Episode 224: Debunking the Work-Life Balance Myth with Laura Pollock, Founding Partner, Third Street Partners

Most of us know the stress of multiple commitments: family, work, relationships/marriage, domestic responsibilities, aging parents, special needs care, and the list goes on. Some or all of these factors can have a compounding effect on women in the workplace resulting in burnout. Today’s guest, Laura Pollock, shares her work-life journey and how approaching 50 opened her eyes. As a Founding Partner of Third Street Partners, a lot of her children's youngest years coincided with growing her company. She shares stories with us of what she has learned along the way about mom guilt and raising three girls to be strong women. But most importantly, how having a great life partner (in Laura's case, her husband) helped her manage it all.  Laura believes in the power of having tough conversations and speaking up for yourself. She started her company with the mission of adding value to clients and continues with that motivation today. She can relate to the sacrifice many people have to make to further their careers. Finally, learn from Laura about her experiences working with her own mentors and the importance of nurturing your relationships. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Laura. Highlights:  [02:23] Working in a male-dominated industry  [05:51] How to handle questions you don’t know how to answer  [09:38] Knowing your value as you reach middle age  [11:28] Figuring out what you want to do when you grow up  [19:27] Making difficult decisions  [26:42] Dealing with mom guilt   [31:56] Identifying mentors  [43:45] Lightning round questions  Quotes: “The closer you get to 50, you realize that the top of the roller coaster really isn’t a steep drop.” – Laura Pollock “You should always stand up for yourself, no matter how uncomfortable.” – Laura Pollock “Your mentors help provide scaffolding, but scaffolding only works if you’re willing to let it surround you.” – Laura Pollock Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Rabbit LIstened” by Cori Doerrfeld What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you get. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Fearless What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  I hired a housekeeper. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Respect” by Aretha Franklin About Laura Pollock: Laura is the founding partner of Third Street Partners and serves as a strategic advisor to leading asset management firms and their top performing executives. Leveraging over twenty years of asset management experience at both large firms and boutiques she built Third Street anchored in the industry’s best practices, her trusted relationships and exceptional network. She works with global investment management organizations to provide a hands-on, rigorous and collaborative approach to sourcing and retaining high-quality talent, including talent-related M&A activity for firms and in-house teams and sourcing front-office roles. Her mission with Third Street is to support clients’ long-term business and growth objectives through talent strategy advisory and execution. Before starting Third Street Partners in 2013, Laura was a partner at David Barrett Partners and was a senior member of the asset and wealth management practice at Russell Reynolds Associates in Boston and New York. Laura graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky. Links: Website: https://www.thirdstreetpartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapollock/