Season Two – Episode 10

Returning to Work: Why Feeling Valued, Supported and Missed Matters with Zoe Odusina, Chief People Officer at Reassured

In this episode of CPO Talk, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional, is joined by Zoe Odusina, Chief People Officer at Reassured, to explore what it really takes to support employees through parental transition and create a culture where becoming a parent doesn’t mean putting your career on hold. Drawing on her own experience of returning to senior roles after maternity leave twice, Zoe shares the stark contrast between a return where she felt unsupported and one where she felt welcomed, valued and missed. She discusses the impact returning to work can have on confidence and identity, why her second return was emotionally harder than her first, and the difference the right support can make.

Zoe also shares how Reassured has strengthened its support for parents through enhanced policies, parental transition coaching and practical guidance for managers before, during and after parental leave. She explains why policies alone aren’t enough and how simple actions that help people feel connected, included and wanted can have a significant impact on the return-to-work experience. Together, they explore the skills and fresh perspective parents can bring back into the workplace, the impact of a supported return on performance, retention and reputation, and why organisations need to recognise parenthood as a life stage that can enhance rather than interrupt someone’s career.