Embracing Change: Why making a career change after mat leave can be empowering

You might be thinking - isn’t becoming a parent already one of the biggest life transitions one can go through? Why embracing MORE change?

Welcoming a new addition to the family is undoubtedly one of life’s most profound experiences. Yet, as we navigate the whirlwind of sleepless nights, diaper changes, and endless cuddles, motherhood has a way of reshaping our priorities and perspectives while navigating the identity shift.

Before I went on maternity leave, I shared with my former employer that I desire to take on a new role after I return from leave. To me it felt like the perfect time to start fresh - even without knowing what I would have to ultimately go through.

A couple of months into my maternity leave, my company went through a mass layoff and with that I found myself in the situation to truly reflect, and realign my values and career path.

And while there were many stressful moments along the way, I’ll explore in this article why making a career change after maternity leave can be a transformative and empowering decision and ultimately lead to greater career fulfillment.

Embracing Changing Values

Motherhood changed everything for me. It shifted my values, placing even greater emphasis on balance, well-being and fulfillment. When I transitioned into the role of a mother, many things that I found worth achieving once, no longer felt that important. The corporate ladder and the big title was never very attractive to me in the first place, but after becoming a mother it resonated even less with my evolving values. I prioritize flexibility, family time, and personal growth.

So, while I was on maternity leave contemplating my next career move, and reading job descriptions, many felt just like empty words to me.

And imagining myself in those roles felt like doing a dishonour to my son, as I want him to see his mother not only working, or chasing a title, but being fulfilled, doing work with meaning and purpose.

Only when I was getting really clear in my newfound values, my passions as well as my conditions around flexibility, I was able attract the kind of role that aligned with what I was looking for.

At this point, I also want to say that not everyone needs to become self-employed to find fulfillment in their work. I believe that this is one of the greatest misconceptions of our time. We are multi-faceted beings and speaking for myself, I love my job in strategy, helping companies across North America making their powerful visions become reality, and I also love building an empowered women community through yoga, women retreats and soulful coaching. It’s the yin and the yang.

Ultimately, the key is to be really clear about how you want to spend every day. I personally believe this is the easiest and most efficient way to inform your values, and your priorities and help build a more meaningful and sustainable career journey. And of course it can change. For example, I was very clear that I don’t want to spend my time in the car every day commuting for hours since I want to spend every hour outside of my work / daycare with my son. A couple of years ago, it didn’t matter to me to commute, but I was in a different life situation.

Navigating the Identity Shift

Returning to work after maternity leave often coincides with a profound identity shift. Navigating this shift can be extremely challenging yet incredibly rewarding if we allow ourselves to embrace the new identity.

One of my first conversations when I was looking for a new job was with a career advisor. And the first thing she said to me was “don’t share that you are on maternity leave, nobody will hire you”. My reaction “If that’s the reason for not hiring me, I don’t want to work for this organization”.

The essence being, stay true to your full self. Being a mother should be the reason WHY someone hires you. And it was for me!

Making a career change provides an opportunity to embrace this identity shift and redefine our professional narrative. You can start fresh. When you go back to your previous organization, the expectation will be that you deliver and work just like you did before you went on mat leave. In a new organization you can set your boundaries right from the start without anyone questioning them.

I came to the realization that motherhood is not a limitation, but rather a source of strength and resilience. Motherhood made me incredibly productive and I work more effective than ever. I have to - that’s one of the key skills we learn as full-time mothers with little ones attached to us almost 24/7.

While ultimately navigating identity shifts can be daunting, I believe it’s essential to approach this transition with a sense of curiosity and self-compassion. Embrace the opportunity to explore new interests, skills, and passions, recognizing that our identity is not static but rather a fluid and evolving journey.

Embracing Empowerment

Stepping into a completely new role in a fully remote company after my almost 18 month long maternity leave felt challenging and exciting in the beginning. When you go back to work after a longer leave, you are likely very ready for it. I was! I loved throwing myself into something completely new, learning and growing in a new industry with new colleagues.

Yet taking control of my professional journey during a vulnerable time felt incredibly empowering. The ability to align my career path with my values and embracing the identity shift enabled me to create a life that reflects my full self.

Making this career change was not just about finding a new job—it was about reclaiming my agency, pursuing fulfillment, and prioritizing my well-being. It took me a moment to recognize my worth as mother and professional, embracing change as a catalyst for growth, and stepping into my power with confidence and resilience.

Conclusion

Changing careers after maternity leave - although not entirely voluntary on my side - was the best thing that could happen for me. By embracing changing values, navigating the identity shift, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and growth, creating a career path that aligned with what I needed most at this time in my life and therefore with my authentic self.

So, let us embrace the winds of change, trusting in our resilience and inner strength as we forge a new path forward—one that honors our values, celebrates our identity as mothers, and empowers us to thrive in both our personal and professional lives.

If this approach resonates with you, like, comment and share it with your friends and follow me on Instagram for more tips on stepping into your power, self-care and living life unapologetically authentic as working mom of young ones.

You want to dive deeper, get your FREE guide to determine your values HERE

About the author

Miriam Lesa is a multi-dimensional certified soul & life coach for women, nutritionist, yoga teacher and business strategist, practicing the art of slow living since almost 10 years. Her heart is at the intersection between wellbeing, motherhood and business.

Attuned to corporate life and navigating C-Suite for 15 years, yet grounded in peace, intuition and connections, she is deeply passionate about supporting women, especially working moms to access their inner compass to ignite their strength and live a life in abundance.

Born and raised in Germany, Miriam now lives with her husband and son in Toronto since 2018.