What if the most powerful negotiation skill isn’t talking…but listening like a life depends on it? In this jaw-dropping episode, I speak with former hostage negotiator Nigel Taberner, who’s attended over 130 high-risk incidents without a loss of life. Nigel dismantles the myths (no Jedi mind tricks here) and shows how the exact skills used in armed sieges translate to leading teams, navigating conflict, and yes, parenting a strong-willed tween.

You’ll hear how negotiators influence when there’s nothing to trade, why echoing works better than endless questioning, and the simple 60-second ritual that can transform any difficult conversation, from a boardroom showdown to a bedtime battle.

If this episode shifted how you’ll handle your next tough conversation, share it with a fellow working mum leader and tag @nickyloweleadership. Your reviews help more women find the show.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/170

Connect on LinkedIn Here

Follow on Instagram Here

Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?

Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the invisible weight of running both your home and your career, you’re not alone. The mental load - the relentless planning, remembering, and anticipating that keeps family life moving - falls disproportionately on women, and it’s leaving many of us exhausted, resentful, and stretched too thin.

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners, to uncover the truth about the mental load: what it really is, why it matters, and how we can begin to share it more equally at home. This isn’t just about fairness - it’s about creating the foundations for healthier relationships, happier families, and the space for working mums to truly thrive.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/169

Connect on LinkedIn Here

Follow on Instagram Here

Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?
Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

The school gates are calling and for working parents, that means more than buying new shoes. In this episode, I share practical, research-backed strategies to ease the back-to-school juggle, plus a powerful guide for line managers on how to support parents in their teams without losing productivity. Whether you’re navigating uniforms and lunchboxes or leading a team through this transition, you’ll walk away with tips you can use today to make September smoother, saner, and stronger.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/168

Connect on LinkedIn Here

Follow on Instagram Here

Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?
Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

In this special episode, I join Jean Gomes and Scott Allender on The Evolving Leader podcast - an acclaimed show known for deep, thought-provoking conversations with global leadership experts. We explore my journey from burnout to balance, and what it truly means to thrive as a leader, mother, and woman. A powerful conversation on mindset, wellbeing, and redefining success - without the sacrifice.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/167

Connect on LinkedIn Here

Follow on Instagram Here

Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?
Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

This summer, leadership at home matters more than ever.

In this episode,I share the real strategies keeping working parents afloat during the school holidays - not magic fixes, but practical systems that act as your sanity-saving scaffold.

Discover my top 5 family SOPs (including 3 free resources you can use right now) and learn why true leadership is about supporting yourself as much as your family. Download your free toolkit at www.luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/166 and take the pressure off this summer.

Mind feeling full? The mental load and decision fatigue are real and they’re exhausting.

In this episode, I’m joined by Vicki Tan, Pinterest’s Design Lead and author of Ask This Book a Question, to explore why our brains get overwhelmed and how to find clarity in the chaos.

We dive into the surprising power of cognitive biases, how to work with your brain (not against it), and why asking better questions can shift everything. If your head’s spinning and your to-do list won’t quit, this conversation is the pause you’ve been craving.

Whether you’re contemplating a career change, navigating motherhood, or simply figuring out what’s for dinner tonight, this episode will help you move from stuck to sure-footed.

Because every decision you make shapes who you are becoming, and sometimes, the key isn’t finding the right answer but learning to ask the right question.

Tune in to discover how Vicki’s playful yet profound book can become your new go-to decision-making companion.


🔗 More details

Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?
Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

What if your next breakthrough didn’t need to be big?

In this episode, I explore how tiny 1% shifts- known as marginal gains- can lead to extraordinary results.

You’ll hear insights from elite sport and leadership psychology, and I share how these small changes have reshaped my own life and work. Because long-term success? It often starts with something small.

If you’re a high-achieving woman craving a more sustainable way to grow, this one’s for you.

🔗 More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/164

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luminate/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickyloweleadership/


Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast?
Let’s take the conversation further. Subscribe for exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox - designed to support you in leading with confidence and living with intention.

Returning to work after having a baby is one of the most emotionally charged transitions a woman can face, and it’s one that too often goes unsupported. In this powerful episode, I am joined by business psychologist and founder of & Culture Consulting, Clare Radford, to explore the findings from her groundbreaking report, How to Support Returning Parents: From Boardroom to Babies and Back Again.

With insights drawn from nearly 400 personal stories, Clare shines a light on the unseen struggles faced by women returning from maternity leave, and what businesses must do to keep their top talent from quietly slipping away. Together, we dive into the emotional toll, the hidden biases, and the practical steps needed to build a workplace where working parents can thrive.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The emotional and psychological impact of returning to work as a parent

Why ambition doesn’t disappear with parenthood, and what organisations are missing

The five game-changing strategies every employer should implement

How self-advocacy can transform a return-to-work experience

The cost to businesses and society of getting this wrong, and the ROI of getting it right

Whether you’re a working mum preparing to return to work, an HR leader wanting to improve retention, or someone passionate about creating more humane workplaces, this episode is essential listening.

You can listen to the episode here or via itunes or spotify. Or you can find it on most other podcast platforms and apps.

Could you do me a huge favour and share this episode with two or three working mums that pop into your head as you listen? My mission is to support as many working mums on their journey as possible, and so I’d be so grateful if you supported them by offering this free podcast. I hope it’s been helpful to you, and if so, I hope you pass that on.

Please consider rating and reviewing my show. Your review can help other people find my podcast so you’ll be helping another working mum find this resource. Plus I also love to go in and read them. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to get subscribed as I don’t want you to miss out. I’m adding some exciting bonus episodes and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!