“India is a beautiful country with a rich culture and has made significant progress, but it still clings to a few stringent norms, especially when it comes to women. Despite this, In 2013, I made the life-changing decision to adopt a 5-month-old baby, defying cultural stereotypes around traditional family and marriage. Eight years on, I am still having to deal with bureaucratic hurdles and scepticism, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Being a mother is a beautiful journey in itself, especially when my child comes to me after a tiring office day and gives me a big hug and a smile. It’s the most amazing thing. The best thing about being a single parent is that it has taught me to stand up for what is not right, to stand up to society and to have the courage to say no.
In India, there is a strong norm of marrying first and then having a child, and I did venture on that journey, but it was not for me. I challenged that norm when I realized that being a wife and a mother are not mutually exclusive. And when I thought about re-entering the workforce and trying to balance being a working mom and a good mom, it dawned on me that if I could challenge the norm by being a single mother, I could also take on being a working one.
I believe there is no age for learning. This is why I took the Post Graduate Program in Artificial Intelligence for Leaders by Great Learning this year, to upgrade my career, and stay up to date with industry standards.
If there was one piece of advice for mothers who are second-guessing re-launching their careers, remember that upskilling is key to empowering women and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries. Your journey may not always be easy, but with the right support and resources, you can achieve your career aspirations and create a better future for yourself and your family.”
Shared by : Supriyas Deverkonda
On account of Mother’s Day, Great Learning, a leading global edtech company for higher education and professional training, has launched the fourth edition of its flagship campaign #HerFreshStart this year. The campaign was first launched in 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic with an aim to empower mothers who wish to reignite their careers and return to work. Building on the success of the campaign in India, the brand has expanded the campaign globally this year to reach and empower mothers worldwide.
Quote from Aparna Mahesh, Chief Marketing Officer, Great Learning, “As a working mother myself, I understand the challenges that mothers face when returning to work after a significant career gap. The ever-evolving nature of technology and the demand for new skills can be overwhelming for anyone, let alone mothers returning to work after a long career gap. Our goal with this campaign is to empower mothers who want to reclaim their careers and thrive in this new business environment. Through the last three editions of Great Learnings #HerFreshStart, we were delighted to see the response of over a thousand mothers looking to upskill and re-enter the workforce with confidence. This positive response has encouraged us to now expand the initiative globally so that we can help even more women all around the world to achieve their career aspirations.”
Shared by: Aparna Mahesh
“As a mother who took a career break to raise my family, I always knew that someday, I would want to reclaim my career. That someday came when we were on our way to pick up my daughter from college on March 17 2020 because of the Covid lockdown that was announced. On our way back home, my daughter, husband and I saw a billboard advertisement for an MTech program in Data Science and Machine Learning. My daughter at that time was doing her Masters in Data Science (5-year integrated program ) from Coimbatore. At that moment, we both had the same thought of taking it up. I thought, would this be the step needed to launch my career?At first, we laughed at the possibility of pursuing higher education in the same year but then challenged that thought – why not?Initially, I had doubts and anxieties about returning to studying after a long break, but I refused to let my age be a barrier to my growth. From March 2020 to 2022, because of the lockdown, my daughter had online classes and was with me in Bangalore. It turned out that studying with my daughter was a motivation, not a hurdle. We both studied together and helped each other with doubts. The PES M.Tech program provided me with the opportunity to acquire new-age skills, rebuild my confidence, and become job-ready. Though not easy, it paid off. Upskilling and pursuing higher education has been a life-changing experience, and I feel more empowered and confident than ever before. I landed a job at MResult, thanks to the skills and knowledge I gained.
Though not easy, it paid off. Upskilling and pursuing higher education has been a life-changing experience, and I feel more empowered and confident than ever before. I landed a job at MResult, thanks to the skills and knowledge I gained.During my 10+ year career break, I had moments of self-doubt and uncertainty about whether I could restart my career after such a long time. But my family’s persistent encouragement, especially from my daughter and husband, helped me overcome those doubts and take the first step towards pursuing my dreams. One-on-one mentorship sessions and career fairs provided by Great Learning were really helpful. I also got assistance from them in improving my resume. The unwavering support of all these people gave me the strength and determination I needed to overcome the challenges I faced during my journey. And now, as I embark on a new chapter in my career, I am grateful for their encouragement, which helped me achieve my goals and inspired me to never give up on my dreams. Looking back, I’m glad I took that step, proving to myself and to others that it’s never too late to start a new chapter in life.”
Shared by : Rani Mathialagan
