What does it take to thrive as a senior leader while working a reduced schedule?
Helen Johnson, Managing Director of Capture and Plan-Apps, pulls back the curtain on how she excels in her role while working at 70% capacity and raising two young children.
Helen’s journey challenges conventional wisdom about leadership and work-life balance. After 20 years at Procter & Gamble managing 17 brands across 11 markets, her struggles with fertility and eventual journey through IVF transformed her perspective. When joining SMG, she made the bold request to work a reduced schedule – and has continued this arrangement even after being promoted to Managing Director.
“I genuinely believe I’m a better leader after having my children because it gave me a whole new skill set,” Helen explains. Her approach to making this work includes rigorous self-care as the foundation, building trust and transparent communication with her team, and leveraging her support network rather than trying to do everything herself.
The conversation dives into practical strategies for navigating leadership while parenting, including defining success on your own terms, establishing clear boundaries, and the powerful act of “stopping apologising” for working reduced hours. Helen shares how she transformed her language from “I’m sorry I don’t work Fridays” to simply stating “I don’t work Fridays.”
For organisations, Helen advocates a critical mindset shift: viewing flexible working as a performance enabler rather than a compromise. She challenges companies to create more opportunities for fathers in the workplace, drawing from her experience in Sweden where paternity policies enable men to take significant parental leave.
Whether you’re a working parent, considering flexible arrangements, or leading teams with diverse needs, this conversation provides a refreshing and practical perspective on creating success entirely on your own terms.
