Posted on: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Adjusting to MOM after MBA
By Monica Quock Chan
Before: MBA, MA, BS
After: MOM
Before: GMAT: 99th percentile. GPA: 3.8.
After: Sleep deprivation: 99th percentile. Number of persons in family: 4.0.
Before: Worked in Asia and studied in Europe. Traveled to nearly 70 countries. Functionally fluent in various languages.
After: Work at home. Travel = running errands + buying groceries + attending kids' activities. Functionally fluent in baby-ese and toddler-ese.
Before: Directed cross-functional teams consisting of R&D, manufacturing, marketing, regulatory, finance and suppliers to develop and launch new products.
After: Direct cross-functional activities consisting of dressing, feeding, bathing, disciplining, caring and teaching in order to develop children into loving adults.
Before: Managed $X budget to create strategy for markets totaling $X million in annual revenue.
After: Manage $X household budget to cover ever-growing expenses in recession environment.
Before: Determined product pricing and positioning. Increased revenue by X percent and operating profit by X percent in one year.
After: Determine price tag for future preschool, potential private school and college tuitions. Check to make sure that additional zero is not a mistake. Hope paychecks increase by X percent before children are school-age.
Before: Produced dozens of sales tools and collateral for channels and customers.
After: Supervise dozens of toddler-inspired art and craftworks for grandparents.
Before: Conducted training for 120-plus member sales force.
After: Conduct rudimentary math (e.g., count to 20), language (e.g., z-o-o spells zoo), art (e.g., coloring) and science (e.g., examining birds' nests) lessons for active toddler. Hope infant is learning by osmosis.
Before: Managed recruiting promotion process.
After: Manage baby sitter recruiting process.
Before: Developed campaigns generating hundreds of leads.
After: Develop learning opportunities generating hundreds of "Why?" questions.
Before: Negotiated with strategic partners and vendors.
After: Negotiate with independent-minded toddler who insists, "I do self!"
Before: Conducted market research on top institutions.
After: Conduct market research on youth eating habits indicating strong preference for french fries and ice cream.
Before: Redefined job positions. Resulted in implementation of new organizational structure.
After: Redefine family life to accommodate one, then two, kids. Results in little personal time, date night scarcity and near-constant hullabaloo, but also incomparable joy, lots of fun and precious memories.
Before: Granted Employee Recognition Award for project work and team skills.
After: Granted hugs, kisses and cuddles from adoring children simply for being Mommy.
