In this episode of the Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast, I’m joined by Liza Berresford, CEO of Thresholds – a provider of career support programmes – who speaks with remarkable honesty about what it really looks like to juggle a senior leadership role, family life, and her own wellbeing, while still very much in the thick of it.
Liza is a business leader, a wife, a mother of three daughters, and an expat living far from home. In our conversation, she talks candidly about the daily reality of trying to show up fully in every area of life – and about making her peace with the fact that perfection isn’t just unattainable, it isn’t actually necessary.
When your child is struggling: the work-life balance conversation nobody is having
What makes this episode particularly hard-hitting is the part of the conversation that so many parents may recognise but rarely hear spoken aloud: what happens to your sense of balance when your child is struggling. Whether you’re parenting a tween, a teenager or a young adult, that feeling of being simultaneously out of control and deeply responsible is one of the most disorienting experiences a parent can face. Liza speaks about it with real courage.
She also puts something into words that many of us feel, but might not be able to articulate: that compared to the complexity of parenting through difficulty, the challenges of work – however demanding – can actually feel more straightforward and manageable.
Some Practical Tools for Finding a Work-Life Balance That Works
Throughout our conversation, Liza shares what has genuinely helped her: seeking therapy, leaning on trusted friends and colleagues, asking for help, regularly reviewing her choices, and learning to communicate honestly.
These aren’t quick fixes or polished formulas for how to find work-life balance; they’re the real, hard-won lessons of someone still in the glorious messy middle – the place where so many listeners reside too – working hard in pursuit of a balance that works.
I’ll admit, this isn’t the slickest of interviews.
There are moments where both of us pause, search for the right words, and struggle to express feelings or questions that are difficult to describe.
But I think that’s exactly why this episode matters. The pauses and stumbles are part of it.
Liza’s outlook is one of progress over perfection – and a recognition that resilience isn’t about having everything under control. Sometimes it’s simply about continuing to show up when life feels complicated and messy. Which, let’s face it, for most of us is most of the time.
I’m enormously grateful to Liza for her generosity and vulnerability in sharing her story. My hope is that others will listen to our conversation and feel a little less alone in their own juggling act.
Listen to the latest episode of Work-Life Balance Confessions with Liza Berresford wherever you get your podcasts, and if this conversation resonates with you, I’d love it if you share it with someone you think might need to hear it.
Come and Meet Up In Real Life
The first ever Work-Life Balance Confessions live event is happening — and there are still places left.
On Tuesday 28th July 2026, we’re swapping headphones for a real room. Join us from 18:30 – 20:30 at Lush Coffee, Finchley Central, London for an evening that takes everything this podcast is about and brings it to life:
✦ Sparkling wine & drinks reception
✦ An interactive workshop
✦ A panel discussion with four former podcast guests
✦ A goody bag packed with vouchers and offers for things that might help you find a balance that works for you
✦ Genuine conversation with women at a similar life stage to you
Places are limited. If this sounds like your kind of evening, book your ticket here now:
