Michelle Russell: The Power of Challenging Conversations

In this episode we talk with Michelle Russell, General Manager, Talent and Culture, for ANZ NZ and the Pacific. It was a special conversation recorded in the recent school holidays and a unique blend of Michelle’s story long with her observations of the workplace and what is needed to smash the motherhood penalty. She is a fierce supporter of parents continuing to grow their careers and to do it “their way”.For Michelle, ANZ has been a wonderful place to grow her career over 16 years and become a parent. She has had two experiences of returning to work after parental which we discuss including her return during the global pandemic. Michelle’s insights around the levers that are going to smash the motherhood penalty are powerful and they include disrupting the home norms of caregiving and focusing on the little things at work to help parents feel seen.Our conversation covers the above and much more:- The real FOMO of stepping out of the business for 6 months when on parental leave.- The common theme of having a partner at home or someone who supports your career.- Being “welcomed back” to work versus “just slotting back in”.- The importance of “while you away” meetings to help you feel seen. Being conscious of what has changed and letting them know. Little things can make us feel like a fish out of water.- Generous paid parental leave can minimise the penalty – Kiwisaver and leave accruing.- The power of a mentor (and conversations that Michelle has) to help you believe that youcan return to the same role – but you can do it differently. “Do it your way”.- Relationship work allocation falls into a rhythm way before having children. This dynamic needs to change from the start.- We don’t lean into the shift that needs to happen in relationships when it comes to caregiving.”- The power of Dads thinking “What could log parental leave do for my career? Not what will I miss out on.- The home norms are the game changer. Without these – policies will never be fully taken up.- Have the challenging conversations at home and it will lead to challenging conversations at work.Resources Discussed“Untamed” by Glennon DoyleConnect with EmmaThis podcast was funded by Works for Everyone, a business based in NZ and operating globally that supports working parents to stay in the leadership pipeline through coaching, workshops, and advocacy.Your host, Emma Mclean, is a mother of three teenagers, an Executive Coach and the Founder of Works for Everyone. Following a successful 25-year career in corporate marketing, Emma launched her business in 2019 to put a care wrap around working parents at the hardest time in their career.She is an Executive Coach, the recipient of the 2022 Jaguar/Viva She Sets the Pace Community Grant, alumni of the 2021 NZ Leadership Programme, and a Swiftie (a lifelong Taylor Swift fan). To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected]://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/