69. COMEBACK - Helen Rowell - bereavement - signs you're ready to return to work - choosing the attitude that will help you the most

Hello Bright Minds, my guest today is an HR leader who recently returned to a new job in a new organisation after being bereaved. Having met at university Helen Rowell and her husband Mike married in 2015 and went on to have a son together, Alfie, who at the time of recording is five. 

In March 2022 Mike was killed in a skiing accident, leaving Helen to raise Alfie alone. One of the many decisions she needed to make was how to approach her career. Up until that point she had worked full time for a global bank, progressing to Director level at the age of 33. After a period of leave Helen has now returned to work having made some radical changes.

You’re going to hear about:

• Choosing the attitude that’s going to help you the most.
• Remembering who you were before the bereavement.
• How employers can support bereaved colleagues including the importance of a bereavement policy.
• Signs you’re ready to start thinking about returning to work.
• Deciding to start a new job, in a new organisation.
• The difference a brilliant line manager makes to your self esteem.
• The joy and purpose Helen found in setting up a charity, Brightest Star and why she started The Widowhood podcast with Rosie, another young widow.

MORE FOR YOU

• DM Jessica on instagram @comebackcommuk
• Get Caremail (free, every other Sunday at 7am)
• Read Mothers Work! How to Get a Grip on Guilt and Make a Smooth Return to Work by Jessica Chivers.
• Watch five coachees talk about working with us
• Connect us to your HR team - bring the Comeback Community™ employee experience to your workplace