Letty Meets... Shakira Akabusi

Gabriella (Gabby) Griffith is soon-to-be Mum of 2, freelance journalist, best-selling author and most famously: Co-Host of the brilliant podcast Big Fat Negative, created with Emma Haslett documenting the ups, downs and everything in between of trying to conceive.    Themes discussed: infertility, social attitudes to fertility, community, birth, journalism, back to work, 'one and done', being in the public eye, social media   Recorded in 2024

In our ChangeMakers series, Spring Back Guide's CEO Letty Gordon-Furse interviews leaders of exceptional organisations - all doing brilliant things to help women go back to work happy and close the gender gap, for good. On this episode, Letty met with Gether's Co-Founder Claire Waring. A Mum herself, Claire and her Co-Founder Elly Bartens created Gether - an AI powered family assistant designed to lift mental load. This AI-powered web app handles your emails, messages, events and tasks - and we at Spring Back Guide have no doubt that this will be a game changer for parents everywhere. Themes discussed: cultural parenting differences, global parenting approaches, Scandinavian culture, work life balance, femtech. Recorded in 2023.

Welcome to the third 'ChangeMakers' episode of Returnity, where I interview leaders in exceptional organisations, all doing brilliant things to help women go back to work happy and confident through innovation. Carifit's Head of Corporate Wellbeing, Zoe Johnston, takes us through a rough road to 2 babies: shaping her career from globetrotting with a corporate giant, all the way to ultimate flexibility with innovating startup.  She shares how her experiences have shaped her vision for companies to support their women's returnities better than ever.  Themes discussed: infertility, IVF, traumatic birth, miscarriage, prenatal anxiety, pandemic, flexibility. Recorded in 2023.

On this week's Letty Reflects, I reflect on my interview with Jessica Lawes, Co-Founder of the Mum Club and Mum 4.  Want to hear the whole interview? Search for Letty Meets... Jessica Lawes.

Jessica (Jess) Lawes is Co-Founder of growing phenomenon: The Mum Club. Jess is a Mum of 4 (!), and is married to England Rugby Star Courtney. She founded this incredible franchise model after frustration with the 'traditional' babygroups where she wanted a community of like-minded women to relax, be themselves, have fun and support one another.   Themes discussed: entrepreneurship, young motherhood, twin births, 'solo' parenting, female friendships, community building   Recorded 2022. 

Shakira Akabusi is a former Musical Theatre performer/Singer - who transformed her career after a significant setback to become an incredible pre- and post-natal trainer, Founder of Strong Like Mum method, and Mum herself of 4. This was one of my favourite episodes ever to record! Themes discussed: OCD, anxiety, birthing methods, therapy, entrepreneurship, doing what you love, getting through tough times, spirituality, feminism Recorded 2023. 

On this week's Letty Reflects, I reflect on my interview with Shakira Akabusi - a former Musical Theatre performer/Singer - who transformed her career after a significant setback to become an incredible pre- and post-natal trainer, Founder of Strong Like Mum method, and Mum herself of 4. Want to hear the whole interview? Search for Letty Meets... Shakira Akabusi.

Welcome to the second 'ChangeMakers' episode of Returnity where I interview leaders in exceptional organisations - doing brilliant things to help women go back to work happy and confident through innovation. Careers After Babies Accreditation's Jessica Heagren talks all about how her organisation is on a mission to shake up how businesses shape their workplaces to provide family-friendly accreditation for forward-thinking workplaces. Having had a corporate world career, 4 kids and a few epiphanies after meeting SO many hugely qualified women who couldn't get back into an office... this is a woman on a mission.  Themes discussed: identity, entrepreneurship, motherhood of 4, mental health, women in business  Recorded in 2023

On this week's Letty Reflects, I reflect on my interview with Jenny Plant, composer, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, mum of 1 and cancer survivor. Want to hear the whole interview? Search for Letty Meets... Jenny Plant. Breast Cancer now: https://breastcancernow.org Mummys Star: https://www.mummysstar.org The Royal Marsden Charity: https://www.royalmarsden.org 

Jenny Plant is a Singer, Musician, Composer and Mum of 1. She join me on today's brand new episode of Returnity, almost a year to the day that she finished Chemotherapy for an aggressive form of breast cancer. In most back to work journeys, we deal with the huge identity shift that happens in our professional and personal lives that happens when becoming 'mum' - but she and I explored Jenny's reality: which was that she was told 3 weeks before she gave birth that she had a rare, aggressive breast cancer. Themes discussed: cancer diagnosis, treatment, loss, the power of music, equal parenting, mental health, life and how to live it Recorded 2023.  To donate:- Breast Cancer Now: https://breastcancernow.org Mummys Star: https://www.mummysstar.org The Royal Marsden Charity: https://www.royalmarsden.org