**Business Book Awards 2025 Finalist ** 'This is the book I really needed when I first became a working parent!' - Kathryn Bishop, CBE Welcome to the world of working parenthood... Wondering how you’ll still do your job as well as being a parent? - Want to have a conversation about changing your working pattern but not sure how to approach it? - Don’t really know where to start with creating a return-to-work plan? This how-to guide is designed to help you every step of the way on your journey to becoming a working parent – from before you head off on parental leave to while you’re away and on your return. Catherine Oliver has not only been there and done that but has supported many thousands who have chosen to take on the dual roles of parent and employee. It will also be invaluable if your partner is taking a longer period of parental leave, or if you’re a manager worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. In the past this support has only been available to employees of big corporates: now you’re holding it in your hands. Catherine Oliver is a Diversity and Inclusion Advisor who specializes in helping organizations from start-ups to the largest listed companies support working parents and their managers. She became a parent herself during her 20-year corporate career and founded Sky’s parenting network. 'An excellent practical guide to working through the many challenges of becoming a working parent.' Colin Jones, ex-COO, Sky 'As a first-time expectant parent this book was a game-changer.' Emma McKinley, Mum-to-be & Finance Director, Haleon PLC Grab a copy – it will save you so much time and smooth that emotional rollercoaster that is caring for another human being and working. - HR Director All organisations should buy a copy for their new parent employees - and for their line managers. - Amazon 5 * This is a fantastic read for working people that are about to become or who have become parents. Striking the right balance to get the most from your career whilst bringing up children is something that many of us can benefit from understanding more. This book gives the opportunity to capture those life lessons proactively and learn from the experience of others. Highly recommended - Amazon 5 * I loved this book. It feels as though you are talking to a friend about what to expect and how to prepare for the future as a working parent. It covers your concerns, and even things you may not of thought about yet, and helps you plan how to manage them. It guides you through the potential challenges you may encounter in an easy digestible way. - Amazon 5 * As a non parent, but a CEO of a technology company, I found this a huge help in how to manage staff and expectations, and how to help our team through some of the most life changing events of their lives. This book is not just a great book for the target audience, parents to be, but a great book for those who manage people - Amazon 5 * The main thing that struck me was how much useful information it contains, but how simple and accessible it is to read - breaking things down to digestible chunks. When planning for the most important time of your life, this is an invaluable guide to navigating parenthood and work - Amazon 5 * From people I admire for their work in this space and support of working parents : Catherine has created an excellent practical guide to working through the many challenges of becoming a working parent and it’s great to see such valuable advice being made available to all. - Colin Jones, ex-COO, Sky This is the book I really needed when I first became a working parent! Full of useful advice, it is a book to have by your side before, during and after parental leave. Buy it, keep it to hand, read it, and even write in it, using the frameworks and exercises to clarify your plans. It’s well-structured, and with key takeaways set out at the end of each chapter, it is easy to read for busy working parents. Although our experiences may all be different, everyone will find something helpful in this book. - Kathryn Bishop CBE, Associate Fellow at Said Business School and author of Board Talk and Make Your Own Map: Career Success Strategy for Women A fantastic resource for new parents-to-be, with the self-reflective exercises particularly helpful to prompt the important discussions between partners and employers that are so rarely had. It’s a toolkit very much for modern parents. - Han-Son Lee, Founder of DaddiLife – the leading content platform for dads and an HR consultancy for dads at work A super practical guide. What I really loved though is firstly the real-life examples of what being a working parent is all about...the good, the bad, and the ugly... secondly, that whilst the focus is naturally on the experience of the primary carer, Catherine also encourages readers to look at it from the perspective of others – notably partners and managers who play such a key role in the overall experience. Great seeing them included and getting