Rachael opens the episode with her trademark candour: “I’ve worn the suit, crunched the numbers, and sat in boardrooms where I was the only woman at the table — except when someone thought I was there to take minutes.” From the outset, she sets the tone for a series that explores “the grit, the grind, the microaggressions, and the million times we’ve had to smile through it all.”
For the series debut, Rachael is joined by Joanna Coleman, Senior Accountant at Chadwick Accountants, who shares her journey with remarkable honesty and vulnerability. She describes starting as a 17-year-old apprentice, at the same time she shared “I was a mother at 17 as well,” a revelation that prompts genuine admiration from Rachael.
Joanna reflects warmly on how supportive her first employer was during this period, but she also recalls the demanding balance of study, work, and motherhood: “It was hard… my daughter was young enough that I could put her to bed early and get some studying in.”
Like many working mothers, she wrestled with guilt: “It is hard — mum guilt all the time.” Yet she remained determined to show her daughter what commitment and ambition look like: “I felt I was doing the right thing… working and showing her the way.”
After 18 years in her first role, Joanna sought progression but found that small-firm limitations made it impossible. This led her into a new, male-dominated industry, a shift she describes as stark: “Yes, I felt the culture change immediately.” She speaks openly about the reduced tolerance for childcare responsibilities: “There was a lot less leniency… I felt guilty about leaving work when I needed to.”
The episode confronts the reality of gender imbalance in leadership. Joanna notes, “More of the senior roles were male,” highlighting an imbalance that naturally creates pay and opportunity disparities. She suggests part of the issue stems from comfort and familiarity: “Men work more comfortably with other men.”
She also shares an example of sexism she witnessed firsthand, one that stayed with her: a fully qualified Head of Finance repeatedly prevented from attending board meetings. “She wanted to go… and she wasn’t allowed. No reason. Just excuses.”
The conversation closes with empowering encouragement for young women entering finance today. Joanna’s message is clear: “Have confidence in yourself… you are more than capable. Go get it.”
The Women at Work mini-series is designed to spark critical conversations about gender, progression, and the unseen barriers women continue to face, while celebrating the strength, resilience, and ambition that drive them forward.
The regular series of For Finances Sake podcasts from Chadwick’s are available on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Apple and Podbean. For more information, go to the website at www.chadwickaccountants.co.uk
