About Us

WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) is a specialist coaching practice, which provides practical and psychological support, for working parents.  

WOMBA help organisations build inclusive cultures, supports working parents as they manage their careers and upskills accredited coaches to add Diversity & Inclusion to their coaching practice. 

WOMBA has worked with organisations across the public and private sectors including Tesco, The Government Legal Department, Universal Music Group and AND Digital. 

OUR STORY

WOMBA was founded in 2015 and was born out of the need to support the professional growth and healthy family life of working parents and eliminate the negative association between parenting and career progression. In 2022, WOMBA was recognised as a top 10 diversity and inclusion services provider for its work in helping organisations support working parents at critical stages in their careers. 

WOMBA’s approach is simple yet effective – it understands each organisation’s unique culture and needs and tailors coaching programmes to create meaningful change. In doing so WOMBA helps organisations to build progressive, inclusive cultures in which diverse talent can thrive. 

OUR MISSION

To champion and support the professional growth and healthy family life of working parents to eliminate the negative association between parenting and career progression.  

To achieve this we believe: 

  • meaningful steps need to be taken to become a more inclusive organisation 

  • leaders need to truly listen to all their employee groups and not rely on assumptions 

  • organisations who are trusted will thrive as well as their employees 

  • employees need extra support as they transition from worker to working parent  

  • experienced coaches have a critical role to play in supporting working parents 

  • To champion and support the professional growth and healthy family life of working parents to eliminate the negative association between parenting and career progression.

OUR TEAM

Our two directors, Helen Sachdev and Alison Green, offer a unique blend of executive and non-executive careers, D&I Board experience and senior executive coaching expertise.

Both are accredited Ashridge executive coaches. Helen is a founding member of WOMBA with a portfolio career, mainly supporting organisations with a social purpose. Alison helps leaders create good change for themselves, their organisations and their stakeholders - as an executive coach, non-executive director and school governor. 

As parents, they have experienced the highs and lows of having a family whilst trying to maintain and grow their careers. As leaders, they have championed diversity and inclusion in their executive and non-executive roles. 

Neither of these are easy. But we at WOMBA our approach and coaching programmes create meaningful change for organisations and for the diverse talent they want to retain. 

We’re very proud and passionate about the work we do. 

Meet our team

Helen Sachdev Picture

Helen Sachdev, director, WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) 

Helen Sachdev is a founding member and director of the coaching practice, WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) and a senior executive coach.  

Helen's experience as an executive coach is underpinned and enriched by her considerable executive experience in Retail, Financial Services, Media, and Music. 

She started and expanded her career in Retail (Sainsburys and Tesco); was a senior executive in Barclays Retail Bank UK and was a member of the Barclays UK Diversity and Inclusion Board. 

She is currently the Chair of the Loughborough Building Society, Chair of PPL/PRS Music Licensing and a Non-Executive Director and  Remco Chair at Wilmington PLC. 

She has two grown up children, a step-son and a grandchild and lives in Bristol with her husband, two cats, a dog and an African Grey parrot. 

Connect with Helen Sachdev on LinkedIn 

Alison Green Picture

Alison Green, director, WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) 

Alison Green is director of the coaching practice, WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) and is an experienced, Masters qualified, executive coach.  She specialises in supporting professionals as they make the transition to becoming a working parent whilst managing their careers.   

Alison's experience as an executive coach is underpinned by her senior executive career in Advertising, Marketing, Financial Services and Healthcare in the UK and Internationally. 

Alison is a champion of diverse and inclusive workplaces.  She was a member of AXA UK’s Diversity and Inclusion Board and is currently Chair of the ESG Committee at a UK Plc. 

She has two grown children and now she has a little more time she’s developing her yoga practice. 

Connect with Alison Green on LinkedIn  

  • Executive, AndDigital

    “After returning from maternity leave to a new leadership role and during a pandemic – there was a lot I was hoping to get out of my coaching sessions. WOMBA’s coaching helped me work through the situation around my return, development areas and specific issues as they arose. The impact – I’ve been able to tackle challenges with a new perspective and confidence fuelled by my coach’s ability to get me to leverage and build on my own strengths.”

  • Director of Strategic Planning and Insight, Nationwide Building Society

    “WOMBA’s coaching helped me realise that being a parent was a strength, not a weakness. A small investment in support at this critical moment helps ensure that working parents reach their potential.”

  • Service Delivery Lead, AND Digital

    “Coaching with WOMBA has helped me navigate my first 12 months back from maternity leave. The first session helped me get my head back into the working world and stemmed insecurities about the transition back to the office. My WOMBA coach then helped me strive and thrive towards a promotion and supported me in getting comfortable in my new role. It’s been a wonderful and enriching experience and I have learned a lot about myself along the way. I wish we had more time together!”

  • Matthew Thornhill, Managing Director, Music Industry

    “Coaching was invaluable. My coach helped me through an incredibly challenging period as I juggled a young family and my career. She made it not just bearable but enjoyable. I’m more confident, productive and better at prioritisation and managing boundaries. She was hugely supportive and understanding.”

  • Sustainability & Social Impact Director, WeWork

    “Coaching has been invaluable in helping me develop the leadership behaviours required for me to progress in my career. Focussing on both my professional environment and my personal circumstances, my WOMBA coach has helped me to understand how to apply my beliefs and values to achieve my life goals. She is a fantastic sounding board and always comes up with a unique perspective and great ideas to overcome challenges. Her creative approach and positive energy makes every session enjoyable.”

  • Head of Editorial, Public Relations

    I quickly realised coaching was about getting to know the real me. My WOMBA coach challenged me in ways I didn’t think were possible and I honestly believe I came away a different person. She coached me to deal with my upcoming maternity leave and empowered me to write my own blog to help other career focused women. I now feel strong, confident and able to cope with the challenges that await me. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.

  • Nicola Paffard, Partner. Cripps LLP

    “WOMBA Coaching helped me finally achieve promotion to Partner. I had reached a plateau and was struggling to make the next step up. My coach’s perceptive listening gave me the space to work out what I needed to do and the tools to make things happen. This made a huge difference to the way I was perceived by my team and my bosses and, most crucially, the way I perceived myself.“