"Leaders typically spend January prepping for the year ahead. But that's difficult when you're eight months pregnant, and your baby has zero concern for your deadlines. I've lost count of how many times people have asked how long I'll be away, whether I'll be checking my emails, or what support I'll need when I return. People often expect leaders to have all the answers, but the truth is: I don't know yet."
"According to a report by Careers After Babies, 98% of moms want to return to work after having a child. However, less than a quarter actually do. Early parenthood is unpredictable, and there's no way of knowing how it'll unfold. While I'm committed to my career, I'm under no illusions that March might bring me sleepless nights, and the months ahead may be full of doctors' appointments. I might have no time to work at all."
A leader facing late pregnancy shifted from rigid goal-setting to prioritizing flexibility and team autonomy. Frequent uncertainty about leave duration and capacity prompted preparations for multiple outcomes rather than a single timeline. Data point: 98% of mothers want to return to work but fewer than a quarter do. Early parenthood is unpredictable, with possible sleepless nights and many appointments affecting work capacity. Preparation focused on clear decision ownership, training teams to handle pivots, and distributing responsibility so systems do not depend on one person. The result is a resilient, adaptable team capable of operating whether the leader is present or on leave.
Read at Fast Company
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