Business.com aims to help business owners make informed decisions to support and grow their companies. We research and recommend products and services suitable for various business types, investing thousands of hours each year in this process.
As a business, we need to generate revenue to sustain our content. We have financial relationships with some companies we cover, earning commissions when readers purchase from our partners or share information about their needs. These relationships do not dictate our advice and recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates and recommends products and services based on their research and expertise. Learn more about our process and partners here.
Mother Untitled CEO Neha Ruch On “How to Plan a Career Break After Kids” (Full Q&A)
An interview with the author of The Power Pause
Nobody said returning to the office from parental leave would be easy. Neha Ruch, a mom and author with an MBA from Stanford, provides resources and career coaching through Mother Untitled. In her new book The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids–and Come Back Stronger Than Ever, Ruch charts her journey after pausing her own career.
Neha shared tips and experiences with b. to help moms — and all parents — face outdated stereotypes and narratives.
b.: Why was the Mother Untitled platform so important for you to create?
Ruch: All my work leading up to motherhood centered on brands, content and women … and yet, when I stepped into a career break for family life, I found no content that spoke to modern women like myself. Nothing spoke to women who wanted to pause or downshift their careers for a life chapter but also wanted to be seen for our ongoing ambitions.
When we step out of the day to day that we become accustomed to in a traditional work setting, it can be uncomfortable at first. The power of Pause is about embracing that transition, so we can rediscover new skills, perspectives, and connections that can reset and reignite us.
b.: You’ve talked about seeing gaps in the “girlboss” and “Lean In” era. What did these movements miss about motherhood, and how does your work aim to fill those narrative gaps?
Ruch: The boss girl and lean-in movements created a one-dimensional view of ambition, leaving little room for other aspects of life. If women needed or wanted to leave that one path, they were counted out. [My work is] about creating more choices for women to make room for family and growth alongside work.
b.: What do you wish you knew about reentering the workforce before you became a mother? What are one or two tips moms can take when navigating that transition?
Ruch: It’s essential to consider that the hiring world is still catching up on the cultural shifts. While we’re seeing strides toward more flexible work options and even better hiring practices for returners, it’s still on individuals returning to the workforce to craft their stories. Preparing to reenter the workforce ultimately starts at resigning, networking on your way out, and taking stock of your accomplishments, because they don’t evaporate when you walk out the door.
Update your resume as you step into a career break or a shift so you don’t lose track of it. As you navigate through the day to day, keep a running audit of skills and nontraditional experiences that you’re proud of — liaising with a nonprofit for your kids’ school, coordinating a new moms support group, or advising your partner on their business. These all count in your portfolio of work when you return.
b.: What should dads know about this process?
Ruch: First of all, 1 in 5 stay-at-home parents today are dads. And so, whichever partner is taking the career break to support the day to day of family life, both partners must be on board with the idea that they’re both contributing work of value. Having a joint household organization mindset is vital so both partners can … get the breaks and help they need to be healthy and whole, including paid or unpaid help to allow a mother to invest in her own personal or professional pursuits in small ways.
The Power Pause is available now.
This article appeared in the b. Newsletter. Subscribe now!