S01 EP05: Vivienne Heyhoe

Why does carrying everything yourself eventually stop working, at home and in business? In this episode of the Modern Load Podcast (MOLO), host Sophie Bruce is joined by Dr Vivienne Heyhoe, a certified exit planning advisor who helps established business owners transform owner-dependent companies into sellable assets. Vivienne brings a unique perspective shaped by her background in medicine, finance, JP Morgan, entrepreneurship, family business and motherhood. Together, Sophie and Vivienne explore the parallels between running a business and running a household, and why both become harder when everything depends on one person. The conversation covers the pressure modern parents face, the invisible planning load often carried at home, the importance of systems, and why stepping back is not a failure, but often the thing that creates more freedom, resilience and value. This is an honest, practical conversation about family life, burnout, business ownership, delegation, identity and learning not to be needed all the time. What we cover: Vivienne’s upbringing in a family of six and how it shaped her independence Her career journey from medicine to finance, technology and exit planning Why flexibility became a key part of how she built work and family life The similarities between owner-led businesses and modern households Why being “needed” can become part of our identity How systems create freedom at home and at work The planning weight many women still carry in family life Why modern parenting feels more intense than previous generations The pressure to be present for everything How burnout shows up gradually in business owners and parents Why delegation is not just about removing tasks, but reducing dependency The importance of refuelling yourself before supporting everyone else How to use energy, strengths and structure to spread the load Why trust sits at the heart of business, parenting and partnership Chapters: 00:00 – Introducing Dr Vivienne Heyhoe 01:20 – Growing up in a family of six 04:00 – Independence, attention and childhood dynamics 07:15 – Family roles and early ideas of work 10:30 – Career pivots from medicine to finance 14:10 – Building a life around flexibility 17:20 – From family business to exit planning 20:45 – Why businesses and households need systems 24:30 – Organised chaos and family structure 28:00 – Parenting as a team sport 31:10 – Planning weight and invisible responsibility 35:00 – Modern parenting pressure and expectations 39:20 – The guilt of always being available 43:00 – Building emotional openness at home 46:30 – Why modern family life feels so full 50:00 – Refuelling yourself as a parent 54:15 – Learning not to be needed all the time 58:00 – Burnout in business and family life 01:02:00 – Decision fatigue and delegation 01:05:30 – What Vivienne’s first job taught her 01:08:00 – Final reflections 📩 Get in touch: [email protected] X - https://x.com/TheModernLoad_ Instagram -   / themoloapp   LinkedIn -   / molo-app   Facebook -   / the-molo-app   TikTok -   / themoloapp   YouTube - / @themodernload