In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Timothy R Andrews is joined by Dawn Lawrence, Founder and CEO of Hospitality Jobs UK, for an open and deeply honest conversation about leadership, work, and single parenthood.
Dawn shares her personal journey — leaving school at 16, building a career from the ground up, becoming a single parent, and eventually founding a successful business. We talk about the realities that rarely make it into leadership conversations: financial pressure, fear of being judged, asking for help, flexible working, and the emotional load many parents carry quietly while trying to succeed at work.
This episode explores what leadership really looks like when you’re juggling responsibility at home and at work, why quality time matters more than quantity, and how workplace culture can either support or silently exclude single parents.
In this episode, we cover:
Can you build a successful career as a single parent?
Leadership lessons shaped by single parenthood
Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness
The pressure single parents feel at work
Flexible working and trust in modern workplaces
Quality vs quantity when spending time with children
Building resilience through lived experience
Creating inclusive, supportive work cultures
This conversation is relevant for single parents, leaders, founders, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for shaping workplace culture.
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