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Charlotte Coughlan is managing partner at Leo UK and a mum to two young children. Which makes her super busy – yet impressively she’s still found the time and energy to create Parental Guidance, a mentoring scheme for working parents across adland.

Charlotte is passionate about helping other working parents, having been through the mill herself.

During Charlotte’s second maternity leave, she was unexpectedly made redundant when the agency she loved working for shut down. In shock, and robbed of the chance to enjoy her last mat leave, Charlotte spent the time juggling the demands of a newborn baby and a four-year-old with finding a new job.

Happily, Charlotte is now working at Leo’s, where she founded an internal network, Parentland, to support fellow parents. Wanting to take this a step further, Charlotte has created Parental Guidance (love the name) to connect working parents across the industry for support, advice and cheerleading.

In this episode, Charlotte shares:

• The crushing effects of losing a job during maternity leave – an all-too-common experience
• What working parents can bring to their businesses
• How mentoring can support parents’ mental wellness

Resources

Parentland

Parental Guidance

NABS Advice Line

NABS Walk and Talk

Who’s Your Momma

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

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Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Get cosy, festive and fundraisy as we celebrate NABS' amazing donor community with the publication of the Yay List, in partnership with Campaign - this year's industry list to be on.

Grab an eggnog and a mince pie and settle down for a celebratory chat with top NABS supporters James White and Michelle Sarpong, along with Sue Todd, CEO, NABS. 'Yule' get tips for supporting yourself from now until the New Year from our trio of brilliant industry leaders.

Key takeaways include:

• It's OK to party strategically, or even say no to events if you need to recharge
• Why NABS' donor community is fundamental to the industry's mental wellness
• How your organisation can avoid being on Santa's naughty list by supporting NABS

Have yourself a wonderful festive break and we'll see you next year for more intimate, supportive and inspiring conversations

NABS Yay List

NABS Advice Line

NABS Stranger than Summer

NABS workshops

NABS speed mentoring

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Steven Ballinger, known best to the industry as Bally, is chief commercial officer at Astus. He is also a huge advocate for mental wellness after experiencing a breakdown. It's a turnaround for somebody who was raised to carry on, no matter what: he now checks in on himself and his team daily and encourages us all to do the same.

Also joining us for this episode is Annabel McCaffrey, head of support, NABS.

This episode is part of our Yay List mini series. The Yay List celebrates the brilliant donors who power NABS' purpose, enabling us to carry out our mission - to advance the mental wellness of thousands of people in our industry each year.

Key takeaways:

• There is strength in vulnerability - talking about what's going on for you emotionally.
• Checking in with yourself is essential and simple - ask yourself daily, how am I feeling?
• Managers can be a listening ear for their teams and that's how best to give emotional support -the next step is to signpost to NABS.

Resources

NABS Yay List

NABS Walk and Talk

NABS All Ears

NABS Managers' Mindsets

NABS Advice Line

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Rachel Peace is the MD of Hearts and Science and a proud dyslexic and neurodivergent leader. Rachel is also, excitingly, the new chair of Fast Forward, NABS' flagship training course that teaches people how to pitch in real time.

In this episode, Rachel shares her experience of burnout - a hot topic across adland right now. To this day, Rachel has an active practice to take care of herself to prevent a return of burnout, and she's passionate about modelling the way as a leader to help others do the same.

Key takeaways:

• When you need help, get your ego out of the way and ask for it
• Know what your red flags are - these are the markers that help you realise when you are struggling
• Pitching should not be a mystery - often the fear of the unknown causes extra stress to those new to pitching
• Fast Forward is a brilliant and energising programme for participants and mentors alike - check it out!

Resources

NABS Fast Forward

NABS Managers' Mindsets NABS therapy referral NABS' support for neurodivergent people

NABS therapy referral NABS' support for neurodivergent people

NABS' support for neurodivergent people

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Davina Barker, sales director at DCM, gives both clarity and good vibes in this relatable and uplifting conversation.

Davina discusses how family life can be a stress as well as a joy; how to reframe work to your children to get them engaged in the joy of having a job; and why and how she and DCM are such great supporters of NABS. As a previous Campaign 40 Over 40 winner, Davina also gives her take on ageism in the industry and how adland could open up even more to older cohorts.

Key takeaways:

• A mental wellness challenge doesn't have to be a huge event - it could be managing the ongoing demands of family life.
• Reframing work as an escape from challenges at home can be healthy and helpful - you don't have to have all of the answers, all of the time, and your brain needs a break to come up with creative solutions.
• Be wise about which events you'll attend in Q4 - a strategy is everything to help you use your energy and time well.
  
  Links
  
  DCM
  NABS Walk and Talk
  NABS x ATHX challenge
  NABS Managers' Mindsets
  Campaign 40 Over 40
  Donate to NABS' Christmas Giving Appeal

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Hamish Nicklin is co-founder and CEO of Agent Flow, who build AI solutions that help businesses to grow.

Hamish Nicklin is a life force and one of the industry’s best-known names, having held senior positions at Dentsu Media UK, Guardian Media and Google. He is also a trustee of NABS and pulls no punches when describing how vital NABS is to adland, and why everybody needs to donate to keep NABS’ vital work going.

Hamish is exuberant throughout, even when discussing the burnout that led to him reevaluating his life and ultimately changing him forever.

If you want to feel cheered up and supported, this is the episode for you.

Key takeaways:

• Your upbringing can contribute to burnout – at some point, the values you were taught as a child may crash into the realties you’re dealing with as an adult. Therapy can help you to unlock what’s going on.
• Take the time to find the right therapy for you – for Hamish, it was about finding practical solutions after understanding his past.
• Don’t fear AI. Instead, learn to vibe code and play around with the technology.

Resources:

NABS Managers’ Mindsets

NABS therapy referral

NABS Stranger than Summer

The Yay List

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Beth Sutherland is associate director of programmatic services at Essence MediaCom and vice-president of Bloom North, the organisation for women in adland in the north of England.

In this insightful conversation, Beth discusses the mental wellness transformation behind her successful career, going from someone reaching to external validation to someone working for goals that align with her true values. A young and successful adlander, Beth also gives insight into how to strengthen relationships between Gen Z and more senior colleagues, as well as the power of community in supporting mental wellness and personal and professional success.

Key takeaways

• Therapy can be transformative for personal growth, even in the early stages of your career.
• Gen Z prioritise mental wellness and learn effectively through social media: when you understand how to put this into practice, you can build bridges with this cohort.
• It's okay to be sensitive and emotional in the workplace.

Resources

Bloom North

NABS All Ears

NABS Managers' Mindsets

NABS Speed Mentoring

NABS therapy referral

NABS Walk and Talk

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube

Got a question for The NABS Podcast?

Tom Tapper is the co-founder and CEO of Nice and Serious, a B Corp-certified creative agency committed to only making work the world needs. He joins us for a special live episode recorded at the Festival of Happiness in November 2024.

Tom discussed his agency’s ethical approach to work, including how his team uses the Moral Compass to decide whether briefs fit the agency’s ethos, and how this approach helps to support mental wellness – alongside other emotional support actions at Nice and Serious.

Tom also opens up about the challenge of being a new dad and how he found solace through community.

Key takeaways:

• When leaders discuss their mental wellness challenges, it encourages others to seek emotional support
• A Moral Compass framework is good for morale, creativity and mental wellness as well as an ethical approach
• Early parenthood is really hard so reach out as early as you can for support

Resources mentioned in this episode:

NABS All Ears https://nabs.org.uk/about/impact/all-ears/

NABS Managers' Mindsets https://nabs.org.uk/training/managers-mindsets/

Nice and Serious https://niceandserious.com/

Moral Compass https://moralcompass.app/

Support the show

We are NABS. And we're here for you - for the great stuff, the tough stuff and everything in between. As an independent charity, we're set on advancing the mental wellness of our industry and helping everyone find their way forward - wherever they're starting from.

👋 Need a helping hand? We're right here.

🌻 Group workshops or in-house training? Sign up to our sessions.

🤝 Industry events or networking? Check out our calendar.

📞 Sounding board on promotions, redundancies, parental leave - life in general? Here's how we can help.

More

Find out how you can support NABS

Sign up to the NABS newsletter

Follow NABS on LinkedIn

Watch NABS Talks on YouTube