Rajyashree Guha, senior people partner at CriticalRiver, welcomed her daughter just a few months before the global pandemic COVID-19 disrupted lives and everyday routines around the world. Taking a break from career to care for the newborn was then a natural choice and she took the decision without regrets.

While the beginning was a journey filled with love, warmth, and joy, there were moments of self-doubt and fears of leaving behind a career for good.

“To allay my fears, I started taking up consultancy and freelance work. This helped me stay connected with my craft and gain confidence about work,” the mother of a five-year old said.

But was she prepared to return to a full-time role?

“I hesitated for a long time. I was scared that I would not be able to keep up with the pace,” Rajyashree says.

By then, she was working as a consultant for CriticalRiver, a company that considered not just the career break but everything that she experienced during those years, including the new perspectives she gained through motherhood. So when a full-time opportunity opened in CriticalRiver for her role, Rajyashree knew she was ready to make a come back.

“I wanted to be here. My team made me feel like I was a part of it even before I joined. From the top management to my manager and teammates, everyone trusted and supported me and made my journey smoother,” she says.

The corporate world is often harsh to those taking a career break to focus on motherhood and then attempting to return. But for Rajyashree the return was smooth. “It was not just about reviving my career, but rediscovering myself as a professional and a mother,” she said.