Paul Taylor: The power of talking with the Dads around you — How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty

In this episode, we interview Paul Taylor. You may remember him and his wife Bec from Season One. Well – he is back! We are super lucky to hear from him again. Paul and Bec met in London, had an amazing, carefree, fun-filled time working jobs they loved, traveling, sleeping in, and genuinely living the dream. They moved home to Auckland and suddenly life came at them fast. They bought a house, got married, Paul lost his Dad to cancer, had a daughter, lost Bec’s Dad to a heart attack, moved in with Bec’s Mum ‘temporarily’, had a son, changed jobs 6 times, and neither of them can recall the last time they properly slept. Their focus quickly went from care-free fun to barely surviving and now they’re trying to bring fun back whilst also helping others to do the same.

Like all my conversations with Paul, it was generous and full of excellent observations.

Letting go of perfectionism as a working dad and accepting that you won’t be able to the best version of yourself in all areas of your life.
How Dad guilt is real and how it can feel weird talking about it.
Being a co-pilot at home and how being an active caregiver can be a source of pride and make space for your partner.
The importance of real talk with other dads and how it can help you feel less alone.
Using his magic wand for rest for parents and better conversations with managers.

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded by Works for Everyone, a business based in NZ and operating globally that supports working parents to stay in the leadership pipeline through coaching, workshops, and keynote speaking.

Your host, Emma Mclean, is a mother of three teenagers, an Executive Coach and the Founder of Works for Everyone. Following a successful 25-year career in corporate marketing, Emma launched her business in 2019 to put a care wrap around working parents at the hardest time in their career. She launched the NZ Part Time Power List in 2024 as she wanted to shine a light on individuals that are building their career through part time roles, rather than side stepping it. She is alumni of the 2021 NZ Leadership Programme and a proud Swiftie (a lifelong Taylor Swift fan).

To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – emma@worksforeveryone.co.nz

www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/