Leaning In: A Family Affair?

Corporate America is losing its best and brightest to motherhood and Life/Work balance – but that doesn’t have to happen.

Shelly Swanback, the North America Technology Lead for Accenture, learned to keep boundaries in place when her children were young.

“I had a rule that I wouldn’t take work calls at home, because when I walked in the door, my family had my undivided attention,” she tells PINK. “I even sat in the driveway to finish up just to make that boundary clear.”

That’s not to say that you should keep your family and work lives completely separate. Swanback believes they can support one another.

“My approach to ‘having it all’ is using personal priorities to bring perspective, energy and creativity to both my career and my family,” she says.

“I had a rule that I wouldn’t take work calls at home … “

She says merging career and family has been satisfying for her and her children, who get to see their mom in a different – but equally as important – role.

Involving your family in your work can give you unique and honest perspectives.

She has practiced presentations in front of the kids to include them and help them understand the magnitude of what she does.

“I drew immense motivation and excitement from them. They became my biggest supporters!”

COMMENT: How do you include your family in your work? Share your tips!

BONUS PINK LINK: Summer’s almost over. Here’s why you still need to squeeze in a vacation.

By Emily Barnhill

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” Diane Mariechild

Image Shutterstock: matka_Wariatka