A successful career and happy family – can you have both?
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This Mother’s Day, three of our female executive leaders share their thoughts on ‘having it all’ – a career, family, health and wellbeing.
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- A successful career and happy family – can you have both?
At Blackmores Group, family means a lot to us. Across the Group, we offer flexible working arrangements and generous benefits to help employees manage a successful career with joyful parenting.
We know balancing both can be challenging – but also incredibly rewarding.
Here working mums Cecile Cooper, Blackmores Group Director of Corporate Affairs (above left); Jane Franks, Blackmores Group Chief People Officer (centre); and Sophia Tseng, Blackmores China Country Director (above right) share how they have navigated their own journey.
What’s your top advice for other women seeking to balance their career with parenting?
Cecile - two daughters, ages 23 and 19: Try and form a clear view for yourself and with your partner of what ‘successful’ means in your personal life and your career to help guide your choices as you navigate through the years. As your family grows up their needs change and at the same time the demands of your career will change. It all comes down to a balancing act.
Jane - two sons, ages 6 and 4: Be comfortable knowing that it can be hard and you might not always feel you are doing your best job at everything, but know that you are.
Sophia - one son and one daughter, ages 22 and 18: My advice is threefold – (1) Seek support from your partner and family, (2) Spend quality time with your children (3) Teach your children to be independent.
Do you think it’s possible to ‘have it all’?
Cecile: I look back and accept I could have made different choices and advanced my career in different ways. However, at the time the decisions were right for my family and me. At the end of the day that is all that matters.
Jane: I think we can have it all, but there are trade-offs. It’s impossible to achieve everything on a daily basis, so be kind to yourself and look at things over the long term instead. Planning, planning and planning is so important as is taking the time out for personal recovery.
Sophia: Indeed, it’s not easy! It’s really important for us working mums to be brave in voicing what we need from family and colleagues, as well as communicating with our children for their understanding and support. Life is all about choices and trade offs.
How has Blackmores Group helped your journey as a working mum?
Cecile: Blackmores Group has always been truly interested in and cared about my family, in addition to simply providing flexible working arrangements including part-time employment when my girls were younger. It is part of what makes Blackmores Group the special company it is.
Jane: Blackmores Group has provided flexibility and clarity of my accountabilities which is the key for me, as is great support and enablement from my peers and my team.
Sophia: All of the companies I had been worked for advocate gender equality and promote a diverse and inclusive culture. I’m grateful that I’ve never experienced any gender inequality issues in developing my career.
How important has support from others been?
Cecile: Sometimes I think my husband Barry is the working mum and I should have supported him more! He has totally supported my career aspirations and shared the load and I’m also extremely lucky to have had my Mum look after my girls as they grew up. A big Happy Mother’s day to her!!
Jane: Strong support at work and home are super important. My husband Ronaldo is becoming increasingly passionate about the role of males leading societal change so flexibility and blending career/family/other interests is the norm for both men and women. Male champions of change are a critical enabler and until they barrack for having equal access to flexible working and taking time out to be a parent, we won’t move the dial far enough.
Sophia: A good support system is so important. I’m lucky that my husband Kevin has backed me all the way with his trust and support and willingness to take on multiple roles as husband, father and life coach for our family.
How do you achieve optimal health and wellbeing for yourself and your family, and how can other mums do likewise?
Cecile: At Blackmores Group we have a wealth of information and expertise on good health and nutrition for our families. I’m very happy that my girls have grown up placing a big emphasis on a healthy diet and lifestyle and it is very much a part of the way our family lives.
Jane: I have a few golden rules – (1) It’s ok to have time out to myself and focus on my personal wellbeing needs (2) Turn the device off during family time in the morning and evenings – my time is precious so be in the moment and other things can wait (3) Build a family vision together and make it visible so you keep it in check (4) Ask for feedback –kids are super honest about what we can be doing better and what’s most meaningful to them.
Sophia: It’s important to treat yourself well and stay healthy. Otherwise you will really struggle to help your family and team members. Also, find an exercise you enjoy and regularly schedule this into your calendar to help motivate you to keep at it.
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