What challenges do mothers face in their professional lives? How can they balance their personal lives with their careers? How important is it to share responsibilities with the family?
These were some of the topics discussed by Silvina Prekajac—author of the book “I’m Pregnant: What Happens to My Career?” (Penguin Libros)—who visited the Women and Leadership course for the Public Accounting and Bachelor’s in Management and Administration programs at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Silvina Prekajac holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration (UADE), has a postgraduate degree in Management from the IAE Business School at Austral University, and is an accredited mentor with the Global Mentoring Network. She is the founding director of Giving Birth, a maternity mentoring consultancy in Argentina.
Giving Birth works in collaboration with human resources departments, helping future and current parents balance family and work. In turn, it contributes to building people-centered organizations, with the improved results that this entails.
The Challenges Facing Working Mothers
The expert noted that, in many cases, women who want to become mothers put off that desire until “the ideal situation” arises: when they are in a better place personally or professionally.
“It’s perfectly fine to strive for the ideal, because it motivates us, but the ideal is also the enemy of the possible. Instead of putting off a desire, why don’t we try to balance both aspects of our lives?”
“Mothers face a variety of challenges. In this regard, the opportunity to work with both women and their professional environment is essential for motherhood and careers to reinforce one another.”
Prekajac explained that when she became a mother, she found herself in a situation where, if she attended certain meetings, she would miss out on time she needed to spend with her daughter. On the other hand, if she stayed home with her daughter, she felt that she would later be left out of important work discussions.
“Many of the pre-pandemic processes were in urgent need of an overhaul. Now, with the hybrid model, we have a unique opportunity that is here to stay: to take advantage of the flexibility it offers, without sacrificing the decision-making autonomy, visibility, and networking opportunities that are essential for professional growth—all while reinforcing goal-oriented work, regardless of how the hours required to achieve those goals are managed.”
“Another significant burden many women face is shouldering the majority of household and family care responsibilities. In a hybrid work environment, this can be an even greater setback: if a woman works from home but takes on a large portion of unpaid tasks, the time she can devote to her paid work is negatively impacted, making this another key area that requires even greater attention in the current context.”
Agreements with the same
Prekajac pointed out that, to achieve a good work-life balance, it is necessary to set priorities and have a clear sense of purpose.
According to the expert, the word “ambition” is often viewed negatively, when in fact it has a very positive connotation. Mothers who plan to continue advancing in their careers while also seeking quality time with their families and for themselves need to know “what they’re doing it for and why they’re doing it.”
As for household chores, she said that shared responsibility within the family is essential. “We need to work as a team to have quality time.”
“It is also important to make commitments to oneself before making commitments to others: so that shared responsibility becomes a reality, and so that motherhood can go hand in hand with work.”
It’s also necessary to “be strategic and figure out where we need to be,” while managing the guilt that this may entail. In other words, we need to assess whether certain tasks and meetings can be delegated or canceled. Likewise, it’s essential to “set boundaries so we can spend time with ourselves and our families.”
“Decisions are imperfect. When we say yes, we’re also saying no. It’s a constant balancing act. Where are you going to focus your attention? On the guilt that comes from thinking ‘you can’t have it all,’ or on the freedom that comes from embracing everything you can do when trying to balance motherhood and a career?”
Dream big so that your dreams come true
Finally, the expert emphasized that when mothers strike a balance between their personal and professional lives, they serve as role models. They are role models both for those who look up to them in their personal lives (their children) and in their professional lives. For this reason, she encouraged them to ask themselves what kind of leaders they want to be.
“I invite you to be agents of change so that motherhood ceases to be a barrier, so that those who are or wish to be mothers can pursue the career of their choice,” she concluded. “Dream big and do your part to make those dreams a reality.”