VP, Brand at Electronic Arts, Elle McCarthy, on pregnancy, internalised guilt, speaking up as a leader and breaking societal norms.

“So tell me what’s happening in your life?”, the CEO asks.

It’s over a decade ago, I’ve just joined a new agency and he’s asked me to go for a drink with him, saying he takes all new starters out to get to know them better. I’m thrilled at the chance to impress and have written down some ideas I want to talk to him about. I’ve brought my notebook with me, which sits limply unopened on the sticky Marylebone pub table. “Boyfriend?”, I answer yes, we’ve just moved in together. “Oh dear”, he says, “You’re not planning on having babies any time soon are you?”. I answer no too quickly. Why did I answer that? How could I not have? What if I had said yes?... I try to bring the conversation back around to work, he glazes over and orders another round, “Gin and tonic for...