"I never thought I would leave my job without a career plan. But, after I became a mother that is exactly what I did."
Before motherhood, Rachael was a mid-level manager in Corporate HR and Organizational Development. She genuinely loved her career, her department, and the organization she worked for. But even before her daughter was born, she was beginning to feel it — the creeping signs of burnout.
"I had wanted to find a career where I could work 4 days a week but hadn’t been successful, so I stayed in that career. I kept trying to make it work, but I felt increasingly stuck and held back."
After her daughter was born in 2018, the clarity hit.
"I could not stay in that career in a full-time capacity. Being burnt out at work wasn’t going to go away while I tried to figure out a part-time career path. And now I would be caring for a baby too. It was all too much."
Leaving wasn’t easy.
"Leaving my career without a plan was the biggest financial and professional risk I have ever taken. It was incredibly scary not to have any idea what I would do next. But, I could no longer pretend that I was okay. Nor could I pretend to do it all in a society that does not support mothers. Workplace burnout had taken a toll. I knew I was at risk of further harming my health by returning to a demanding career in a fast-paced environment with an infant. I acknowledge I am privileged to make such choices."
She took a yearlong career break — time to recover, adjust to motherhood, and realign her values.
"In hindsight, taking a career break was the best decision I could have made. It helped me to intentionally realign my life and career based on what mattered to me."
When she was ready to return, part-time work was non-negotiable.
"But the path to find a well-paying high quality part-time position would not be simple. I did find some part-time opportunities, but most were entry-level or low paying. However, as a two-income family—my spouse is a social worker—that was not an option. Though my skills and capabilities hadn’t changed, reducing my work hours meant I didn’t fit the standard requirements of a corporate career."
"This was in 2019, when the part-time options were even more limited than now. I began to see the type of career most important to my life and wellbeing did not already exist. But, most importantly, I realized I could create the part-time career I had been searching for."
So she did.
Rachael became an independent consultant, later expanding her work to include certified coaching. Her practice now includes professional and life coaching, leadership and wellbeing strategy, and content writing.
"It has taken diligent effort, networking, a growth mindset, trust, and ultimately putting in the time, to build what I envisioned. I can say with confidence now: it is possible."
She found something in consulting that she’d never felt before:
"I found the fluidness of consulting empowering. In it, I have the authority to bring my professional vision to life, including: flexibility, autonomy, freedom, meaningful contribution, and improved work-life harmony."
"It turns out what matters to clients is the expertise, value and skills I bring. Clients care about how and what work I do with them. Not if I’m working 40+ hours per week. I am still committed to my career and am also committed to multiple other aspects of my life."
"While consulting was clunky, financially unpredictable and an emotional rollercoaster at first, it has been beyond worth it for me. I still have ups and down and stressful times. Yet, on the whole, I experience greater wellbeing and less burnout."
She still remembers the deep reward of reclaiming time during her daughter’s early years:
"Before my daughter started kindergarten, she was first in daycare 3 days a week and then preschool 4 days a week, which had been my dream. I will always remember that by creating my own career path, I was able to prioritize having that extra time with her to live that dream."
"I am not the only one who believes in creating a country in which motherhood, careers, and all aspects of life exist in harmony. I am one person, doing my part, to create and live a meaningful and fulfilling life. The more individuals who stand up for what they need or forge their own way if they don’t find what they are seeking, the more the workplace will shift and evolve."
What challenges did you face during this transition?
"The biggest challenge I faced was the impact of the pandemic on my business. I started getting traction on my part-time consulting business in January 2020 and was fully booked for 3+ months in early March 2020, a week before the pandemic hit.
By the third week of March, 90% of my work was put on hold or canceled and I now had a toddler at home full time. It would take five months to rebuild my consulting business to a sustainable level, which I did while my daughter napped and on weekends."
"During that time, I developed new skills that turned into new offerings too. The experience made for a much more significant emotional and financial roller coaster than I anticipated. And, I learned an incredible amount about building and rebuilding a business."
What do you wish you'd known earlier or done differently?
"I wish I had started exploring consulting while I was still employed. I have coaching clients who do start exploring or building a side business while employed full-time. If you have the bandwidth to spend even a couple of hours a week initially, it can make it a smoother transition when you plan to leave a full-time position."
Resources that helped
"The best and most life-changing tool was the book Playing Big by Tara Mohr, which is about being more loyal to your dreams than your fears. I have since gotten trained to facilitate the Playing Big approach."
Her advice to others
"If your life and career isn’t working, it is possible to design something in greater alignment.Start by getting clear on your values.Be open to considering how you could make your current situation work better for you, at least in the short term.And, if you aren’t finding an existing path to the career and life you desire, get curious about how you could create your own path."
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