Date started: June 2017
Website: leadersplus.org.uk
Twitter: @Leaders_Plus
Location: London

Founder Verena Hefti believes no one should have to choose between career progression and parenting. During her own maternity leave, she was struck by the evidence that having a child is significantly detrimental to a woman’s career. A pilot event bringing together people who were both loving parents and passionate about their careers, demonstrated clear demand for changing the status quo.

She founded Leaders Plus, a positive movement for change enabling talented parents with young children to continue to develop their leadership careers via peer support and mentorship. Baby-inclusive workshops focus on career progression while looking after young children and managing work-life balance.

An event hosted by patron Tulip Siddiq MP, brought 60 leaders with 45 babies to the House of Commons to listen to inspirational role models, such as Funke Abimbola MBE, relate their own experiences of combining children and careers.

A new Career Development Fellowship provides interventions to overcome barriers at a time when women are often encouraged by society to take a step back. Currently developing a pledge for employers to sign up to support leaders with babies, Leaders Plus is making an essential contribution to gender equality.