AXA Me Anything: How I balance work and family

It seems to be one of those things that employers aren’t supposed to say out loud, but there’s so much more to life than work. There. We said it. This time on AXA Me Anything, Oliver Pincott answered some questions about how he finds the right balance between his role as Corporate Responsibility Manager and his home life with his young family. 

What’s your role at AXA, and how long have you been at the company? 
I am the Corporate Responsibility Manager and have been with AXA for 8 months. 

What brought you to AXA? 
I moved back to the UK after working for the government in Australia, and I was looking for a job where I could make a difference. I knew I wanted to work for a company that had a strong purpose and when I found this role, I knew instantly it was what I was looking for.   

How would you describe the culture at AXA? 
Our culture is more than accepting, it’s embracing, encouraging and empowering. I feel really fortunate to work for an organisation that’s so supportive and flexible. It enables me to be the dad I want to be, so I can be there for my daughter. It’s great working with other colleagues who are parents too – we share lots of toilet training and toddler tantrum tips! 

Is it important to you that you work somewhere that offers flexibility? 
Flexible working allows people to manage their work-life balance in a way that’s meaningful to them. For me, I know that I can be there for my family when they need me while still pursuing my career. This means never missing out on important moments in my daughter’s life. I couldn’t work for a company that didn’t value the benefits of flexibility. 

Are you able to achieve a good work-life balance at AXA?  
Work-life balance is something most people struggle to get right, and I’m no exception. Setting good boundaries and non-negotiables is really important, like picking my daughter up from nursery every day. It helps with planning my day and managing my workload. Finding enjoyment in the work you do also helps when logging off at the end of a busy day. 

Would you recommend AXA as a place to work? 
Early in my career at AXA, I noticed that we truly live by the values we set out. It’s easy for businesses to say they’ll do the right thing, but AXA is committed to our purpose and driven by it. People are at the heart of everything we do, which brings a very human element to our decisions, interactions and direction. 

If you’d like to join a company that encourages a healthy work-life balance, keep an eye on our latest vacancies to find a role that’s right for you. Or follow us on LinkedIn to find out more about life at AXA.