What’s your story? I’ve been sharing my life with my partner since 2017, a beautiful encounter that happened when I was in my final year of a Masters at university. After four years together, we were surprised to learn that we were going to become parents, I was 28 at the time. In August 2022, we welcomed our first child, an unforgettable moment at my 29th birthday.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? When I became pregnant, I was in charge of a training department in the sports and entertainment sector, on a fixed-term contract. The job demanded rigour, as I was responsible for accrediting training bodies at regional level. My integration into the team went smoothly, but I gradually had to establish my legitimacy over the months. Ironically, it was in the year of my pregnancy that I really found my place in the team. So I was dreading my return, keen to rediscover what I had built up with my colleagues and partners over time. However, bodies and organisations are changing. During my maternity leave, which was extended by a period of sick leave, I was absent for a total of seven months. When I returned, conditions had changed: I wasn’t able to pick up the projects I’d left behind, my responsibilities had been redistributed and I no longer had the same visibility over the management of the department. Although frustrated by the loss of visibility due to my position, I decided to turn this situation into an opportunity. This enabled me to find a better balance between my professional and family life, and to plan for a new position.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? My ability to adapt and be resilient.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after a pregnancy? I think the most important thing is to listen to yourself. If your organisation is taking you off your projects, preventing you from making the most of your work, it’s important to talk about it. Surround yourself with the right people, people who will listen to you and support you. I’d also like to stress that you should never devalue yourself or doubt your skills.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? In my family, the value of work is essential. So I wanted to get a Master’s degree so that I could move into management positions. But I soon realised that a 25-year-old woman’s CV wasn’t enough to run a department. So I developed strategies to enhance my career path. Having a child was not a priority: I wanted to progress, settle down and become stable before becoming a mother.

Have your goals changed? My objectives remain unchanged: to achieve professional fulfilment while taking time to enjoy my family and friends. I put a lot of myself into my work, but I also know how to prioritise when it comes to spending time with my family.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? I’ve always believed that life is about choices. With determination and overcoming stereotypes linked to gender, skin colour or age, it’s possible to achieve the goals you set yourself.