Think a Part-Time Boss Can't Be a Greater Leader? Think Again

In this week’s Work It Like a Mum episode, we chat with Donna Wayman, Chief Operating Officer at Zurich Insurance. Donna is an award-winning leader with over 15 years of experience delivering strategic change in the financial services sector.

She also works part-time in a senior, global role, which you don't hear about daily. Donna shares her personal journey, her views on flexibility in leadership, and how Zurich is leading the charge on inclusive hiring practices.

What We Cover:

• Donna’s career journey from a Drama & English degree to COO at Zurich
• How Zurich became the first UK company to advertise all jobs as open to part-time and flexible working
• The cultural shift this created and the fourfold increase in women applying for roles
• What it looks like to work part-time in a C-suite position and how she sets boundaries
• The role of male allies in normalising flexible work across genders
• Why protecting your non-working days is vital for work-life balance and self-worth
• Donna’s role as a trustee for Aching Arms, a baby loss charity

Key Takeaways:

Flexibility fuels talent: When roles are openly advertised as flexible, the candidate pool becomes more diverse and inclusive.

Leadership isn’t about hours: Senior impact doesn’t require full-time availability—it requires clarity, focus, and trust.

Set and protect boundaries: Donna shares how protecting her non-working days helps manage mum guilt and improve her effectiveness.

Support from the top matters: Zurich’s executive team actively champions DE&I and flexible work, enabling real cultural change.

Men need flexibility too: Working flexibly accelerates equality and shifts workplace norms for everyone.

Show Links:

Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here

Connect with Donna here

Visit Zurich’s website here

🎧 Tune in for a refreshing, honest, and inspiring conversation that will leave you rethinking what’s possible in your career, whether you're a parent, a leader, or just passionate about inclusive workplaces.

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