The Crossroads: A Pivotal Career Moment
Liz had spent years building a global career, traveling frequently, and thriving in her role. But when she had her baby, the thought of returning to the office full-time at just four months postpartum filled her with anxiety. This was pre-COVID—remote work wasn’t the norm, and she didn’t know if flexibility was even an option.
"About a week before I was supposed to go back to work, I called my COO and told them how I was feeling. To this day, I'm grateful for how they responded: ‘We would rather have you work from home than leave our company.’"
That single conversation changed everything. For the next five years, Liz worked remotely, balancing motherhood with an ambitious career. But while she avoided daily commutes, she still had to travel frequently—often internationally.
"Yes, I was working from home and had flexibility, but getting on a plane every few weeks was emotionally draining. I was so anxious flying over the ocean, especially as a solo mom."
When her daughter started kindergarten, Liz realized it was time for another shift. She stepped away from her international career to take a Chicago-based job.
"It was definitely a huge identity shift for me, as my international work was a big part of my life for the past 15 years. I'm about nine months into my new role and still adjusting, but I only travel about twice a year now, which has been a positive change for our household."
The Challenges: Juggling Work, Travel, and Motherhood
Even with flexibility, working motherhood came with tough trade-offs.
- Traveling While Parenting:
"Traveling is really hard as a working mom—it’s emotional on both sides. It always takes my daughter and me a couple of days to get back into our rhythm when I return from a work trip. I’ve realized that’s her way of saying, ‘Mommy, I don’t like you leaving, and I’m mad at you.’"
She tries to remind her daughter that her work is both a passion and a way to provide for their family, but the push and pull never gets easier.
- Returning to the Office Full-Time:
Now that she’s back in an office five days a week, new challenges have emerged.
"Even though I travel less now, I'm way more stressed than I have been in recent years. Mornings are a frantic rush—getting her dropped off at school, racing to the office—it’s exhausting."
- Finding Time for Herself:
"Working from home meant I could squeeze in workouts or life admin during the day. Now, I do most of those things after bedtime—hello, burnout!"
What Worked: The Power of Flexibility
Despite the challenges, Liz wouldn’t trade those early remote-work years for anything.
- Remote Work Meant More Moments Together
"I was able to breastfeed for 18 months because I had flexibility in my schedule (and privacy). I could eat breakfast at home with my daughter, take her to preschool, and even put holds on my calendar for ‘mommy & me’ swimming and music classes. Those moments were everything." - Advocating for Herself & Others
"When I got pregnant, our company didn’t even have a maternity leave policy. I advocated for it and helped establish one. I ended up with four months of paid leave, and I’m still grateful for that today." - Finding a Support System
"Motherhood can be so lonely, but I’ve found that when you open up to other parents, you realize they’re going through the same things. My mom groups were lifesavers—early on, it was just a few moms drinking coffee while our babies crawled around. Now, it’s mom friends from my daughter’s elementary school who help me navigate everything from school challenges to work-life balance."
Game-Changing Resources
- Executive Coaching: Through a leadership fellowship, Liz worked with an executive coach to plan her return to work, balancing ambition with motherhood.
- Mom Communities: From new-mom meetups to school-age friendships, finding a tribe of moms made all the difference.
Advice for Parents Navigating Career & Parenthood
- Ask for What You Need
"You never get what you don’t ask for. I asked to go down to four days a week and work remotely when my daughter was younger, and my company agreed. Later, I asked if our executive meetings could take place in Chicago instead of San Francisco. It had never been considered before, but they said yes! Sometimes, you just have to ask." - Advocate for Change
"If your company doesn’t have a maternity leave policy, push for one. You might be the one who sets the standard for future parents." - Find Your People
"Motherhood is isolating. Find other moms who you can meet for coffee, vent to, and laugh with. Most of the time, they’re going through the exact same challenges—you just won’t know until you start talking."
Liz’s Both& Moment
Liz’s story embodies the Both& philosophy—balancing ambition and parenthood, embracing flexibility while making tough choices, and continuously redefining success.
She didn’t follow a traditional path. Instead, she built a career both internationally and locally, worked both remotely and in-office, and found joy in both professional growth and motherhood.
And while she’s still adjusting to this new season of life, one thing is clear: she’s showing her daughter what it looks like to build a career on her own terms.
