I’ve Sat on Both Sides of the Broker’s Desk
When people talk about balance, it often sounds like something you’re meant to find, like keys you’ve misplaced. But in reality, raising kids while raising a business has taught me that balance isn’t something you stumble across. It’s something you create.
I’ve always had high standards for myself, for the work I do, and for the experience my clients receive. But becoming a parent while growing a career in finance showed me quickly that perfection isn’t the goal. Presence is.
Some days, that presence means running back-to-back client meetings and structuring a deal late into the night. Other days, it means making it to school pickup or being there when my kids need support. And the truth is, both matters. Both shapes how I lead at home and in business.
I used to think success meant constantly pushing forward, staying busy, and doing more. What I’ve learned is that real growth often comes in the pause. The quiet recalibration. The moments where you realise that being a great leader doesn’t mean being everything to everyone. It means showing up with clarity, empathy, and purpose.
Parenting has made me a better broker. It’s taught me patience, adaptability, and how to stay calm when things feel uncertain. It’s reminded me that every client, like every child, brings their own story, their own fears, and their own goals. The best thing I can do is listen first and guide with care.
It’s easy to feel like you have to choose between being ambitious and being present. But I’ve learned you don’t have to. You can have high standards and still choose rest. You can lead a team and still make time for family. You can build a business that reflects your values, not just your results.
The growth I didn’t expect wasn’t in my client base or career progression. It was in learning how to define success on my own terms. And that has made all the difference.
