OUR MISSION...
is to help organisations build workplaces where motherhood does not unnecessarily derail female careers and where more women remain on the path to leadership.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Sam Summers spent 20+ years managing large teams and commercial budgets across media, advertising, and marketing – half of that time as a mother.
When her son was born in 2015, navigating a demanding corporate career as a single mother far from home revealed a stark reality. Like many women, she discovered that returning to work after having a baby wasn't simply a logistical transition. It completely changed how work felt, what support mattered, and how easily career momentum could be lost.
This lived experience made it clear that the corporate system isn't set up to genuinely support women through this massive life change, directly causing the loss of future female leaders. Driven to fix the system, Sam trained as a specialist coach and founded The Return Lab.
Today, she partners with organisations to identify exactly where female talent is being lost and to build robust structures around return, progression, and leadership. Her goal is to ensure more women remain, thrive, and lead after having a family.
Outside of work, Sam is a mum of two, a wife, and a successful children’s author.