“A much-needed guide to navigating parenting in high-performance environments. And a must-read for any leader looking around and wondering where the hell all the senior women have gone.”
Christine Armstrong
“Kirsty has written an important and timely book that challenges orgaisations to rethink how they lead through maternity transition. She highlights a critical aspect of workplace culture that directly impacts engagement, retention, diversity and performance. More than a discussion of policy, this book provides a practical roadmap for leaders to build awareness, foster inclusion, and invest meaningfully in individual success. Through compelling examples and actionable insights, Kirsty demonstrates how thoughtful leadership during maternity transition can strengthen both people and business outcomes. A must-read for leaders seeking to create truly inclusive, high-performing organisations.”
Jason Allen, Chair
“This book represents the culmination of years of coaching practice, rigorous doctoral research and close partnership with organisations striving to retain and develop their best people. Kirsty brings together commercial insight, academic rigour and practical wisdom in a way that very few people can.”
Helen Cowan, CEO of The Tall Wall
“Grounded in rigorous research and rich practical experience, this book offers a commercially compelling roadmap for organisations that want to retain and develop their best talent after parental leave.”
Tara Johnson, Chief People Officer, Hg Capital
“Having spent much of my career in HR leadership roles, I found this book both insightful and highly relevant. Dr. Kirsty Reynolds brings together research, lived experience, and practical guidance to illuminate one of the most significant yet overlooked challenges in retaining women in the workplace. By combining compelling evidence with actionable solutions, she makes a powerful case that supporting employees through parental leave is not just the right thing to do, it is a business imperative. An important read for leaders seeking to strengthen their talent pipeline, retain high-performing employees, and create more inclusive organizations.”
Anna Mignot, Head of EMEA HR, Blackstone
“As both a Partner and a mother, I recognised so much in these pages. Kirsty combines rigorous research with a deep understanding of the realities of progressing a demanding career alongside parenthood. She moves the conversation beyond policy to show why retaining talented parents is fundamentally a leadership challenge. Practical, evidence-based and highly relevant for every professional services firm.”
Neeta Chityal, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard LLP
“Getting a Return on Returners is grounded in a strong and credible research foundation, drawing on robust evidence and real-world insights to explore one of the most important talent challenges facing organisations today. Dr Kirsty Reynolds successfully bridges theory and practice, providing employers with a wealth of practical techniques to challenge the status quo. What makes this book particularly valuable is its deep exploration of the critical role managers play in shaping the experience of returners. Through compelling stories and lived experiences, Reynolds highlights the often significant gap between organisational intent and individual reality, bringing to life the barriers that many returners continue to face. As a result, this is an essential guide for leaders and managers who want to better understand their influence, foster inclusive team cultures, and ensure that talented individuals are supported to thrive at every stage of their career journey.”
Alan Holmes, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Clyde & Co
“As someone who has spent years studying how profesionals combine careers and families, I know how rare it is to find solutions that actually work in high-pressure environments. Dr. Reynolds has found them. Her ideas, from small adjustments to policy changes, are powerful and convincing. We are all better off for her effort.”
Dr Špela Trefalt, Professor Emerita, Simmons University
