​A People-First Culture: Bethany’s Story of Care, Career and Parenthood

“When I joined Sharp & Carter at 5-months pregnant, I never expected such a supportive environment of care and trust. They helped me to challenge my own perception of what women should be expecting out of their career as they are doing the most natural thing in the world.” – Bethany Underwood

Bethany’s experience joining Sharp & Carter5-months into her pregnancy is a powerful testament to our people-first philosophy. At Sharp & Carter, we know that people need to be able to pursue their professional ambitions while feeling valued as human beings, with a life outside work.

This philosophy gives staff life-fulfillment while also supporting the success of the Sharp & Carter:

“This approach has resulted in better engagement, lower turnover levels, and much higher productivity in our people.” – Stephen Carter, CEO & Founder.

In this blog, we share Bethany’s journey, from her first impressions of Sharp & Carter to the unique support she received while balancing her new role with the excitement of becoming a mother. Her story highlights how Sharp & Carter are setting a new standard for organisations, where career aspirations and parenthood can flourish together.

“Allowing people to grow in their careers without compromising their roles as parents was not an option that I completely recognised”, Bethany shared.

Bethany’s first interactions with her team confirmed that Sharp & Carter is more than a business – it is a place where people matter.

“The company’s values, particularly about career growth and the support they provide, were evident right from the beginning”.

This strong early alignment with her own personal values created a sense of confidence in her decision to join the company, and she quickly felt a strong connection with ethos of Jo Skipper, her now manager.

A unique experience: beginning a new role while expecting

Bethany’s journey is exceptional, not because of her role as a recruitment consultant, but because she joined the company 5-months into her pregnancy.

From the beginning Bethany was open about her life, sharing the news with her now manager and HR Recruitment Partner Jo Skipper during their first interaction. Rather than being met with hesitation or uncertainty, she was surprised by a response full of understanding and encouragement. She recalls Jo saying something along the lines of “Congratulations! But why do you think those two things are mutually exclusive? I think you can have both at Sharp & Carter.”

Jo shared how Sharp & Carter’s approach is about long-term investment in people, not just about filling roles quickly:

"Too often leaders focus on short term outcomes as the measure of success rather than a holistic view of how some one can contribute to a team. At Sharp & Carter we focus specifically on Values and Behaviours. This focus on Excellence, Care, Generosity, Humility and Trust creates a positive, constructive workplace. That, then leads to outstanding results." - Jo Skipper, Partner, Sharp & Carter HR

“They think about career growth with people, so it’s not a need to get bums on seats. It’s about alignment in terms of values, work, and experience, and they were happy to invest in that with me,” Bethany says.

The team’s warm reception and excitement was unforgettable. Bethany particularly remembers Feyona Lau, Director of High Performance and Wellbeing, who made her feel valued beyond being an employee, but as a person navigating a major life change.

“It was such a relief to feel supported in what could have been a difficult transition,” she recalls.

At Sharp & Carter, trust and open communication are at the heart of everything we do. This kind of care made Bethany’s transition into the team both smooth and welcoming. Two-way communication, flexibility and trust allow Bethany to enjoy the perfect balance between work and life during this truly special chapter of her life that should have her full attention

As she navigated the challenges of starting a new role at this stage in her life, her leaders recognised the demands on her and offered flexibility, ensuring she could maintain the work-life balance she needed during this unforgettable time in her life.

“I didn’t need to be in the office at rush hour to prove I was working. I was also able to attend appointments with my midwife during the working day which made my schedule so much less stressful. We work so collaboratively that we all know the value each person brings,” Bethany reflects.

This trust and flexibility made all the difference in her smooth transition into the team.

Pictured, Bethany with her Sharp & Carter HR Recruitment Team

Living the values: supporting career and parenthood

Bethany reflects on how the cultural pillars – Care, Trust, Humility, Generosity, and Excellence – are woven into her day to day.

Care: Flexible work arrangements and leadership support

One of the most significant ways Bethany felt supported was through Sharp & Carter’s commitment to flexibility. Recognising the challenges of balancing a new role with pregnancy, the leadership team made it a priority to check in regularly and ensure that Bethany could navigate her responsibilities while preparing for maternity leave.

“The ongoing conversations with leadership are especially helpful” she shares, “Jo in particular, was so supportive in helping me co-design short term goals that aligned with my needs and my situation. I was able to step into my role with confidence, knowing that the expectations were realistic and tailored to my situation.”

The check-ins and flexibility offered enabled Bethany to thrive without the added pressure of trying to fit an already rigid structure.

Trust: inspiring and empowering growth from day one

From the very beginning, Bethany was entrusted with meaningful work that matched her skills and aspirations. Trust from the very beginning played a crucial role in her feeling valued and motivated.

“Sharp & Carter immediately trusted me to contribute and make an impact. It gave me a real sense of ownership over my role, and that trust helped build my confidence.” Bethany reflects.

Humility and Generosity: shared experiences and advice

Bethany has been particularly grateful for the humility and generosity of her colleagues. Many of them had navigated similar career and motherhood paths and were eager to offer their support.

“The humility and generosity of my colleagues has been incredible” says Bethany, "They openly shared their experiences of balancing work and family, which has been incredibly helpful”.

Colleagues who had taken parental leave were particularly forthcoming with practical advice on managing the big transition, both away from and back to work.

The team’s enthusiasm for Bethany’s journey and willingness to share their own stories fostered a sense of belonging and community, as well as mutual respect.

Excellence: Inspired to excel in both career and parenthood

At Sharp & Carter, delivering excellence isn’t just about chasing relentless targets – it’s about living our core values that empower and inspire employees to reach their best potential.

For Bethany, the support she has received has had a clear impact on her motivation and drive to excel.

“Because I’ve been presented so many experiences of feeling value and valued, it motivates me to reach my career goals and work as hard as I want to. This comes naturally when I am getting something amazing back from the business.”

The culture of encouragement has made Bethany excited to return to work after her maternity leave.

“I didn’t expect to feel as excited to come back already. I’ll be returning to such a great environment and team, and there are plans in place for my transition back already. I feel safe and excited that my role will thrive when I come back” she says.

The thoughtful and planned approach to her return has given Bethany the confidence to embrace both her personal and professional roles completely.

“I can feel 100% of a professional and 100% of a mum as well.” - Bethany Underwood

Connect with us

If you’re interested in learning more about how Sharp & Carter can support the next stages to your career and personal journey, feel free to connect with us directly.

Bethany, who is with the business until her Maternity Leave in December, specialises in Human Resources Recruitment. She is available for a chatand is ready to assist with any of your recruitment needs.

Or, learn more about Sharp & Carter as a specialist recruitment agency. Discover more about our values and the work culture that prioritises people above all else.