Funny How a Time Meant for Renewal Can Also Kick You on Your Butt!

New Beginnings and New Pressures

The day after Labor Day has always signified new beginnings. It brings new schools, new routines, and new energy. However, for many leaders, it also brings new pressure to hold it all together. You must show up with clarity, confidence, and a roadmap—even if the ground is shifting underneath you.

I’ve been there.

A Challenging Transition

Returning to work after maternity leave wasn’t just a transition for me; it felt like a full-blown disaster. I had a feeling things weren’t going to go smoothly, but I didn’t expect the challenges that awaited me:

• Layoffs while I was out

• A stressed, burned-out team

• A toxic environment building behind the scenes

  
  

I was the first person in recent memory to go on maternity leave. There was no plan, no structure, and no real support.

The Struggles of Returning to Work

The only pumping space was across an alley in a bathroom-adjacent room. I had to drag my laptop and gear with me to every session. "Urgent" meeting calls came in constantly, even while I was pumping. I had multiple bosses in different locations, making it impossible to plan my day.

I didn’t have the confidence to advocate for what I needed, so I just tried to keep up. This led to a painful moment: I ended up flat on the concrete floor on my way to that alleyway after slipping and falling during my first week back. (Yup, that hurt as much as it sounds!)

A Moment of Vulnerability

Later that day, I picked up my son from a friend’s house. Daycare hadn’t even started yet. I was starving, so I pulled into a random restaurant and cried. No one knew what I was dealing with.

• No one was checking in.

• I didn’t have the self-awareness to ask for help.

• There was no on-ramp, no playbook, and if there was, I didn't have the wherewithal to look for it.

  
  

Finding a Path Forward

Things eventually got better, but only because I made them better. With time, reflection, and a deep need to do things differently, I built a support system. That moment shaped how I lead today: with rigor and humanity. Because success doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Embracing Change

If you support leaders through major transitions or are in one yourself, maybe this September is your moment to do it differently. Let's chat.