Bianca worked and travelled overseas a lot in her 20s and 30s. After having three children, she has stepped back from her career and feels great. We spoke with her about this decision and how she juggles it all.
Can you tell us about your career journey?
I have always worked in television—across many departments. In recent years, I worked in marketing and sponsorship and held senior roles in Australia and London before having kids.
Did your career change after becoming a mother? Were you more or less ambitious?
I chose to slow down my work load and number of days before having kids—which also helped with falling pregnant. Since having three boys, work is definitely secondary to my family and I’m less ambitious. I was quite burnt out with work by the time I got married. I felt like I reached my peak, and whilst I loved work I was happy to take a step back. I’m really proud of what I achieved at work, where I travelled and the fun I had in my 20s and 30s.
You have three kids—did it change each time you returned?
After my first child we moved to Shanghai and after my second child we moved back to Australia, so I didn’t go back to work until after my third son.
How do you juggle motherhood?
You just have to get on with it! Life is busy and I find the busier I am the more I get done. I try to make the kids responsible for their school bags, getting dressed and helping each other to get ready.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Happy, organised, pragmatic.
What was the most challenging part of returning to work?
Trying not to take on too much. I have a natural tendency to want to do it all. I work part-time and I don’t have time to work on my non-work days, so trying to manage the workload is the hardest part.
The best advice I was ever given by another mum is …
Everything’s a trade-off, so manage your expectations, be realistic and be happy with your decision. You can have it all if you’re not trying to do it all.
If I could go back and change anything about how I managed my career through parental leave, it would be …
It’s different for me because we went overseas, but if I’d stayed in Australia I would have looked for part-time work within my industry after my first child.
Tell us about your daily routine.
Up around 6/6:30AM, make school lunches, breakfast, beds, check everyone is dressed, drop kids to school/tennis/kinder/neighbour’s house—depending on work or not. On my two work days it’s a bit of a mad rush to leave the house by 8AM! On my non-work days I go for a run with some friends at 6AM. We share mornings with our neighbours so I have all the neighbours’ kids on one morning and they have mine on my work morning.
What are your favourite work clothing staples?
Thin woollen jumper, pants and boots or a dress.
At the end of a busy week, how do you positively re-energise?
Socialise with friends.
Favourite time of the day is … bedtime! G&T time! … no seriously, once the kids are all eating dinner I try to sit down with them and we chat about the day.
Instagram sites that inspire you … I’m obsessed with Pinterest.
I’m happiest when …we go for a family bike ride or walk on the weekends.
I’m addicted to … coffee in the morning.
Favourite wardrobe staple for work … boots.
Favourite wardrobe staple for weekend … jeans.
My role model is … I don’t actually have one!
Heels or flats? Flats at home, heels at work.
