Callum Williamson: Building a society around the needs of children and parents

In this episode, we interview Callum Williamson. Callum is a working father and General Manager at Conductive Education Taranaki who recently took time off to care for his one-year-old daughter, Molly-Maggie. During this period, he experienced the day-to-day demands of balancing parenting and professional responsibilities. Callum shares his perspective on the challenges and adjustments that come with being a dad in today’s working world.

Our conversation blended Callum’s experience as a working dad, as a leader of people who are also parents and as someone who actively participates in his wider community. One of those ways he contributes to his community is as a White Ribbon Ambassador and he is proud to serve his whānau and his community by supporting this vital kaupapa. White Ribbon reminds us that we all have a role to play in preventing violence, whether it’s challenging harmful behaviours, educating others about respectful relationships, or modelling healthy behaviours ourselves. It’s about stepping up to protect and care for those around us. Callum encourage everyone to take the White Ribbon Pledge and actively promote kindness, respect, and safety in their homes and communities. Let’s work together to make a difference.

• The importance of just being with our children.
• His experience of parental leave and the pressure he put on himself during this experience. 
• The differences that Callum thinks Mums and Dads show when it comes to being a working parent.
• Why New Plymouth needs a better bus system to support working parents.
• How he manages work, family and community.
• The societal shift he would like to see that would put children at the centre of the system.

Resources Discussed 

• White Ribbon. Learn more about how you can be involved at https://whiteribbon.org.nz

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/