy firm. Tiggy is a successful businesswoman and the board chair at Jessie May, a children’s hospice at-home charity based in the Southwest of England.
In this episode, we discuss why everyone should take more career breaks, working from home, and how COVID changed the game regarding workplace culture and getting your first Trustee Role. Tiggy also lets us in on her predictions of the future of work.
Stay tuned for another insightful and thought-provoking episode of the Work It Like A Mum Podcast.
Key Highlights
[00:01:13] Nine Feet Tall is sponsoring the episode
[00:02:56] Introduction to today’s guest: Tiggy Atkinson
[00:04:17] Tiggy’s career in project management
[00:05:20] How Tiggy fell into project management
[00:07:17] Tiggy’s chapters in her career life
[00:08:42] Her career break with her children
[00:11:31] Taking a career break and comparing herself with others going up their career ladders
[00:13:38]Reconciling the decision to leave freelancing
[00:15:10] How Tiggy found the position at Nine Feet Tall
[00:19:13] How Nine Feet Tall manages clients’ expectations with a hybrid work system
[00:23:28] Tiggy’s working days in a week
[00:24:56] Tiggy’s routine of working from home
[00:27:59] How she got involved with Jessie May
[00:32:16] Jessie May’s Trustees’ time commitment
[00:35:54] Is Jessie May a good way for somebody to get leadership experience?
[00:36:56] How Tiggy feels about work going forward
[00:40:44] Is outsourced labour cheaper?
Notable Quotes
● I believe there’s a common misconception that taking time off work can negatively impact one’s career, but in my personal experience, that hasn’t been the case. Taking time off has given me a better understanding of my personal and professional goals. If you have the chance to take a break and pursue something different, I believe it’s worth it, as we work for a significant portion of our lives.
● Sometimes, to have a few more months at home and be ready to go back to work is important for how you feel about yourself and your role as a mum.
● Having somewhere that feels like a family at work is important, and that’s not just because some of us have kids; we want it to be a place where you can be yourself, and you don’t need to put on a work hat because you can just be who you are.
● Flexible working strikes a balance between getting up, moving around, and hopefully going out, spending time with people when needed, but not wasting time sitting in traffic jams.
● Many women wait a long time to say they will go for a Trustee role, which is to their detriment. Jessie May’s insight is important, so if anyone thinks about it, go for it.
● At Jessie May, you also get to work with some brilliant people. So it’s brilliant for your own learning and development because you’re surrounded by clever people who are really committed and interesting.
Show Links
Work It Like A Mum Podcast website: Work It Like A Mum
Investing in Women Flexible Working Recruitment Website: Investing in Women
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LinkedIn: LinkedIn
To connect with Tiggy Atkinson:
LinkedIn: LinkedIn
Twitter: Twitter
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