Working Mothers Leaving the Workforce

Why do 17% of women leave employment completely in the five years following childbirth, compared to 4% of men? (Understanding Society)

What about the 24% of women return to full-time work after having children, and of those, the 79% who end up leaving due to difficulties balancing full-time work with childcare? (ThatWorksForMe)

The Career Impact of Motherhood: A Shift to Junior Roles 

When I became a homeless single mother of three, it was a horrendous time. Twenty-odd years later, it's very clear to me what the problem was. I had to learn how to validate myself from who I was on a daily basis and what I believed in. More than that, I needed community, role models, and bigger dreams - not smaller ones.

Careers After Babies found "a 32% reduction in women in managerial roles about starting a family, with a corresponding 44% increase of women in admin roles, with many stating that it's easier to find flexible work opportunities at a junior level."

Which is exactly my point.

Balancing Motherhood and Career

When I had my first child, he became very ill, suffering cardiorespiratory arrest and falling into a coma. I struggled to return to work, often coming home exhausted after sleepless nights at the hospital. One day, I collapsed against my front door, too drained to move further into my house.

Our instinct is to shrink back, to make our world smaller in an attempt to regain control over something - anything.

But the path to freedom lies in becoming the biggest version of ourselves.

The Power of Community and Speaking Up 

You know the advice you hear as a woman, about what to do if someone's trying to take kidnap you? The thing they tell you to do is to shout really, really loudly, so that they you call as much attention as possible. Because if you're shouting and yelling, then people are going to hopefully come to your aid.

And it's that exact mindset we need to have when we hit that wall as working mothers.

Become the biggest version of yourself. Speak up about what is actually happening. Tell everybody what your problem is, because actually there is no guilt and shame for us to carry when other people are being terrible to us. That's not our guilt and shame. I should never have been made to feel ashamed that my son was sick. If I had community, I would have gained clarity and support much sooner.

The Business Case for Supporting Working Mothers

For the more business-minded of you, it's worth knowing the implications of this survival mindset extend beyond our personal careers; they affect entire organizations and the economy:

Companies with diverse leadership teams see 21% higher profitability (McKinsey), and yet only 33.5% of senior leadership positions are held by women (Grant Thornton). We are missing out on significant potential.

Empowering Women Leaders

The coaching clients I've helped the most are those who understand who they are. So when we at WCorp work with women leaders and aspiring women leaders, we focus on:

1. Developing an unshakable sense of self and leadership identity
2. Providing one-on-one consulting and mentorship from senior female executives
3. Creating a supportive community
4. Equipping women with tools to navigate leadership challenges

Join WCorp's Mentorship Program 

If you're a working mother feeling overwhelmed by these challenges, thinking about giving in to the urge to make your life smaller, know that you are not alone. 

Join WCorp's mentorship program to connect with other women who understand your journey and are ready to support you in reclaiming your career aspirations. Together, we can create a future where women don’t have to choose between family or career.