I would like to talk about motherhood in the Corporate space.
Being a young woman in the Corporate space has come with the unavoidable balance that has to be family, career and general life balance.
As a woman who has had to balance motherhood in two different workspaces, I would say that I have seen two sides of the same world. One that drained me to the core and the current environment that has given me an enabling space to thrive in this journey.
My personal experiences have driven me to want to support women thrive in their career without depriving them of the joy of family and motherhood. I have been there, and I have seen what lack of support especially from your Superiors can do to a to be mother in an already hard journey.
Yes, it is said that Pregnancy is not a decease but what most people do not know is that not all women are lucky to go through problem free pregnancies. Some end up bed ridden; others end up with multiple complications like Hyperemesis Gravidarum among others. The least we can do is create a workspace that embraces that this journey is part of life, and one should not have to chose one over the other in the sense that one should not have to choose their career over their family. Women need to be supported to thrive in all phases of life and in return you also see their performance improve and productivity increases.
Another space that most Corporate’s tend to ignore is the fact that mothers in the Corporate and larger workplace need a space that can allow them get that liquid gold that nourishes their children. A comfortable well equipped space that mothers can use when they come back from Maternity to express and store milk for their child back home. One thing I pride myself on, is having provided that space for my current organization. Mothers are able to take their one hour break per day to comfortably express without the pressure of worrying about what will happen if they take that time away from their desk.
As we continue celebrating our women and inspiring inclusion, I would like to urge my fellow leaders to support the women under them, to empower them and in turn they will rip the fruits of creating an enabling environment. As it is said by Erick S. Grey “Whatever you Give a Woman, she’ll Multiply it & Give it Back.”
You give a woman a house, she will turn it into the home.
Give her a seed, she will give you children.
Give her joy, she will give you peace.
Give her hell, she will make your life a living hell.
Give her respect, she will acknowledge you as the head.
Give her support, she will be loyal to you.
Give her a compliment, she will be confident and make you proud.
Article by Felista Warigia, Human Resource Manager, Roamtech Solutions Limited