Karen Finlayson is a Partner at PwC based in Leeds and has worked at the firm for 19 years. Prior to joining PwC she spent some time in working in industry within banking, retail and manufacturing also the public sector. Her role at PwC includes leading both the Internal Audit practice and Health Industries team across the North. Outside of PwC Karen is a Lay Board Member of Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.
Karen Finlayson on Leadership, Single Parenthood and Building a Successful Career
Updated June 2026
When people talk about successful careers, they often assume there is a standard route to follow. Go to university, secure a graduate role, climb the ladder and eventually reach a leadership position.
In reality, many careers look very different.
When we first interviewed Karen Finlayson, she was a Partner at PwC, leading teams across the North while raising her son as a single parent. What stood out to me wasn’t simply her impressive career, but the honesty with which she spoke about the challenges that many working parents face every day – finding reliable childcare, balancing work commitments and family life, and learning that there is no such thing as getting everything right all of the time.
As someone who has spent more than 25 years working in recruitment, I’ve met many women who assume they need to follow a particular path in order to succeed. Karen’s journey is a reminder that careers rarely move in a straight line. She left school at 17, completed an apprenticeship, continued studying while working full-time and went on to build a senior leadership career in professional services. Her experience demonstrates that there are many routes to success and that determination, resilience and a willingness to keep learning can often matter more than a perfect CV.
One part of the interview that still feels particularly relevant today is Karen’s discussion around childcare. Ask almost any working parent what their biggest challenge has been and childcare will usually feature somewhere near the top of the list. While many aspects of work have changed over the last decade, finding reliable childcare and balancing family responsibilities with career ambitions remains a challenge for many families.
Karen also speaks passionately about diversity and creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds. It’s a message that feels just as important today as it did when this interview was first published. Talent comes from all walks of life, and the best organisations recognise that there is no single route to success.
The original interview below shares Karen’s experiences of building a successful career, navigating single parenthood and creating a life that works for both her family and her ambitions.
Karen Finlayson
As well as her roles in the North, Karen spends a lot of time working nationally with a wide range of clients advising and supporting them on the successful delivery of their objectives, helping them to operate more efficiently and effectively and providing assurance that things are working as they should be. No two days are the same which is one of the key reasons why Karen loves her job, she is always learning and being challenged. She also has the privilege of working in a sector that she is passionate about – the healthcare sector, as it has a significant impact on wellbeing of people and living healthier lives.
Karen’s career path has been less than traditional compared to many who started out in professional services 19 years ago in that she left school at 17 to do an Apprenticeship in business studies, before going back into part time education complete her A Levels and a post graduate degree, whilst holding down a full time job. Karen is also a huge advocate of diversity and helping people to achieve their potential. She believes that it’s important to value difference and recognise that talent comes from many different sources so is glad to see that over time the routes into professional services are different therefore attracting a more diverse mix of talent.
Beyond work Karen is a mum to her son Harvey, aged 13. A keen lover of sport (more spectating and participating these days!), she loves football, athletics and rugby and also enjoys being outdoors walking and travelling.
What were or are the biggest challenges you faced going back in to the workplace after children?
Definitely finding the right childcare that was flexible and right me and my son. As a single parent this was particularly important as my job was and still can sometimes be unpredictable so it was important to find childcare that was flexible. I had a childminder who lived nearby thankfully she was very flexible and accommodating which helped me out a lot in the early years. My son is 13 now so it’s much easier and he’s a ‘latchkey kid’.
How do you achieve your work life balance of career woman and mother?
It’s important to set boundaries. I went back to work full time so I always made sure that my weekends were for myself, my son, family and friends.
If you could give your past self-one piece of advice about being a working mother what would it be?
Don’t be judged by others and do what is right and works for you. Also don’t feel guilty about your choices – I think every parent worries whether they are getting it right.
Have your career goals and aspirations altered since becoming a working mother from that prior to your children?
Not really. I have always been driven and ambitious but my reasons for being so are less selfish. Prior to being a parent it was about proving to myself that I could get to the top of my profession. Since having my son it’s been more about providing a good life for him, being a good role model, making a difference by helping others
What are your future goals in your career path in the next few years, what do you hope to achieve?
A long-term goal of mine is to write a book – something motivational and inspiring – but first I need to find the time!
If you had the power to change one thing in the business market for working mothers, what would you change?
I still don’t think there are enough women in business in senior positions. My own views on this is because it much harder for women to juggle family and a career than for most men. I see it all the time where women forgot their career ambitions to support their families or the man’s career and whilst that may have been a choice I think employers could do more to create a level playing field for so they don’t feel like they can’t make career and motherhood work. There is lots of research that shows a man’s career is more linear than a woman’s and that is because the challenges and barriers are very different for women especially when you bring having children into the equation.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
A good business friend once shared with me a quote from Warren Buffett – ‘Look for three things in a person intelligence, energy and integrity. But if they don’t have the last one do not even bother with the first two’. I would not want to do business with someone I couldn’t trust.
If you could recommend one book to our readers leisure or business what would it be?
My favourite book is The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters. It is a great book and something we can all relate too, definitely worth a read
Question from previous interviewee Gail Emms (Olympian) – When it gets too much – how do you de-stress?
I find walking my dog everyday come rain or shine helps me destress. Also throughout the year I book regular trips to a good spa on my own to be pampered from head to toe – this helps to reduce any stress building up
What question would you wish to ask our next working mother who takes this short interview?
What is your favourite pastime with your child/ children?