The Belonging Project Podcast

Most managers want to support working parents. Few have ever been shown how. What happens after an employee becomes a parent can shape their confidence, career progression and sense of belonging for years to come. Yet many managers are left to navigate these conversations without any real guidance. In this episode, leadership and career growth coach Fiorenza Rossini explores how managers, leaders...

What happens when a high schooler tells you your positivity feels fake — and it changes everything about how you lead? That’s just one of the moments that shaped Elysha Weissglass ’s path from school counsellor to leadership coach and people development partner. In this episode, Fiorenza sits down with Elysha for a conversation that moves fluidly between boardrooms and kids’ dinners to career pivo...

What is the true cost of navigating early parenthood while trying to maintain a career? In this episode, host Fiorenza Rossini sits down with Sam Allman-Briggs —a marketer, devoted father, and advocate for parental rights—to pull back the curtain on the modern fatherhood experience. From the harrowing grief of pregnancy loss and the workplace anxieties that follow, to navigating a culture that fre...

Return-to-office conversations are often framed around productivity, collaboration and company culture. But what if they are also revealing something about belonging, leadership and whose lives workplaces were originally designed around? In this solo episode, I reflect on the emotional and practical realities many working parents are navigating behind the surface of business as usual . For many pr...

What if the exhaustion so many parents carry isn’t a personal failure, but a signal that something deeper needs tending? In this episode, I’m joined by Gemma Dean , life coach and founder of Reset with Gemma, and Sima Rahman , creative facilitator and founder of The Artist’s Apothecary. Together, they co-created the Mindful Parent Hub , a space where coaching meets creativity to support parents na...

In this episode, Fiorenza Rossini shares personal insights on how becoming a parent has transformed her approach to work and life, highlighting five key changes she has made to become more intentional and mindful. * Overcommitting ( 01:40) * How much to prepare for meetings ( 02:39 ) * Saying yes too quickly ( 03:20) * Trying to prove your worth constantly ( 04:13) * Holding yourself to a pre-pare...

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about how we hold ourselves together when everything flips on its head. In this episode, Fiorenza sits down with author, solopreneur and PR expert Lucy Werner to explore her career and life defined by adaptation. We dive deep into the disconnect of identity that can happen and be fuelled as we move through big life chapters (health challenges for our...

In this episode, we dive into a topic that resonates deeply with working mums: the invisible burden of the mental load and the necessity of establishing healthy boundaries. Studies show women spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on unpaid work compared to 2.5 hours for men, leading to stress and burnout. "A mother's brain makes over 1000 micro decision daily. There is no job in the world harder o...

In this episode, Fiorenza Rossini sits down with Sam Kennedy Christian, an accredited executive coach, coach supervisor, and certified Fair Play Method facilitator at The Float Space. Together, they explore the often invisible but overwhelming mental load carried by working mothers. “Sharing the mental load or even just distributing the mental responsibilities can significantly reduce stress and i...

In this episode of The Belonging Project Podcast , Fiorenza Rossini deep dives into the impact of motherhood on women’s confidence in the workplace. She discusses the challenges faced by mothers returning to work, including the mental load, societal perceptions that contribute to a decline in confidence, and the motherhood penalty. Fiorenza offers practical strategies for rebuilding confidence, em...

In this episode, Fiorenza Rossini welcomes award-winning actress Hannah Douglas who decided to launch LoudHer Voice Coaching (a public speaking and voice coaching business) after becoming a mum. “After I became a mum, I was talking to so many mums who were feeling like weren’t heard properly at work or were nervous about going back to work or didn’t quite know what their voices were anymore. And I...

This season is about working parenthood, the real-life challenges that shape how we show up professionally when life is full, and of course, belonging. Expect a mix of thoughtful reflection and energising conversation, grounded in the realities of working parenthood, and what sustainable growth can look like in this season of life.🎧 New episodes dropping every other Wednesday! This is a public ep...

In this episode of the Belonging Project Podcast, host Fiorenza Rossini sits down with Tim Yeo, chief introvert of the Quiet Achiever . Tim shares insights on how introverts can have an impact at work without pretending to be extroverts. “Reframe introversion as a strength”, says Tim Yeo. In this conversation with Fiorenza, Tim opens up on his journey from Singapore to Australia, the cultural diff...

We’ve all heard the advice: bring your whole self to work. But recently, two voices made me stop and rethink that message — Amy Edmondson , who reminds us that authenticity needs accountability, and Jodi-Ann Burey , whose book Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work explores how “being yourself” can carry a cost, especially for women and people of colour. Amy’s post offered a great...

In this episode of The Belonging Project podcast, join hosts Fiorenza Rossini and Marie de Champchesnel as they explore the transformative power of curiosity. Discover how Marie's journey from working in the field of history of art to in the field of coaching was fueled by a relentless pursuit of curiosity, leading to personal growth and a renewed sense of belonging. Tune in to learn how embracing...

In this episode of The Belonging Project Podcast , host Fiorenza Rossini is joined by Febronia Ruocco — Global Strategic Insights & Analytics Director and Executive Leadership Coach — for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation about what it really means for women to advocate for themselves, at work and beyond. Together, they explore Febronia’s professional journey across industries and cul...

How do you show up, speak up, and get heard? In this episode, I sit down with Grace Fogarty , pitch expert, to unpack the skill of pitching—and why it matters far beyond sales calls. Whether you're a freelancer, founder, or working in a large organisation, your ability to pitch isn’t just about performance. It’s about showing up. “Pitching isn’t just for freelancers. It’s how we share our ideas, a...

In this episode of The Belonging Project , I’m joined by Carol Paddison, a people leader with over 20 years of experience, and now co-founder of Fractional Human Resources . Carol shares her journey from in-house HR leadership to co-creating a consultancy that brings senior-level HR expertise to small and scaling businesses—just when they need it, and only as much as they need. We talk about the e...

In honor of International Women’s Day 2025, I’m thrilled to bring you this episode with my guest, Laura Howard, where we dive into the topic of women in leadership. How can women overcome barriers? How can women find belonging at the top? How can women thrive in male-denominated spaces? Laura Howard is a psychologist and executive coach. She shares… This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

In this episode of the Belonging Project Podcast, host Fiorenza and psychologist Leila Ainge delve into the concept of imposter phenomenon, reframing it from a syndrome to a more inclusive phenomenon. They explore how feelings of self-doubt intersect with belonging, the impact of gender and cultural context, and the importance of community. The conversation emphasises the need for self-acceptance...

In this episode of The Belonging Project Podcast , host Fiorenza Rossini welcomes Zora Lazarov, a behaviour disruptor and corporate psychologist, to discuss how organisations can thrive by embracing anti-fragility and addressing toxic workplace behaviours. Together, they explore how to build resilient teams, foster inclusivity, and empower leaders to navigate the challenges of modern organizationa...

In this episode, Fiorenza sits down with Victoria Rennoldson.   Victoria shares her expertise on cultural intelligence, strategies for global team dynamics, and her journey transitioning from a corporate role to running her own business. Together with Fiorenza Rossini, they explore creating meaningful connections in culturally diverse hybrid teams, evolving leadership styles, and fostering a sense...

In this episode, our host Fiorenza Rossini welcomes Tash Bristowe, a Brighton-based freelancer, entrepreneur, and community builder. Tash shares her personal journey of navigating a career setback and how that led to creating a safe space for job seekers through the Open to Work Connection Community.    When Tash unexpectedly lost her job, she turned a challenging experience into an opportunity to...

How can we create Belonging in the workplace? How could workplaces foster inclusive behaviours?   In this episode, our host Fiorenza talks to Sean Dubberke, Principal & VP of Learning @ RW3 Culture Wizard .   They talk about the importance of self-awareness and understanding of what shaped us, ahead of trying to understand others, their cultures and what should change look like. (14:26).   Whe...

In this episode, we talk about starting a business with your spouse, the challenges of all the multiple hats freelancers have to wear, moving abroad multiple times and working across culture. Our guest is Dominique, co-founder of The Werks and we had so much fun talking! Do you know that feeling when you start something new? I really loved Dominique's take on this: there are indeed many simila...