Today, Gena interviews Lara Barnes, a Chief Customer Officer with nearly three decades of experience in the technology sector. Lara shares her inspiring career journey, highlighting her passion for customer success and team leadership. The duo discuss the biggest challenges of balancing a high-pressure IT role with parenting, particularly in the context of raising a child with learning and behavioural issues. KEY TAKEAWAYS Managing a high-pressure leadership role while raising a child can be incredibly challenging. It requires effective time management, consistency, and the ability to juggle professional responsibilities with parenting duties. Early childhood development is crucial, and parents should be aware of key milestones such as crawling and speech. Delays in these areas may indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed, such as retained reflexes that can affect learning and behaviour. Having a supportive network, whether through family, friends, or professionals, is essential for managing stress and ensuring that both work and parenting responsibilities are handled effectively. Taking time for oneself, even if it's just a short period each day, is vital for maintaining mental and physical health. Engaging in physical activity can help alleviate stress and improve overall well-being. A healthy diet plays a significant role in emotional and physical health. Gut inflammation can impact mood and stress levels, highlighting the importance of nutrition in both personal well-being and child development. BEST MOMENTS "I want to ensure that not only internally I'm having impact on how that is done, but then externally what the customer is seeing from us in our servicing." "You need to have a plan. You need to have the right people around you that can help." "If you look back at my academic GCSE science, I got double D, so I wasn't a science type person." "A child doesn't... they're not vindictive. They're little people. They're misunderstood because they still have these reflexes which should have gone within, they should have integrated." "The amount of negotiation and promises that I made in order to get those exercises done was really tough because I was tired." GUEST LINKS www.braindevelopment.co.uk Lara@braindevelopment.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/@BrainDevelopmentUK HOST BIO Gena Frangina, a seasoned software engineer with over a decade of industry experience, is your trusted host on the "IT Stress Relief" Podcast. Her unique background includes a profound passion for psychology, culminating in the attainment of a Business Psychology MSc. Gena's diverse skill set extends to accreditation as a Hypnotherapist, under the tutelage of Paul McKenna and his renowned team, as well as expertise in wellness coaching. This extensive blend of technical acumen and psychological insight positions Gena as an exceptional host in the IT world. She not only understands the intricacies of the field but also excels in guiding IT professionals towards holistic well-being. Tune in to Gena's podcast for enlightening interviews with IT specialists, and gain access to a wealth of knowledge. https://genafrangina.com/podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/gena.frangina IG: @gena.frangina This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/