Karen Squires - From Hairdresser to A&E Consultant: Progressing a Career in Emergency Medicine Whilst Raising a Young Family

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/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.