Ever felt like you're not living up to your full potential and wished you could change your career? Karen Squires is an A&E Consultant at the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, but her career actually started in hairdressing. After re-evaluating her life in her mid-20s and feeling that she wasn't reaching her true potential, Karen made the brave decision to take a leap and pursue a career in medicine. In this chat with Verena Hefti MBE, Karen shares how she trusted her gut instinct to follow her career dreams. Together they explore why our careers don't always need to go from A to B and how the meandering path can still move you closer to your goals.Karen also shares her experience of being an older mother alongside progressing in her career. Including her diagnosis of secondary infertility and the multiple rounds of IVF, she and her partner endured before having their much longed-for second daughter.Working in emergency medicine is a pressurised environment. Karen has fantastic advice for dealing with this whilst still being a present parent.We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events, by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenApplications close 23rd March - take a bold step for your career and family today.The Leaders Plus Fellowship (cross-sector) is an award-winning Programme open to parents from all sectors who are progressing careers in leadership and management. Our Fellowship supports you to pursue ambitious roles whilst balancing home life, equipping you with the essential tools to thrive at work whilst still enjoying time with your family. Fellows get: access to a courageous community of peers who are also juggling work and parenthood expert guidance from your own dedicated career Mentor world-class training from industry thought leaders on developing your career support to deal with the practical challenges of being a working parent that arise day-to-day The Fellowship is open to all parents internationally who have children 0-11. Our Programme is inclusive and welcoming of all family set ups. We encourage applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in leadership positions and offer online/ blended course options and hardship fund places to help facilitate this.