Bewonder*’s Post

The past four weeks have been transformative as I stepped back from my role to welcome my second daughter into the world. During this precious paternity leave, I reflected on a few invaluable lessons (between feedings and diaper changes) 1. The Power of Presence: Being a present dad has reinforced the importance of being there for the little moments. These moments are fleeting and irreplaceable, whether it’s late-night feedings or first smiles. Being fully present has deepened my bond with both of my children and wife and reminded me of the importance of showing up in all areas of life. The best gift we have for one another is our time together. 2. Personal Life Fuels Creativity: Taking a break from the daily grind of meetings, reports, and emails allowed my mind to wander and recharge. Immersing myself in family life and turning on a few podcasts during those moments of stillness sparked new ideas and creative solutions that I’m excited to bring back to my professional projects. 3. Balance is the Key to Success: My paternity leave has underscored the necessity of work-life balance. It’s not just about time off; it’s about prioritizing and valuing both family and career. This balance is critical to sustained success and well-being and will be a critical area of opportunity for me in the season ahead. 4. Gratitude for Supportive Employers: I’m incredibly grateful to my company, D.LUXURY BRANDS, for providing this invaluable time off. It’s a testament to their understanding of the significance of family and the well-being of their employees. Seeing my team continue to perform well without Slacks, calls, and messages to me through the time off was amazing proof of their excellence, and this intentional act spoke volumes to me. As I return to work, I carry these reflections with me, knowing they will shape my approach at home and in my career. Here’s to integrating these insights into our everyday lives and growing in every role we play. #PaternityLeave #FamilyFirst #WorkLifeBalance #Gratitude #CreativeProcess #Leadership #fractionalCMO

Are you providing these types of benefits to your team? In the past, I've seen firms cringe at giving 2 weeks, let alone a decent minimum like 6 weeks, because of the cost even though they could afford it. I'm proud to see a shift. Recently, I've had clients increase their parental leave policies (up to 12 weeks). Yes, that's expensive but the value and ROI are ultimately worth the investment. Align your practices with your values...what policies do you have in place that make you less attractive to current and potential talent? What excuses do you make to not make the change? #workingmoms #betterbenefits #recruitingtalent

👨👩👧👧 Putting Family First: My Experience with Paternity Leave 👨👩👧👧 Hey LinkedIn community, I wanted to share a personal journey that has truly opened my eyes and reshaped my perspective on work-life balance. As someone who comes from a blue-collar background, taking time off for paternity leave was not an easy decision for me. I've always preached the importance of "Family First," but when the opportunity arose, I found myself hesitating. Questions raced through my mind: Would my business suffer in my absence? How many unread emails would await my return? Could I afford to miss potential game-changing opportunities that might impact my 2024 goals? These concerns were valid, but in the midst of my hesitation, I overlooked what truly mattered most—my family. I took the leap, and I can confidently say that it was the best decision I've made for both my family and myself. Over the course of two months, I immersed myself in the invaluable experience of spending quality time with my loved ones. Witnessing my family's daily routines and being present to see my daughters' personalities blossom brought a sense of fulfillment that work accomplishments could never replicate. Amid the initial uncertainty, I discovered the power of genuine connection. Stepping away from the daily grind allowed me to bridge the gap between my work life and my family life. I truly understood the essence of "Family First" during this time. Today, I'm a firm advocate for embracing paternity leave, regardless of your professional background or industry. It's not about simply taking time off—it's about investing in the moments that matter, cultivating deeper relationships, and gaining insights that enrich both your personal and professional journeys. To all the dads out there who might be facing the same doubts I once did, I encourage you to prioritize family and experience the incredible growth that comes from it. Your business will not crumble, opportunities will still arise, and your colleagues will support your decision. More importantly, you'll gain an unparalleled appreciation for the bonds that truly make life fulfilling. Let's continue to reshape our perspectives and challenge the status quo. Here's to family, connection, and the journey toward a more balanced and rewarding life. #PaternityLeave #FamilyFirst #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalJourney

🌟 Returning to work after maternity leave 🌟 Entering my fourth week back at work after welcoming my second son has brought about significant changes. Navigating this transition and establishing our new normal has been key. 🌈 Taking each day as it comes has been crucial. Implementing tiny habit stacking and regularly reading "Atomic Habits" helped tremendously during my return after my first maternity leave. Setting a goal, breaking it down, and taking small daily actions towards it, even if just for 1 minute a day, can lead to success. 🍁 Embracing change is essential. There will be ups and downs, but being adaptable prepares you for anything. Balancing work, home life, and kids can teach us to be flexible. Understanding your capacity, as Brene Brown suggests, is vital. If the total doesn't add up to 100%, adjustments are needed for a sustainable balance. 💫 Evolve. Your new world is evolving, recognize and jump right in and figure it out. I haven’t figured it all out but I wanted to share my working life with my family. This month, our InDay theme represented Play and I brought our two sons into visit our LinkedIn office in Dublin. My eldest son is so proud and tells everyone about the “cool offices”. #WorkingParents #MaternityLeave #WorkLifeBalance #growthmindset

Returning from parental leave with heartfelt thanks 💌 I can't find the words to truly express my gratitude towards Richard and our team. The way our firm handled my leave should be the blueprint. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞��𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 A central theme was work/life balance and flexibility. Richard's honesty, warmth, and empathy immediately put me at ease. I felt comfortable expressing my priorities and needs in our initial conversations. This laid the foundation for my future leave. 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 There has been zero pressure to grow, overextend myself, or jeopardize my need to be a present wife and mother. Our business grows naturally because we are given the perfect environment to serve our clients well. Richard has repeatedly jumped in to remind me to slow down, delegate, and preserve my work/life balance. 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Richard met my announcement with genuine happiness. He took that moment to celebrate the news, and we set a later meeting to discuss the business of my workload, coverage needs, etc. 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 Richard invested in growing our team by adding an INCREDIBLE planner, Cait. This took the weight off my shoulders, knowing our clients would be in capable hands with her and our exceptional operations duo, Tracy and Danielle. I am sifting through emails that praise their work in my absence. They all made it easy to let go. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 My colleagues checked in on my well-being and demanded baby photos.   We missed each other. That's it. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 I'm returning to work with an onramp and a truckload of understanding. Richard called me to make sure I knew it was okay to ease back into work. I told him I was ready to hit the ground running. His response was, "I don't want you to". __ A book could be written about each signal Richard gave to reassure me that 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒. Working alongside him has been an incredible gift to me and my family. #worklifebalance #parentalleave #gratitude

A quiet moment amongst the happy chaos. I debated about sharing this snapshot from dinnertime last night, but it perfectly captures where I am today, just returning back from maternity leave. As I catch up with my fellow working parents, it’s clear we’re all just trying to figure out our own balancing acts. Interestingly, my previous maternity leave led me to my most successful year at LinkedIn, so you would think I have this down pat, but I’m still learning as I go. To help, here are my 4 learnings (so far) on how to step back into the workplace, whether you’re returning from parental leave or trying to reengage: 🔹 Recognize What You Need: Take time to figure out what you need to make this manageable and share that with someone who can be your support system. I know not all work settings or managers are receptive audiences, but if you feel comfortable, be open to sharing with your manager so they know how to meet you where you are. 🔹 Look for Quick Wins: It takes time to ramp back up and feel confident so look for simple ways to contribute at first. A quick win is a light-lift action that is visible, so it is an effective way to let your colleagues know you’re back without it being overwhelming. 🔹 Protect Your Energy: It’s often said that “there’s only so much time in a day,” but there’s also only so much energy. Be strategic where you invest your energy and get comfortable setting boundaries. 🔹 Be Kind to Yourself: If I had one piece of advice for my younger self, it would be to keep a sense of humor when it comes to work because seeing the lighter side of things helps carry the load during difficult times. It’s okay if things fall apart—it happens to everyone—just take note of the learning and be kind to yourself. And thank you to my husband, James, for always managing to capture candid moments when I’m not looking, like this glimpse of me and my daughter bonding over feeling tired last night. 💛

Embark on a journey to confidence with Nicki Young, Maternity Coach, as she reveals the "Three Secrets to a Confident Returnity." 🌈 If you missed the live session, fear not – the recording is now available! 🎥✨ Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging, but Nicki's insights provide a roadmap for a smooth transition. 🚀 Say goodbye to "working mum's guilt" and hello to a confident return! In this session, Nicki explores: ✅ Reframing Perspectives ✅ Strategic Decision-Making ✅ Thriving in Dual Roles Don't miss out on practical tips and holistic advice to empower your return-to-work journey. 🌐💼 Empower yourself and make your return to work a confident and fulfilling experience. 🌟👩💼 Share this post with friends and colleagues who might benefit from these valuable insights! 🚀💙 #ConfidentReturn #CareerBalance #WorkingMoms #ProfessionalDevelopment #Empowerment #WatchNow 🔗 Access the recording here: http://dlvr.it/T5DmlT

I came back from maternity leave 1 year ago this week and here are some things I’ve learned- 1. No matter how much time you spent away, and how much has changed, you’ll be ok coming back. You’ll learn, you’ll adapt, and you’ll make change yourself. 2. Saying no is a wonderful thing (my 15 month old co-signs this one). Becoming a mom shifted my priorities and that’s ok- when I’m at work I’m on, 100%, but work life balance is more important than ever. 3. Flip side- saying yes is worth it. Take the risk, if you’re passionate about something it’s still ok to put you first and go after it. You’re setting the example for your little. 4. The empathy you show your team will come back to you when you need it. Baby is sick, childcare isn’t available, you got 2.5 hours of sleep… over the past 3 days. Who you treated well before will take care of you during the hard moments. 5. Related to saying no- when you’re off, you’re off. There are 8 hours a day where I don’t get to see Willow grow, my time with her outside of that is ours- be selfish with it. Take in the first giggles, steps, and words and savor them. #workingmom #customersuccess #saas #peopleleader #wordsfromthenotsowise

Going through a tough week juggling a 4 year old along! It got me thinking how we all feel guilty on some/most days – spreading ourselves too thin. We feel we’re falling behind the curve at work & we’re missing precious moments with our family, more so with our children. This leads to burnout, guilt & basically stops us from being truly happy in our reality. ✅This was a major driving factor for me 4 years back when I was pregnant to write a book on these aspects – I wanted myself & all around me to be free of these burdens. I didn’t want to be defined as a woman, a wife, a mother, a job holder – I just wanted to be me who wears different hats at different times at her own will. Most importantly I wanted myself & the others around me to know that life is not perfect & it will never be – there will always be some fire-fighting. The best we can do is build a support system around us to help in the grind. This has to be both in our personal and professional lives. Gone are the days when jobs were just 9 to 5 ⏱⏱If work has become so integral today then it will have to share in the challenges of the personal part of the life too. Workforce is no longer just a collective of employees, we are starting to humanize each individual now & realize that each comes with their own set of challenges 🤔🤔. As the Corporate World evolves, along with it evolves the people strategy of organizations – that is why we today see paternity leave, menstrual leave, mental well-being time off, hybrid work systems, etc. 🔖🔖 It’s only when we humanize ourselves & talk about our challenges openly can we finally look for practical solutions! 🗣🗣After all talking about maternity, paternity, menstruation, flexibility has finally got us so far. So just imagine if we continue the dialogue on these & any other challenge which we face as professionals how much more progress can we make & build a truly progressive working ecosystem! 🔥🔥Intrigued, grab a copy: https://amzn.eu/d/1MUoy5H