CEO, The Talent Keeper Specialists

Jessica Chivers is a coaching psychologist, author and CEO of The Talent Keeper Specialists. She also hosts the Comeback Coach podcast for people returning to work after a break.

FROM BBC BREAKFAST SOFA TO SMALL GROUP CHATS
An energetic presence who loves to share research and real-life stories on TV, radio, stage and with small groups. Best known for tackling topics on the minds of career-oriented mid-senior female professionals and influencing leaders to think again about out-dated ways of working.

A PRECOCIOUS WOULD-BE-LAWYER AND FEMINIST

Aged about nine she asked her mum whether “woman” was a contraction of “womb” and “man” and why women couldn’t have a name of their own. Her mother delighted in her thinking but didn’t have an answer. Growing up watching LA Law, Dynasty and hard-hitting documentaries (under the guidance of her liberal, teacher mother) she decided age 11 that she would become a lawyer and free women on death row in the U.S. for killing their abusive partners.

CITY GRADUATE TURNED ENTREPRENEUR

She didn’t go to death row (or study law). Jessica read psychology and started her career on a City graduate programme before working with The Mind Gym and starting her first business age 25. Her book Mothers Work! How to Get a Grip on Guilt and Make a Smooth Return to Work has been dubbed “THE book employers should giving all their women returners” by Professor Karen Pine.

THE TALENT KEEPER SPECIALISTS are on a mission to keep everyone everywhere feeling confident, connected and cared for when they take extended leave from work. They work with clients such as ITV, Stantec and CIPD to maximise the potential of returning talent. The Talent Keeper Specialists are pioneers of the Comeback Community™ employee experience.

LIFE BEYOND WORK…

Jessica is a netball-loving ex-politico who is married to Nick, a data architect. They have two children and a whippet called Rocky. She has a thing for kale smoothies and listening to podcasts whilst sorting drawers and cleaning cupboards. One day she plans to own a very old Mini and have scarlet hair.