Emma Spitz | Parental Coach
Emma Spitz, founder of Parental Transition Coaching, discusses the beginning of her life as a working parent whilst she was building her career in investment bank. Around the same time she started a family, she began to rethink how she wanted to work.
When she returned from her first maternity leave, she realized she wanted a different kind of working life. That meant making some difficult choices about her career. She moved into a role that she genuinely enjoyed, but it also meant being less visible within the organization.
Before taking leave, she had been seen as a high-potential employee and was well known across the business. After returning, the shift in role left her feeling more in the background. Over time, she felt she had moved from being on people’s radar to being somewhat forgotten.
When she later went on her second maternity leave and had her son, she became more aware of how disconnected she felt from the organisation. The distance from day-to-day work and colleagues made the sense of isolation more noticeable. During this time, Geraldine Gallacher, CEO at The Executive Coaching Consultancy, asked if Emma would consider joining ECC as a coach. Because she already felt somewhat removed from her role at the bank, she was open to the conversation and decided to take the opportunity.
Reflecting on the experience afterwards, she concluded that the organisation had not done enough to help her see a clear future for herself as a working parent. This led Emma to think 'what could organisations do differently that would have actually made a difference to [her] personally and would have made a difference to these incredible women'. The answer? Parental Transition Coaching
Parental transition coaching supports employees as they navigate the major life and career change of becoming a parent. It helps individuals prepare for leave, stay connected during time away, and return to work with clarity and confidence.
The coaching addresses common challenges such as feeling overlooked, isolated, or unsure about career direction after having a child. Through guided reflection and practical strategies, parents are empowered to redefine their goals, balance new responsibilities, and manage their careers in a way that works for their evolving lives.
For organisations, it helps retain talented employees by ensuring working parents feel supported, valued, and able to succeed in their roles.
