I used to think work-life angst was for mere mortals like you and me. Not anymore. My exclusive interview with Brenda Barnes, chairman and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corp., showed me that even high-powered corporate executives can struggle over not having enough time with their children.
Barnes sees life as a series of chapters, each of which may have a different emphasis on work or family or home. So for the 7 years after she quit as the president of PepsiCo North America, she lived a family-oriented chapter with her 3 children, while staying connected to corporate America through board service. Now that she's back in a career chapter, Sara Lee has launched a paid internship program aimed at stay-at-home moms who want to reenter the workforce -- partly informed by her own experience.
I certainly considered quitting my job when I was on maternity leave with each of my girls, but once I returned to work I remembered how fun it was and how much I missed it. In the end, you have to make the best choice you can, and accept the tradeoffs that come along with it. I try to periodically ask myself if the choice is still working, and tweak our situation if it's not.
Working moms, can you imagine taking 7 years at a slower pace and then ramping back up? For some I'm sure it's a tempting prospect.
Photo courtesy of Sara Lee Corp.
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JOIN US AS WE BOYCOTT THE SARA LEE CORPORATION
Child Support Advocates Nationwide Have Scheduled The Immediate National Boycott of the Sara Lee Corporation along with Simultaneous Protest Against the Unethical Law Firm of Edward Angell Palmer & Dodge and the condemnation of the behavior of their attorney Paulette Brown for purposely disregarding and toying with our justice system and not paying an innocent Child her Child Support via a Court Order that was sent to them.
Parents Nationwide Have Called for the Boycott of the Sara Lee Corporation in the New York State Child Support Case Myers v. Sara Lee Bakeries Corporation. The Sara Lee Corporation has refused to abide by State Laws Regulating Payment of Child Support in New York and their goods should not be purchased.
Boycotts and Rallies Will Be Taking Place In Major Cities Nationwide.
NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!!
May 15, 2009