Maxine Walter

Leading Mother of the Week #92

3 QUESTIONS FOR WOMEN WHO COMBINE CHILDREN AND LEADERSHIP

@Maxine Walter

Director of Insights (International), Ancestry

a) I am a leader in a mid-sized global company

b) I have 3 children

c) My eldest is in the final year of university, the middle one in the first year of university and the youngest in senior school

d) I work full-time  

1) What is my secret tip for combining career and children?I’m not sure there is a single secret tip, but my strongest advice is to trust yourself and do what feels right for you and your children. If something doesn’t sit well—whether it’s the hours you’re away, working full-time or part-time, or the distance between work and nursery or school—it’s worth paying attention to that feeling.

What worked for me changed over time. After my first child, I chose to change career, so I wasn’t travelling so much. Later on, there were phases where I did travel more, and that felt right at that stage. Children grow and their needs change, and I believe our careers can evolve alongside them. Allowing yourself that flexibility—around hours, travel, or role—can make a big difference.

2) What experience with your children has inspired or helped you in your job?Having children quickly teaches you that while you can guide and support, what works for you isn’t necessarily what works for others. My three children are all very different in their personalities, needs, and strengths, and understanding each of them has required real curiosity about how they think and why they make the choices they do.

That experience has strongly shaped how I work. It made me remember to take a step back, avoid assumptions, and better understand what drives people beneath the surface. As a result, I’ve become more mindful of different working styles and communication needs, and more effective at working with a wide range of personalities.

3)  What am I proud of? 

I’m proud of raising a family while also building a career, and of having the courage to change direction more than once—the most recent move being the biggest shift of all. I’ve had friends who followed very different paths, and not everyone always understood my choices.

What I do know is that combining family and career has made me a happier person and, in turn, a better mother. I also wanted—and still want—to be a role model for my children: to show them that women and mothers can pursue fulfilling, successful careers while raising a family, and that there is no single “right” way to do that.