'Leading with my compassion: My path to becoming a CEO in social care - as a woman, and more importantly as a mum'

My journey into leadership began long before the job title! It started with care. From an early age I was by my mum's side in a care setting, learning what it meant to support others. My mum was my role model, and she showed me that nothing is impossible so follow your ambitions. At 17, I began working for Barnardo's in a specialist school, by 21 I was stepping into management. In between I supported my mum to run her care home and give her a well-deserved break.

At 28, I qualified as a social worker and began work in Nottingham's inner city before relocating to Devon. I became a manager of a social work team at 32, just before welcoming my first child Amelia, at 34. At the time, maternity leave lasted just three months, I returned to work, navigating the weight of management and the demands of being a new mum, sadly my mum had passed away by this time, so I had little family support. So, I learnt to juggle management in frontline social work with a young family. I had two more children Poppy and Albert, and being the primary earner, work was a necessity but something I'v always been passionate about, so working hard during the days and working late at night I took on a new challenge of working as a Guardian in the Court. Iv always enjoyed the challenges and people in social care, however the pressure became too much on my children, and I gave the work up for 6 years. Instead, I set up my own fitness business and ran a gym for women from my converted garage, I co ordinated two running groups, and organised trail weekends.

Then my brother persuaded me to help him develop his new business, able2achieve. Supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, associated disorders and complex needs, so I returned to the social care world. In a few years we expanded and offered support to those with a mental health diagnosis, I started as an operations manager, this led to Directors post leading the care side which build up to leading a team of operation managers, three deputy directors and becoming the CEO for the whole company.

Early in my career at times I faced negative attitudes towards me, not just because I was young, but also because I was a woman in management. The care sector, like many others, was largely staffed by woman, but led by men. Back then women in senior positions were the exception. Now, thankfully, it's becoming the expectation – though we're still not without challenges.

Today, I'm proud to work in a role where I support learners and lead teams across the organisation, holding the post as CEO. I'm proud to have teams that work with me who follow my values and are led by me to empower others to succeed and reach their goals and potential in life, both staff and learners, promoting progression.

Following in my brother footsteps – with his military background and his commanding presence hasn't been easy. His leadership stye was his own. Mine is different, but that contrast helped me embrace my own way of leading– not despite being a woman, but because of it.

There are now so many brilliant female role models across the sector now, and I'm proud to be one of them. Woman in leadership today still face challenges and bias but there are more of us and I'm excited to see the next generation of women in leadership continue to rise in a2a and social care.

I've been accused of being aggressive, but men are rarely labelled with this, I'm not aggressive I am assertive, empathise and lead with intention. Iv lead teams raised a family and grown through every challenge not by following the tradition path, but by walking my own with purpose and care and am proud of me and what I have achieved.

To quote Michele Obama, "there is no limit to what we, as women can accomplish"

Thank you for reading.

By Marika Elliott | 16 May 2025