Balancing acts: A life that changed the way we work - Part 2

Join Professor Simonetta Manfredi and Joanna Foster CBE for a powerful new mini podcast series exploring the evolution of work-life balance and equality in the workplace through the lens of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Drawing on Joanna’s remarkable career — from chairing the EOC to shaping national work-life policies — this series reflects on pivotal moments of change and considers their lasting impact on the world of work. Across the episodes, listeners will hear first-hand insights from Joanna, along with thoughtful discussions on work, care, leadership, and the continuing pursuit of equality. As we look back on decades of progress, this podcast asks: Have we truly achieved equality in the world of work? In episode 2, Joanna shares how media, legal reform, and international collaboration drove progress in flexible working, childcare, and equal pay — and recounted powerful stories from boardrooms, hospitals, and even the Royal Albert Hall. From dealing with political resistance under Margaret Thatcher, to championing family-friendly workplaces that paved the way for today’s wellbeing culture, Joanna offers insight into how social change is built — conversation by conversation, policy by policy, across generations.