Your Debut: an interview series with working moms

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Ask any mom working outside the home, and she will have a story (or several!) to share. In our work at The Debut Co., we’ve seen the impact of sharing those stories in our own community and want to share them more broadly here with you.

Welcome to the first in our series where we hear from working moms about their personal journeys and learnings navigating their career and family coming out of our program.

Introducing…

Name: Gabriela Gonzalez 

Company and position: Director, Government Affairs at TELUS  

Age of kids:  1 year & 6 years

Gabriela Gonzalez, Director of Government Relations at TELUS

Q: At The Debut Co, we acknowledge the importance of the Motherhood Identity Shift. What has this evolution looked like for you?   

A: I had my second child less than a year ago so I feel like I’m going through Motherhood Identity Shift 2.0. Oftentimes, when you’re in the thick of motherhood and working, it’s hard to see how you’re evolving. 

One thing I’ve learned is that with two kids it’s impossible to maintain the same standards that you had before kids. I’ve realized I don’t have to lower my standards, but shift to a mentality that ‘done is better than perfect’. Motherhood has helped me let go of my perfectionist tendencies. Right now, I’m making the most impact I can with the time I have. Knowing that this is a season, albeit a challenging one, helps me prioritize and stay focused. 

Q: What challenges have you faced as a working mother and how have you overcome them?  

A: There is a lot of juggling of various responsibilities – I’m a planner by nature and if something is not in the calendar, then it’s not happening. 

I’m lucky to have incredible flexibility at work and an incredible employer. This strong foundation has set me up for success and I feel like this makes things more manageable. 

Q: What’s practical advice can you share with other working moms to avoid burnout, and to balance work and home life?  

A: I’ve had to accept that this phase of life (raising young kids + climbing the corporate ladder + being on nonprofit boards) is HARD. I’m trying to give myself permission to slow down when my schedule allows me so I can avoid burning out. 

My weekends used to be jammed packed with activities but now that I’m back at work, I’m looking forward to slower weekends when we are not rushing from one thing to the next. Being able to slow down, catch my breath and let the kids have free play. Trying to live by the wise words of “Grace, not perfection”. 

Outsource and simplify: whenever possible, hire help (ex. cleaners, order grocery delivery, meal kits). I recognize I am in a privileged position to be able to pay for external help and not everyone has the same access. 

Laugh a lot. Be light hearted and try to roll with the punches! 

Testimonial 

“The Debut Co. program provided the support I needed during the transformational period of being on parental leave and preparing to return to work. It helped me soften some of my perfectionist traits, while empowering me to feel like the leader that I am at work.  

The program also helped me confidently navigate discussions at work when I was offered a promotion while on parental leave.   

I’m glad I took part in the program and highly recommend it to other career-driven moms. Erin and Saphina are excellent coaches and I loved working with them.”

Your Debut: an interview series with working moms

Written by

Ask any mom working outside the home, and she will have a story (or several!) to share. In our work at The Debut Co., we’ve seen the impact of sharing those stories in our own community and want to share them more broadly here with you.

Welcome to the first in our series where we hear from working moms about their personal journeys and learnings navigating their career and family coming out of our program.

Introducing…

Name: Julia Rose

Company and position: Canadian Tire Corp., Brand Communications Manager

Age of child: 10 months (1 year on August 25, 2024)

Q: At The Debut Co, we acknowledge the importance of the Motherhood Identity Shift – how we change as we move from working woman, to mother and then working mother. What has this evolution looked like for you?

A: Looking back to the time before I became a mother, it’s easy to see just how blissfully unaware I was of the demands and invisible labour that comes with motherhood. I knew becoming a mom would come with a shift — a new skill set to learn, growing list of things to do and competing priorities but I didn’t fully comprehend the what and the how it would change my life personally and professionally.  

I see life differently now. My priorities have shifted. My values have evolved. I have new boundaries. Because of this experience, I not only feel confident that I will bring my best self to my upcoming role as working mother but that I will also, and should, celebrate all the ways motherhood has changed me for the better.  

Q: What challenges have you faced as a new mom and how have you overcome them?   

A: Throughout my life, whether personally or professionally, I’ve always been a confident person, but not necessarily a patient one. I’ve had drive, a clear vision of what I wanted, and the confidence to get it all done.  

When I became a mother, that all changed. I felt unsure of myself. I didn’t have that natural intuition or infectiously positive outlook that I kept seeing on my social feeds. I didn’t recognize myself and that was really hard for me to say out loud and accept. I didn’t want to come across as ungrateful or unhappy. 

I had to take a moment to grieve my old life while simultaneously learning to be kind and patient with myself in this new life. And I won’t lie, that was and still is hard. But now I have the tools to question the thoughts in my mind and be more aware of “is this fact or is this fiction”. I’m able to cultivate a headspace of progress over perfection in all areas of my life now. 

Q: What practical advice can you share with other moms to avoid burnout, and to balance work and home life?   

A: I’ve always believed in the power of community, but this could not be more true when it comes to motherhood. I’ve learned that it feels like a lot for one person, because it was never meant to be for one person. It was meant for a village. Build your village however you can and communicate, communicate, communicate when and how you need support. 

It’s also been said countless times, but comparison truly is the thief of joy. When you stop scrolling and endlessly researching, you’re able to soak in the everyday magic and take a breather to remind yourself that you are enough and you are doing enough.  

Connect with us to learn more about our Working Parents Workshop Series.