Eva-Maria Meyr’s Post

When I rejoined Salesforce, I was 5 months pregnant. Did I worry about what my boss would think? Absolutely. The overachiever in me couldn't help but wonder: "Will he think I'm irresponsible for joining so late in my pregnancy?" "Does he doubt my commitment, fearing I'll leave right after maternity leave?" Every possible worry about his perceptions haunted me. And yes, I spent the rest of my pregnancy wrestling with guilt. But here's the truth I wish I had embraced sooner👇🏼 That guilt was completely unwarranted. Why? Because I was creating life. And the timing of my pregnancy and my career transition was beyond my control. So, to anyone pregnant and fretting over job timing: Release that guilt. Your company will adapt. Your team will manage. The one who needs you, both mentally and physically healthy, is your baby. Let's shift our mindset from career guilt to prioritizing what's actually important. In the end, my baby's and my well-being are what mattered most. Your mental health isn't just yours alone; it's your baby's foundation 💜 👇🏼 Have you ever faced a similar dilemma, juggling major life events with career transitions? How did you handle the guilt or pressure? Drop your thoughts below or tag a friend who needs to hear this message👇🏼 #workingmom #momgoals #momlife #motherhood #newjob #pregnancywellness #pregnancysupport #pregnancy

It's been a few months since I last shared my pregnancy experience, and I'm thrilled to let you know that I'm officially back in action after my maternity leave. Before returning, I'd heard tales of how rejoining the workforce after an extended break could be a daunting and confidence-shaking experience. I'll admit, I had similar apprehensions. However, armed with a plan (I recommend to read "Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return From Maternity Leave" , by Mihalich-Levin JD, Lori) and the incredible support of my family, friends, and work peers, the transition turned out to be much smoother than I had imagined. During my maternity leave, I experimented with three key strategies that appear to be supporting me in navigating this transition: 🤜 Communication is Key: I found that expressing my fears and concerns openly with friends and family was incredibly helpful. Often, these worries are more in our minds than in reality. Discussing them with loved ones provided a valuable reality check and helped me gain perspective. 🤜 Seeking Help Early: Instead of waiting until work officially started, I made sure to have support in place during my maternity leave. This not only aided in physical recovery but also allowed me the time to mentally prepare for my return. By the time my first day arrived, I was not exhausted, and this made a world of difference. 🤜 Stay Mentally Engaged: During my maternity leave, I tried to keep my mind engaged. I engaged in self-reflection, spoke about Data and leadership in multiple public events, started my newsletter on LinkedIn (Curious Connect), published posts about various topics, became advisory board member to few startups, explored analytics use cases of ChatGPT and enlightened myself about all the buzz about GenAI, read multiple book summaries on Shortform, and had multiple stimulating conversations with my husband and friends. Point being that I strived to keep my mind engaged doing these activities without pressure, to prevent any loss of confidence. As every pregnancy journey is unique, so is the process of returning to work. It varies from person to person, influenced by factors like the availability of support. Although it's a bit belated for Thanksgiving, I want to express my sincere gratitude to my friends, family, and colleagues who played a crucial role in making my return to work a smooth transition. If anyone is currently navigating a similar journey and needs support or advice, please don't hesitate to reach out.

🤱 TIME FOR A TIME OUT This week I have been signed off early on my maternity leave by my medical team. I'll be honest this initially left me feeling very anxious about work, I'm starting to see that this is what's best for me and my baby. Two things have been top of mind to me in this process: 1 - The support needed to make the workplace more equitable for women and birthing people (and of course all the intersectionality therein) 2 - The gratitude and admiration I have for the people around me in work 1 - Salesforce provided me with immense support when I suffered 3 back to back pregnancy losses in 2020. I had time off, I had counselling and I had discretion from those who knew. Fast forward to when I could finally get fertility support after the height of the pandemic, Salesforce also supported me personally, professionally and financially with our IVF journey. This showed that it was not considered a "women's issue" but a human issue in which everyone needs support. 2 - I mentioned a few months ago that I was incredibly grateful for the men who created space and opportunities for me in this tech industry. Sadly, I know this has not been everyone's experience, and that's why I feel it is so important to call out the men to whom others should aspire to emulate. Now I would like to call out the incredible women that I see making immense positive changes to our customers and our processes. I will tag a few in this post because an essay would be required for the detail of all those who have inspired me. I will be stepping away from the professional side for a while (though I may occasionally share something really cool 😉). In the meantime, I'll share 3 things that have gotten me the personal and professional success that I feel thus far in life. 1. Be empathetic but remember - Being empathetic is not about people pleasing. It is kinder to all to be clear and have the difficult conversations. 2. Good enough is good enough - my mother always taught me that life is too short to be a perfectionist, so celebrate the wins, recognise the improvement areas, and move along. 3. Be loud - especially as a woman, don't worry if someone thinks you are too sensitive, emotional, shrill, or whatever. If something isn't sitting right with you, call it in or call it out. The only regrets you'll have is letting others believe they can get away with mistreating people. Thank you all, and please connect with these amazing women Sinead Grant CCSK Dearbhla Bourke Boyle Rachel Healy Annie Darlington Franny Hsiao Sonia Daryani ☁️ Cassandra Buckley Sarah Lyle Natasha Beegan BSc (Hons), MSCSI Laura Fortune Avril Couper Siobhán Boucher Laura Zuluaga Nancy Peng Emma-Lee Percy Emma Richards Maria Sical Poppy Dodge Laura Goci Hannah Rose Jasmine Ashley Julia Doctoroff Vanessa ADJAVON Niamh McArdle Tiffany Twomey Jihye (Gee-hae) Kim-O'Rourke Pearl Suen (there are many more besides!)

As I begin my 3rd maternity leave with Cisco I am filled with gratitude to work for a company that truly values and supports working parents. But it’s not just the 5-months of paid leave that fills me with gratitude. It’s also looking in the eyes of my newborn baby boy and my 2-year old little girl and knowing they may not be here without Cisco’s fertility benefits that fully covered my IVF treatments after 4 painful miscarriages. My first son was born 5 years ago naturally without any complications. My husband and I were overjoyed when we got pregnant with our second pregnancy. But at 16 weeks, we were devastated to learn we lost the baby. We lost 3 more pregnancies for a total of 4- the 4th loss while my husband, a former Green Beret, was deployed to Afghanistan. I had to undergo yet another surgery alone, devastated and feeling hopeless. Because military insurance did not cover IVF, I decided to reach out to our EVP of HR about the possibility of getting on Cisco’s insurance. Our benefits include a generous fertility allocation. I told her our story and made a big ask- can I please opt in to Cisco insurance outside of the enrollment period so that we could start our fertility journey. She emailed me back almost immediately and told me due to covid (at the time), there was an option to opt in to Cisco insurance outside of the enrollment period. Although the announcement was not being made for a few weeks, I was able to opt in THAT day. Within weeks we were on our IVF journey and within months, we had 2 perfect embryos- one boy and one girl. Those two embryos- the babies I thought I would never have- are my 2 year old daughter and newborn son. I love that I work for a company where I am passionate about what I do, the impact I make in our business AND that the company truly cares for its people and their families and supports them with incredible benefits that are LIFE changing! My best advice to those on the job hunt seeking benefits like these: make a list of non-negotiables you want in a company, the work, the people and the benefits. Talk to people inside the company to learn more and be relentless in your pursuit to find the best fit for your career, your wellbeing and your family. 💙 #maternityleave #paidleave #parentalleave #bestcompanytoworkfor

From personal experience, building a family and my career has always been important. I value companies that have great policies around Maternity/Paternity leave. VMware is one of those great companies. You can learn more about Alexis story here! #VMware #VmwareLife

Embracing New Dreams on Your Birthday Birthdays are more than just milestones on the calendar. They are a reminder of the journey we've traveled and the opportunities that lie ahead. Each birthday is a chance to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and envision our future. It's a time to set new goals, embrace fresh dreams, and make a commitment to personal growth. https://lnkd.in/dwstgMdz Reflecting on the Past: As we celebrate another year of life, it's essential to look back at the experiences and lessons we've gathered. Every year has its share of highs and lows, successes and setbacks. Reflecting on our past helps us acknowledge our achievements and appreciate the challenges that have made us stronger. Celebrating the Present: On our birthday, we should take a moment to celebrate the person we've become. The experiences and people that surround us make our lives meaningful. Whether it's with family, friends, or colleagues, the love and support we receive are worth cherishing. Envisioning the Future: A birthday is the perfect occasion to envision the future. What are your dreams and aspirations for the next year? Perhaps you want to advance in your career, learn a new skill, or travel to a new destination. The possibilities are endless, and your birthday is an excellent time to set goals and create a vision for the future. New Dreams and Opportunities: With each passing year, we gain new perspectives, strengths, and wisdom. Our dreams may evolve, and opportunities may arise that we never imagined. Embrace these new dreams, no matter how big or small, and take steps to turn them into realities. Setting Goals: On your birthday, take the time to set clear and achievable goals. Whether it's a career milestone, a personal project, or a fitness target, having goals in place gives you a sense of purpose and direction. Use this day to outline your objectives and create a plan to accomplish them. Embracing Change: Birthdays remind us that change is constant. Instead of fearing change, welcome it as an opportunity for growth. Be open to trying new things and exploring uncharted territories. Embracing change can lead to remarkable personal and professional development. Conclusion: Birthdays offer a unique chance to reflect on our past, celebrate the present, and envision our future. They encourage us to embrace new dreams and opportunities that come our way. As you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, make a wish not only for the year ahead but for the life you want to create. Your dreams are yours to chase, and your birthday is the perfect starting point for this exciting journey. Happy Birthday and happy dreaming! Download “Birthday Wishes – RBirthday” and help people achieve their dreams - https://lnkd.in/dFz4eehJ

👩👧👦✨Big shout-out to all the mums getting back into work after maternity leave. Whether you're returning after a few months or have chosen not to go back, I get it – it's really hard. My return to work kicked off in the midst of the pandemic. Imagine pregnancy in total isolation, giving birth when partners could barely be there, then facing post-partum depression with a colicky baby. Meanwhile, my dad was in palliative care back in Italy until we lost him in December 2020. The grief and emptiness filled the years that followed. And through all that, leaving my 9-month-old at the nursery felt like the hardest part. I questioned everything. Would the caregivers give him the same love and support I did? It didn’t feel natural to me. Was it worth leaving him for a job where my efforts might go unnoticed? I felt trapped by necessity – my move to the UK for my career meant I had to work, to pay the bills. But I've seen the other side too. Some of my mum friends couldn't wait to get back to work, and that's perfectly fine. It's about choice. Three years later, I'm looking back. That sacrifice – was it worth it? Knowing what I know now, I'd fight for a longer maternity leave, a more flexible job, maybe part-time or fully remote. I endured two years of chronic fatigue and silent depression because of the significant changes in my body, identity, routine and life in general, but mostly because I lacked the support I so much needed. We shouldn't have to. We pour our hearts into our work, giving everything we've got, hoping that it's for a company that sees us – the caregivers, the ones shaping the future. This post is for us – the amazing mums on this wild ride. No matter how hard it gets, you have the power to make the best choice for you as a working mum. Here's to our choices, our wins, and our paths, each as unique as we are. 💪💖 #WorkingMums #Empowerment #Flexibility #CorporateSupport #ParentingInLeadership

I'm a working mum with triplets, YES, triplets. I carried a high-risk pregnancy for 8 months, had plenty of appointments a week, NICU for two and a half months, and still I worked full time (even the day of the cesarean) until they were out. I came up with LinkedIn's yesterday's Topic News about 'Working Moms and Remote Working' and I couldn't help but reflect on how lucky I was and the benefits of it. Especially after so much demanding time of breastfeeding, and again, so many more appointments a week. Despite the fact that my life is so hectic, I still managed to be on top of work, and on top of life. This is thanks to my company, who not only gave me the flexibility of managing my time, but also understood the situation about not only being a mother, but a MULTIPLE mother, which is not the same. 👶👶👶 Digitalization also made its part, especially since I could manage to work from the Hospital, NICU and my home, giving me the flexibility to keep on crashing it from anywhere. 👩💻 I could extend this story to many many more, but I thought of sharing it to give support to those many women who are struggling with guilt and lack of time when it comes to leaving babies, to make it to work. This is to keeping workplaces flexible 🤗, and at last a beautiful picture of my 7months already loving triplets. #digitalization #workfromanywhere #remotework #triplets #momlife

Relatable in so many ways! Hannah Ratzlaff did something similar for me by letting me be with my kids when they needed me. As much as I like to think I can do it all, I can’t! No one can. Managers that treat employees like they are human need to be recognized - sadly there aren’t many of them. I excelled in my current role because there was no pressure to prove my loyalty by forcing me to pick my career over my family. If I had to choose it would 100% be my kids/family. We need to stop hiring Managers that do not know how to manage people with empathy. Stop hiring Managers that justify treating people badly because it’s what was modelled for them. Employers who think employees are replaceable need to understand that we can also find another role ✌🏾 Thank you Hannah Ratzlaff

This is the type of culture I want to cultivate as a leader! This notion of separating life and work is so unrealistic and impacts the length of time employees will stay with an organisation. People have a life, and that life encompasses everything. Fostering a culture that keeps the humanity in how we tackle out-of-the-box situations is important.