A book, like a film or a magazine, is all about lots of people coming together to create something. So while I’m the voice of this story, there are many people to thank for helping to bring Work Like a Woman to life.
First up, my co-writer Megan Lloyd Davies. My trust in her talent enabled me to fly.
Dr Wendy Hein, lecturer in marketing at Birkbeck College, whose research expertise in gender, marketing and organizations helped make sense of facts and provided me with new thought-provoking information.
My editors Doug Young and Andrea Henry: thank you for the patient, talented take on the manuscript – and brilliant ideas on how to make my words sing all the louder.
Then there are those I spoke to who generously gave me their time to talk through everything from childcare and legislation to their experiences in the workplace.
Sarah-Jane Marsh, CEO of the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust, is a woman after my own heart: funny, gutsy and driven. Neil Carberry, chief executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, and Mary-Clare Race, chief creative officer of Mind Gym, also provided valuable insights into how to create culture change in business. Ruby Peacock, of the Federation of Small Businesses, also filled me in on the challenges facing female entrepreneurs.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, Megan Jarvie, head of policy and communications at the Family and Childcare Trust, and Liz Bayram, chief executive at the Professional Association for Childcare & Early Years, also spoke to me. All these organizations are doing critical work to both provide and improve the childcare available to us all – and campaign to make things better. I salute you all.
Lisa Unwin, of She’s Back, talked eloquently of the challenges facing women returning to work after taking time out to care, and I love that she’s tackling this vital issue so passionately – and practically.
Nelly Murenzi is a bright, fabulous woman who spoke to me so intelligently about the challenges she’s faced that I was tempted to try and persuade her to switch careers for one in retail. Kate Nowlan, chief executive of CiC, told me about the award-winning work she’s done to make work flexible for her employees. Good on you, Kate.
Leon Barron, a senior lecturer in forensic science at King’s College London, spoke to me about combining care with being a father. We need more men like you.
Peter Godsell, who looks after HR for Ford in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Kevin Clarkson, who runs the Ford Parents Network, also spoke to me about what they’re doing in a huge business to better integrate work and family life. Thank you all for your time and insights.
And then my homies. The rock-steady crew who were always there, believing in me, but always letting me know if I was talking absolute bull.
Melanie Rickey. Caireen Wackett. Abi Sangster. Gemma Nightingale. Eugenie Furniss. Sally Wray. Vicky Palmer. Ella Horne. Women of strength, courage, kindness and a wicked sense of humour. Together we will change the world of work.