Each month Maturn will be highlighting a current member of the Maturn community who is growing both their career and their family.
This month our highlighted member is: Jessica Perreault
Company and Position:
Sales Representative 2, Novo Nordisk
Age of your kids:
6 and 10
How has Motherhood grown you as a leader?
Motherhood has changed my perspective on all areas of my life, including how I lead in the workplace. Becoming a mother expanded my compassion, my ability to prioritize and certainly my patience. It forced me to slow down, to be more present, and to look at challenges from different angles. Since having my children, I have become mindful of different perspectives and challenge myself to remain open to new ideas. Through watching my children grow and develop I am inspired to keep pursing new skills and learning opportunities.
What are some unique challenges you have faced in growing your career and your family
Growing my family while maintaining my position in a competitive industry has presented several challenges. I often questioned if I were keeping up with my colleagues who did not have children, or the men on the team. As the spouse of a first responder, I was also the default parent who was relied on to leave their daily tasks when a child was sick or in need of a parent. Though my career was just as important, being the parent with flexibility required me to often flex and reschedule. As a mother and an employee with very high expectations of herself, it was often very difficult for me to maintain the standards I had set for myself. I implored myself to keep of the same level of devotion to my career while simultaneously being the ever-present mother at every event, activity and milestone. As these goals were unattainable, I often carried feelings of guilt, fear of disapproval and physical burn out.
Do you have any thoughts or quotes for other mothers who are growing their careers and their families?
If I were to have a conversation with the mother and leader, I was years ago, I would encourage her to be kinder to herself. I would tell her that comparing herself to her colleagues was not an accurate measure of her value to her employer. I would share that her children would know they are important to her even though she missed the odd event. I would repeat the important advice role models had shared with her – that her children would not resent her for having a career that she chose to spend time on. That her children would grow up seeing a strong, independent woman who could have a family and a passion of her own. Taking this course and interacting with the other woman in this group was eye-opening for me. So many of us put demands and expectations on ourselves that we would never ask another human being to accomplish. Yet, we experience so much guilt and self-doubt when we cannot meet them. My advice for other mothers who lead is to realize that we can lower bar and still achieve our personal and professional goals.
Which Maturn program you are participating in?
I’m participating in Maturn’s Motherhood Leadership Coaching Program
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