She’s Back @ PwC

Setting the scene

She’s Back was founded in 2014 focused on supporting more women to return to professional services after a career break to raise their families. PwC was one of the sponsors of initial research She’s Back conducted with the Management Consulting Association to understand the factors causing women to leave the sector, and therefore what actions could be taken to improve levels of women in the sector. Our relationship with the founders has continued to blossom since then.

This year, several partners and staff have been involved in contributing to and supporting the launch of “She’s Back: Your guide to returning to work,” published in May 2018. Authors and She’s Back founders Lisa Unwin and Deb Khan have written the book as a guide to returning to work - originally conceived to help women returning from a career break, but with messages relevant to a far wider audience. The advice applies not only to women, but also to men. It’s also not just for parents, but for anyone who might at some point decide to take some time out.

"All of the trends point to people living longer, and therefore leading multi-stage lives as opposed to the class ‘education-work-retire’ model. So we’re going to see people transition in and out of work, and try a range of careers, more than before."

David Lancefield,Strategy& Partner

How we helped

“She’s back: Your guide to returning to work” features stories and case studies of individuals who have left and re-entered the workplace, and the things they have learned along the way. Emily Khan, senior manager, and David Lancefield, Strategy& partner, were both selected by the authors as case studies to illustrate flexible working and how to transition back to work.

These stories are great examples of the kind of everyday flexibility and support we are working hard to offer our people, at all levels, to allow them to balance their career ambitions and their commitments outside of work, whatever they may be.

Excerpt from the book

Emily is a Senior Manager in our Sales and Marketing team, and on returning to work after her second child, worked with her business sponsor and people manager to craft a bespoke split-day working pattern to allow her to take on a challenging new role and do the school run most days. Here’s an extract from her She’s Back story:

“Emily spoke to a PwC partner who she knew had made partner on 3 days a week, who gave her an invaluable piece of advice:

“Stop talking about your need for flexibility and talk instead about your ambition.”

“That was a turning point” she says. “I know I can do this job, this way. I feel set free. This IS full time for me, I don't need to do any more hours than this. I'm far more efficient now than I ever was before I had my children.

Previously, I used to think about what jobs I could do where I could work flexibly, now I am thinking about where I want to take my career next, knowing I'm just as good - if not better - than I ever was.”

We also ran our own in-house ‘book launch’ to share the key messages of the book with PwC staff, and provide them with a chance to meet the authors and pick up a copy to help equip them not only for their own career development, but also to support their colleagues and team mates in making everyday flexibility work for them.

Making a difference

Our engagement with this cause has supported an important dialogue at PwC about flexibility and work-life balance, which is a priority for us. It also supports our own return to work programme, Back to Business. Our staff who have been involved have been overwhelming positive about how this dialogue has supported their own careers:

“I found all the stories shared truly life-changing and inspirational.”

“After today I realise I need to change my perception of how I view myself and not to pigeon hole myself according to my situation, a working mum, but according to my ambition.”

Lisa Unwin, co-founder of She’s Back and co-author of She’s Back: Your guide to returning to work says:

“It was vital when writing the guidebook, that we were able to tell the stories of real people. Emily’s story of how she negotiated flexibility by focusing not on her hours worked, but on her ambition, is truly inspirational. And having David talk about how his career break had changed his outlook and perceptions as a leader helps bring home the point that this is not just about women.

Being able to show how organisations as large and successful as PwC are helping people combine work and family life is so important and we were grateful for their open and supportive collaboration.”