The Parent CEO.
Lead at work.
Be present at home.
Thrive in both.
Systems, not willpower.
At work, you build the systems and strategies that make critical things happen. At home, you're relying on good intentions and whatever energy is left at the end of the day. That's the gap. You need infrastructure that's fit for purpose: systems that protect what matters and let you thrive in both worlds.
WHO THIS IS FOR
If this sounds familiar, you're a Parent CEO.
You're juggling a senior-level career with intentional parenting.CEO may not be in your job title, but as a senior leader you understand the daily challenge of leading at work while trying to be present at home.And you refuse to choose between a high-flying career and a thriving family life.
THE PROBLEM
At work, you're strategic. Why does family feel so hard?
You've built a career on systematic thinking.Strategic planning. Clear priorities. Deliberate execution.But at home?Too many good intentions that don't quite stick. 'Quality time' that gets squeezed between everything else. Presence for family always feeling just out of reach.Here's what's actually happening: we treat family time like it'll work itself out, if we just care enough.The gap isn't about caring. It's about infrastructure.You know how to build systems at work. Systems can also transform home life: but they have to fit how family actually works.
The risk isn't burnout. It's the fear of waking up with college-age kids and not really knowing them.
We've all had that moment of blind panic: picturing ourselves in 10-15 years, and realizing the moment for building connections to last a lifetime has gone.
ABOUT
I've built companies. I'm also building a family.
Hi, I'm Paddy.I've spent 20+ years helping global companies drive scale and growth: from Indeed and NewsCorp, to founding, growing and exiting my consumer insights startup, DecisionFuel (acquired by YouGov plc).I've been a CEO, a Board Member and a consulting partner. I've shaped strategy at companies serving millions of customers globally.At home, we've been on the journey of parenthood for 8 years now. And I've missed bedtimes. Said "yes" to work when I meant to say "no." Realised good intentions are not enough.One thing I'm learning: work and family aren't just two competing priorities. They're two fundamentally different worlds.Work rewards optimization. Family runs on moments.Work has clear metrics. Family has invisible moments that matter more than any KPI.Your family isn't a scheduling problem to optimize. And your career isn't something to feel guilty about.I'm figuring all this out first hand too. Asking better questions. Testing ideas. Getting some things right. Other things wrong. And sharing what works.
introducing
The Parent CEO Playbook.
A weekly newsletter for senior leaders with practical insights and systems for being present at home: protecting what matters, showing up consistently, and building connections that last. No fluff. No apologies for caring about your career. Just what's working, from someone who's figuring this out alongside you.
Want to build this life?
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