👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Dad to Tom (5) and Sarah (3) 💻 Sales Leader, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions

Having two great kids in our lives has been awesome and certainly changed me for the better but more recently a topic that has been top of mind for me and in our home is the mental load. I was, admittingly, oblivious to this in the earlier years of fatherhood. Whilst I certainly tried to be a great dad and partner, I didn’t fully understand the load that my wife carried below the surface in the chaos that is raising two young kids. Whilst workplace benefits and fairer legislation are critical, equally important (and a tangible step forward) is the role fathers in particular must and can do more in sharing that load.

Whilst this topic is not unique to parents in our industry, what is special is an organisation in The Village where we have a concerted effort to create space for our parents to discuss and create solutions that allow for our talented parents to support one another in equitable parental partnerships and ultimately feel they can not only remain but thrive in our great industry.

👨‍👩‍👦 Mother to Maeve (3) 💻 Group Client Director, Wavemaker

My journey into parenthood began with infertility. If you've faced challenges conceiving, you understand how emotionally and physically exhausting it can be to start a family. During this time, I leaned heavily on the support of friends, family, and key coworkers to help me navigate the monthly struggles and the subsequent journey through IVF. Undergoing IVF while managing work was incredibly challenging, especially when trying to keep the process private out of concern for potential subconscious bias. There were weeks filled with frequent blood tests, daily medications, numerous scans and self-administered injections. The situation was compounded by Covid, often requiring me to attend appointments alone, though I was fortunate to have the privacy of working from home. This period was, without a doubt, the hardest and loneliest time of my life. I have never cried as much or as hard. But, we consider ourselves one of the lucky couples who defied the odds and conceived successfully on our first round. Fast forward to today, we are blessed with a beautiful, vivacious daughter who is now almost three years old.

🤍 Father of Hudson (3), Cleo (9 months) 💻 Chief Growth Director, RC Consulting

Growing up, I only knew one way — work hard, and then work harder. This mindset came from watching my dad, whose work ethic was deeply rooted in our ethnic family's values. He ran a very successful business, but unfortunately, he spent most of his time focused on that. I followed his example early on, balancing three jobs at once: Maccas after school, a local newsagent on weekends, and night shifts at Franklins supermarket (remember that place?)

I carried that same relentless intensity into my media career — late-night calls, working weekends, blurring the lines between work and home, and missing out on the moments that truly matter. But everything changed when my dad suddenly passed away from a heart attack out of nowhere! It hit me really hard and made me realise just how important it is to spend time with your family. Now that I'm a dad myself, I really cherish the daycare pickups, bath and bedtime stories, weekend sports activities and simply kicking a ball around with my three-year-old son.

❤️ Mum to Felicity (4), and Angus (21 months)
💻 Head of Partner Marketing, Omnicom Media Group

The first time I held my daughter, I was in a state of shock.
I was waiting for the love, the tears, the elation, for any emotion really. But it didn’t come. Friends had described waves of euphoria, and days, weeks, even months in I found myself staring into space, in my crusty pyjamas thinking: EUPHORIA, WHERE YOU AT?
You see, I had hitched a large part of my self-worth on “handling things.” Getting it done without fuss, staying in control, sticking to the plan.

𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯.

Over time I realised that while the highs and lows of parenting are universal, how they show up is completely personal. Like most things, it gets easier when you learn to run your own race. Parenting for me has been the ultimate mirror. My kids are a reflection of my best and my worst. They have shown me that I am resilient, focused, and capable. They have also tested me to my absolute limits, and in doing so, revealed strengths I never would have uncovered otherwise.

Take last week as an example, I was in Sydney for work and got a call. My husband had gastro, my son needed collecting from childcare with a high temp, shortly followed by a call from the kinder room that my daughter had tripped and fallen on a table and might need stitches. Breathe, let go and work out your next first step.

Parenting has also taught me to ｓｌｏｗ ｄｏｗｎ, to be okay without a plan, and to rediscover the underrated magic of a kitchen dance party 🪩 when le sh!t is hitting le fan.

I am grateful, deeply, to be a parent, and to be their parent. Some of the best moments in our house happen when my husband and I lean into teamwork: laughing off the chaos, remembering that we are the ones flying the plane, and choosing joy in the middle of the mess.

If I am honest, I struggled returning to work both times, each for different reasons. But slowly, I have started being kinder to myself, readjusting expectations, and leaning into the seasons as they ebb and inevitably, flow.

That is why The Village matters. Parenting while building a career in media, or anywhere, is a juggle. The Village creates a place for conversations, support, and those shorthand connections only parents know. Sometimes you don’t need words, you just need a knowing nod, or someone to take you out for coffee.

❤️ Sebastian, 22 months
💻 Senior Client Partner, Reddit

Becoming a mum is a transformative experience. I often feel like the term mat leave doesn’t fully carry the weight of the 24/7 job for life that parents have taken on. We often joke in our industry that we aren't saving lives, so to go from presentations and PCAs to keeping a newborn baby alive was a big adjustment, literally crying over spilt milk. Entering this new life stage has taught me some valuable lessons that have reshaped how I work for the better.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 #𝟏 Prioritise what truly matters
I now understand why many new parents who return to work change careers. When the opportunity cost to work is spending precious time with your children and family, it’s important to make your time away from them count. I approach every project and task with a more critical lens - is this genuinely valuable or impactful or is it just adding to the noise and swirl?

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 #𝟐 Remember the human behind the professional
Was someone a little terse in a meeting or not their usual bright bubbly self? I try to practice making generous assumptions more often since becoming a parent. Your colleagues, clients, partners have things going on in their personal lives that we may not see. It’s a humbling reminder to look for each other’s strengths and lift others up when they need a boost.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 #𝟑 Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
Becoming a parent builds resilience like no other. Whenever I want to quit or put off something I don’t want to do, I tap into my resilience toolbox and remind myself that I endured childbirth. All of a sudden, that speedy deadline or massive presentation doesn’t feel so daunting.

I’ve also realised that it is a privilege to have the space, time and support to thrive as a working parent - where you genuinely feel like you are kicking goals at both jobs. I wouldn’t be in this position without the support of a great boss, team and husband who works in the same industry and just gets it. Also thank you to every media mum that reached out to me both on mat leave and during my return, you know who you are.

❤️ Mother to Nora, 2.5
💻 Senior Client Partner, Reddit

Being a relatively new mum working in the media industry definitely comes with its challenges, but also a few unexpected silver linings.

The first few years of parenting while juggling a career are no joke. Reintegrating into work, giving it your all, and dealing with round after round of toddler sickness and sleep deprivation can leave you feeling like you’re constantly dropping the ball in one area just to keep the other afloat.

For me, that’s looked like stepping away from work to care for a sick little one, or missing daycare pickups and bedtime to respond to briefs or travel interstate for clients.

What I’ve learned is this: you simply can’t be everywhere at once - and that’s okay. It’s okay to be a mum who wants a fulfilling career and sees that as part of being a strong role model for your daughter. And it’s also okay (thanks to a supportive team, manager, and company) to step back when you need to. To reschedule a meeting so you can make it to the Easter hat parade, or log off a bit early to make dinner time feel a little less chaotic.

Parenting is a balancing act. It’s rarely even, but when it’s working -and when you have the right support- you can be both a great parent and a top performer at work.

❤️ My daughters name is Maggie and she is almost 15 months
💻 NSW Sales Director at Val Morgan Cinema

The world I’m currently living in is the tricky juggle around balancing my day-to-day job of leadership, spreadsheets, presentations and client meetings with raising a vivacious, strong-willed and confident little girl who has just started daycare (cue the joys of daycare sickness… IYKYK!).

While there are incredible female role models in the industry who are balancing demanding, senior-leadership positions I didn’t have someone internally who was also in Sales to model my return-to-work plans around. This was fairly daunting and I couldn’t help but think “Can I do this?” “Can I lead a successful sales team and raise a kind, self-assured and happy daughter?” I am so fortunate to work in a business that supported my return to work and allows me the flexibility and trust to do my job and be a mum but what I’m quickly learning is that the path forward isn’t linear and I’m learning everyday (sounds similar to parenting hey…)

My first Sales WIP back I told my team “we don’t apologise for being sick and we don’t apologise for parenting” and while I need to remind myself of that as I’m running out of the office after receiving the dreaded daycare phone call, it is something I really want to model for any future parents in my team. Because yes, I am a mum, but I also want a fulfilling and successful career and I’m on the journey of how I can have both.

❤️ Solo parent to Henry, a music-loving, soccer-obsessed, determined teenager who is now suddenly far taller than I am
💻 Executive Recruiter in the Media & Advertising industry in Australia & internationally, CEO & Founder of KPMR

Raising Henry as a solo parent while running recruitment businesses in the UK and Australia has been a total privilege. He has transformed in front of my eyes. I am so proud of the little boy he was and the young man he is becoming.

Henry has grown up alongside my work, sitting in new business meetings, building Lego in the office during school holidays, and tagging along to conferences. I used to worry that he would be so bored, but now he tells me he actually learned a lot just by being around it all.

I grew up watching my mum work in media and my dad build houses. They both worked very hard. I have always wanted to show Henry what that kind of work ethic looks like and how meaningful building a career can be.

Like so many parents, I have tried to master all the hats: chef, Uber driver, laundry service, soccer coach, event planner, teacher, PA. WFC (working from my car) and WFS (working from soccer training) have come in very handy over the years. It has been an ongoing adventure and one I treasure.

Hey, I’m Pia, and I am the managing director of PHD Sydney. I have a busy job and a big team, and we all know how fast paced media life is. I love media… always have. In my 23 years I’ve worked in almost all areas of a media agency, and at most holding groups, and an indie too. Work used to be my main focus, a huge driver of energy and inspiration. But then, things changed. I had two boys (who are now 11 (and taller than me) and 8 (only 5cm off wahh). I was separated and divorced 7 years ago, so navigating a big and busy job in media and two small kids, and everything that comes with that was a huge challenge.

But it’s also when my media village really rallied. It’s so important as working parents to have support around you, but even more important when big scary life changes happen. Work became such a safe space, with so much support, and then COVID hit. Another stark reminder that our connections are everything. Being confined to a house with two kids and not seeing any other adult for weeks on end except my mum and the boys’ dad was so so hard. Teams meetings were a lifeline, and talking to parents who were going
through the same whirlwind of home schooling, working and isolating. I reflect often on how important my media connections were during that time.
Fast forward 5 years and I have met and moved in with the love of my life, have gained a beautiful nearly 13 year old bonus daughter and have a heap of new (and fun) challenges to navigate. Weekends sometimes feel busier than my incredibly busy week. Kids sport, house stuff, a needy cocker spaniel, building dioramas for bloody school projects. There is never a dull moment.
But the one constant is the people I surround myself with. The Village is a structured and powerful version of what happens organically. Parents connecting on the good days and the bad, the days you’re running so late you might as well work from home, the days you spill coffee all over your white top, the days you don’t know how you will make it to the assembly and the board meeting. Reminding ourselves that parenthood, and family life (whatever form that takes) is a compliment to our day jobs. It makes us better
leaders, with more empathy, perspective and resilience. And we can multi-task like mofos.

Let’s keep being real, supporting each other and propping each other up. It’s so important!