011: Finding Your Purpose As A Working Mum With Jessica McClain

EPIC Women Leaders

Juggling the responsibilities of a job and being a new mom may seem impossible. It is no easy feat to be able to find the balance between work and family responsibilities.

In this episode, we chat with Jessica McClain who shares her experiences of having a child and how she kept up with the demands of a newborn while juggling a full-time job. After feeling being pulled in different directions, she decided to quit her job and focus on her family. She could not survive when her job couldn’t provide the flexibility that she needed as a new mother.

After spending 6 months to focus on her new child and using those 6 months for self-reflection, self-thought, and self-care, she was able to find what she truly wanted in life. Finding and making peace with your purpose as a working mom is essential to truly enjoy life.

Career progression isn’t one single track as we go through life. That progression can take different forms depending on what happens in our own internal world. But one thing that we should remember is that in order to be our best selves in every stage of our career and life, we must prioritize self-care.

Self-care is never selfish. Once we take care of ourselves, we can do a lot of things for others. When we fill our own cup, we can then give freely from the overflow.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THIS EPISODE:

• How do you define success and achievement? (4:30)
• Asking for help (7:48)
• Flexibility of working from home (9:22)
• Asking for what you want (12:19)
• Career progression and pivoting (12:59)
• Taking risks (13:20)
• Doing what’s best for you and your family (13:40)
• Career progression isn’t one track (13:57)
• Feeling trapped by our internal thoughts (14:17)
• Career progression is a zigzag road (15:15)
• Figuring out how you see yourself in the future (15:49)
• Tying ourselves to our jobs and achievements (17:00)
• Self-care is different for each person (18:00)
• Carving time out for yourself (18:23)
• Taking time to connect with team members (19:19)
• Having as much human connection as possible (20:00)
• How employers can support mental health of their employees (20:45)
• Having a strong network (23:59)
• Work is only a small part of who you are (25:15)
• The importance of exercising more (25:40)
• Taking time out for self care (26:16)
• The mom project (27:00)
• Self care is not selfish or lazy (29:55)

RESOURCES:

• The Mom Project

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Kathleen Fair Global

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GUEST BIO

Jessica is the Controller for Brand USA. Before that, Jessica spent 11 years in public accounting as an auditor. Jessica serves on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Women's Initiatives Executive Committee, the AICPA Foundation Board of Trustees, and the AICPA Student Recruitment Committee. Jessica serves on the Board of Maryland 529. She is a member of the community service sorority Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Jessica has a bachelor's degree from Towson University and a master's degree from George Washington University. Jessica is a CPA, CISA, PMP, and CGFM.