Conversations with Karis

When Work Meets Real Life: Rethinking the System with Jessica Graham

In this conversation, Jessica Graham, Marketing Director at The Search Experience, shares her journey of redefining ambition and work-life balance. She discusses her experience with redundancy, the importance of flexible work arrangements, and how she navigates her role in a way that allows her to prioritise family while achieving professional success.

Jessica emphasises the need for leaders to rethink traditional work structures, particularly the concept of part-time work, and advocates for a focus on outcomes rather than hours worked.

She Left Corporate Fashion to Build a Life and Business That Fit

In this episode of Ambition & Life with Karis Dorrigan, Karis speaks with Bernadette Payne, founder of That’s My Style, about her career in fashion, motherhood, and the decision to leave corporate life to build a business that worked better for her family

Have Your Cake and Eat It: Parenting, Ambition and #WorkSchoolHours

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Ellen Joan Ford, award winning researcher, military veteran, international speaker, parent and author of #WorkSchoolHours. Together we unpack how leaders can redesign work so people are not forced to choose between a big career and a big life

Paternity, Power and Possibility: Why Supporting Fathers Lifts Everyone

I sit down with Michael Ray - solo dad, advocate and author to explore the stereotypes, structural barriers and everyday assumptions that shape modern fatherhood. Michael shares his journey from a hyper-masculine career in security and elite sport to becoming a first-time parent at 50.

Unseen Potential: Redesigning Work for Real Inclusion

Nikki Tugano, Founder & CEO of SeenCulture, and I  talk about how work can be redesigns to open doors, not quietly close them. We explore practical ways leaders can surface unseen potential, write inclusive role descriptions, and use positive psychology and job crafting to lift performance and wellbeing.

“Though honest conversations with founders, leaders, and solo parents reshaping the future of work, you’ll hear stories of courage, practical tools for balance, and ideas that challenge the old rules of leadership and create new ones”