Thinking Ahead: Your Career and Parenthood

In this article we share personal anecdotes alongside offering practical advice and support resources for parents navigating the topic of gender with their families.

The path to parenthood is a unique experience for every individual. We share the story of one mother and how she became a parent to twins through egg donation.

Many couples set out on their parenting journey with confidence that they will share responsibilities equally. If anything, men are more correct in assessing how they will divide time for career and family. Fiona Martins, Insights Manager, considers whats going on here and what you can do about it.

In this real stories interview we sit down with Vanessa from GAM Investments to discuss her journey of two very distinct experiences as a sole parent. 

Trying for a baby is an intimate topic and one that doesn’t usually hold a place in work conversations. But what about when it has to? This is a situation that more and more employees are finding themselves in as they begin their journey to become parents and find that it wasn’t as straightforward as they had originally thought.

Pedro Martins, Chief Growth Officer at Total Media, talks to Geraldine, founder and CEO of ECC, on how he and his wife, Fiona, made decisions as a couple about home and work. He reveals what’s worked for them as a busy couple with three young children and some of the challenges.

Of course, motherhood comes with many advantages, but a higher income is not one of them! Motherhood is one of the most significant factors still propping open the gender pay gap – contributing to the lack of women on boards and in senior leadership roles. Use these insights to predict the challenges that may arise for you and work out how to mitigate their impact.

Jim Ford, a Law Firm Partner, tells his story and gives his advice to others thinking about surrogacy. He also shares some helpful pointers for managers and colleagues on how they can support parents expecting through surrogacy and some of the common thinking and assumptions to avoid.

We interviewed Brian, a Lawyer and parent-of-one, to discuss the key things to think about before starting a family. He talks about the practicalities, the commitments and the importance of having open conversations with your partner.

In this video, David Ashley, Executive Coach, shares some essential tips for working parents going through the adoption process. Some of the topics he discusses are: the difficult emotions that may arise, the importance of communication with your employer and how to navigate questions from inquisitive colleagues.

Helen IIsley, Executive Coach, interviewed three professionals that have been through IVF, adoption or surrogacy. She also gathered some practical advice from a senior HR professional to help anyone thinking about or going through any of these options.

The thought of having children might be far off. However, if you do happen to find yourself in this position one day, wouldn’t it give you great peace of mind to know that you helped create an understanding and inclusive work environment that supports your needs as a working parent if it happens? Could you pay it forward to earn it back?