Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2018 i Working Mother

What Was I Expecting? “I wanted to tell riders, ‘Don’t worry, pregnancy isn’t contagious.’” If all goes well, by the time you read this, I will have become a mother of two boys—confirmed by the first of many tests geriatric moms like myself take. I thought I was a one-and-done mom—or at least not a get-pregnant-a-few-months-into-a-new-job mom. But after three working mothers I admire told me that they wished they had had a second child, it felt like a sign. And though it took my husband and me seven months to conceive the first time around, it turned out I was a one-and-done mom for take two. But my first and second pregnancies did share a defining feature: nausea so intense that I actively had to focus on not throwing…

Trisha Almeida had been working at an information-systems company for nine years when she quit after her maternity leave ran out. “I wanted to give my son, Aidan, my undivided attention,” says the San Francisco mom, who gave birth in 2012. By the time Aidan was 4, Trisha was ready to lean back in. She started networking and posting her resume on job sites with little success. “I got a lot of calls over six months, but once they realized I’d been on a break, it wouldn’t go further,” she says. “I never expected people to think twice about hiring someone with my many years of experience.” Trisha’s trouble getting hired after being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t surprise Tami Forman, executive director of Path Forward, a nonprofit founded in 2016…

A Yelp Review of My Home Sweet Home I’m giving this establishment 1.5 stars. Mandy W. Sioux Falls, SD 300 friends 28 reviews I have given this place quite a few chances. In fact, I’ve lost track of the number of times I have spent the night here. Every time I go to bed thinking management will get its act together, that this time will be different. No dice. During my most recent stay, I received a 5:45 a.m. wake-up call. The problem? I didn’t request one. What’s more, instead of doing an actual call on the phone like most hotels, this place sent in a little preschooler to crawl into bed with me. I get it. Wake-up calls are almost obsolete thanks to the new technology on our phones.…

Emily Loeffelman Hernando, MS Freelance Writer When you successfully transfer a super-cranky teething baby from you to the bed without waking him! #momwin #ergobaby #inmyergo Julie Bedford Tampa, FL Part-Time Marketer; Owner of Freelance Graphic-Design Business, julescreative.co Second time in a week I. Forgot. To. Pick. Up. My. Kid. #momfail #imthatparent #ihateearlyreleasedays Kelsey Kiper Thornton Yorktown, IN Network Marketer for a Health and Wellness Company We were leaving this morning, and I told my husband, “Pop-Tarts cause too many crumbs,” so we got Deuce a belVita chocolate sandwich. Kinda backfired. Crumbs or Chocolate Face, pick your poison. #momfail Dorian Block New York City Writer Being a working parent is a daily challenge, but waking up before 6 a.m. and having a creative babysitter has its perks. Chelsea Alders Brick, NJ…

Only someone with serious confidence and smarts would step in to help improve a company during peak controversy. It’s why the move from Apple to Uber, amid sexual-harrassment and unequal-pay allegations at the ride-hailing giant, was exactly right for brilliant, brazen Bozoma Saint John. “I’ve always been a black woman in corporate America. I’ve faced my share of issues,” she says. “It’s important not just for the individual but also for the corporation to address any concerns. I want to lend my voice as part of the workforce.” And what a voice it is, now that she’s honed it. She used to think she had to prove her intelligence. She even joined an ad agency with a pharmaceutical client, thinking people might take her more seriously if she ventured out…

MEET THE TOP 10 The North American leadership team is women. 47% • Accenture New York, NY Chief Executive Officer — North America Julie Sweet Chief Leadership and HR Officer Ellyn Shook The professional-services company is aiming for 40 percent women in its U.S. workforce by 2020. But its progress on launching women into management and senior leadership roles is what’s most impressive. Women employees logged 1.7 million+ hours in 2016 in learning and leadership-development programs. • Deloitte New York, NY U.S. CEO Cathy Engelbert Chief Talent Officer Mike Preston In 2016, a priority was set on training women for senior management roles as well as helping them through mentoring and sponsorship. Forty percent of senior managers are women, and 42 percent of management promotions went to women. Professional Women’s…

Sharon Taylor Legacy Award Recently retired as Senior VP, HR, Prudential Financial “Women tend to say yes more than we say no, and that drags us down.” I became a working mother many years ago, when the workplace wasn’t as evolved. There were people who asked why I wasn’t home, why I was working all those hours, why I was dragging that baby everywhere with me. You have to define what your normal life is, and then put in your earplugs and ignore the haters. I once was close to a meltdown and I asked someone for help, and they said, “Why didn’t you ask before?” Be specific. Tell them exactly what you need— pick up the kids at three, proofread something for me. Learn how to say no. Women…

Q When I accepted my job, I agreed to do a certain amount of business-related travel every year. Now that I’m a mom, it’s not as easy to hop on a plane as it used to be. How do I tell my boss I need to cut back on travel? A Approach this meeting with your manager as a discussion on your role and how to reorganize it, says Lucy English, Ph.D., a human resources consultant. “Mention the change in your life for context, but don’t focus too much on the personal. Think of it as a work adjustment, and approach the conversation in a spirit of collaboration.” Examine what you’ve accomplished on the road and see if it might be worth it to make fewer, more-meaningful trips, says Kori…

When our kids are hurt or under the weather, we just want them to feel better, but with so many healthcare options, it can be tough—and time-consuming—to figure out who to turn to. Check out this cheat sheet the next time you need it. EMERGENCY ROOM For severe illnesses or anything life-threatening, the ER is your best option. In addition to being open 24/7, it offers quick access to a range of specialists and equipment. Fever in a new-born, difficulty breathing, head or eye injuries, deep wounds, severe allergic reactions and seizures will likely need immediate, specialized treatment. URGENT CARE These centers are prepared to handle many non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries that affect kids, including rashes, cuts and simple fractures. With on-site access to labs and X-rays, they can address…

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FEMALE EXECUTIVE The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) is one of the largest associations for women professionals and business owners in the country. “The annual NAFE scrutiny of women’s progress at American companies provides a dependable barometer for measuring the movement of women into top leadership positions in the private sector,” says NAFE president Betty Spence. “With women at only 29 percent of boards and 30 percent of C-suite members, NAFE continues to work with our Top Companies to speed women’s headway.” NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media. For information about becoming a NAFE member or participating in its programs and events, visit nafe.com. To register your company for the 2019 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women or any of Working Mother Media’s other…