Earlier this month, our team exchanged stories about what careers we imagined we would have when we were younger. A few team members said they wanted to be an athlete, some said an astronaut and several mentioned a veterinarian.

But for me? This was something that I considered often, even from a young age. I knew I wanted to help people and I felt strongly that my calling was somewhere in the research world. I’ve always loved discovering new outcomes and unlocking new information.

But I also knew I wanted to have the best job there is, being a mom.

It wasn’t until I was older that I realized a tension between the two lives I wanted.  The workplace felt like it was designed in a way that made achieving motherhood really difficult.

During the first 9 months of the pandemic, over 2 million moms left the workforce as schools and daycares closed. When you add in the additional 4.5 million moms who lost their jobs over that same time period, it’s no wonder why we are still seeing the disproportionate impact on parents and families now, years later.

In the thick of the pandemic, I took a chance late one night to apply as a Patient Success Coordinator at Leapcure.  If I’m being honest with you, I didn’t feel confident I would be contacted.  What if my English wasn’t good enough?  What if my skill set wasn’t that great?  Will I be able to keep up with a toddler at home?  Will my work be appreciated?  Will I feel excited and challenged?  Will being a mom and an employee feel like leading a double life?

My thoughts weren’t totally out of the ordinary.  In fact, 98% of women experience imposter syndrome at least once in their career.

So, what does it take to include and support more moms and parents?  I think our newly remote world is still figuring it out. I can say that working at Leapcure, with a fully remote global team has empowered and inspired me. I get to have a hand at moving research forward and to support patients in a real way. I feel fortunate to work alongside such incredible teammates and with such flexibility.

There are still so many parents suffering from the impact of the pandemic while they balance family life and even the job search. To everyone balancing the two, I stand in solidarity with you and am optimistic that the working world will get better at supporting working parents in the future.

Sources:
Workforce numbers: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/million-women-left-workforce-2020-matters-74752515

Imposter syndrome: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2020/10/22/impostor-syndrome-prevalence-in-professional-women-face-and-how-to-overcome-it/?sh=3e88026f73cb