Why Careers Shouldn't End with Maternity Leave - And One Woman Who's Proving It

After an inspiring conversation with Jessica Heagren - whose passion for creating a better, more inclusive workplace is impossible to forget, we couldn't help but want to share her story. It's so fascinating and constantly motivates us to build the best solution we can!

Jessica Heagren is a pioneering advocate for working parents and the driving force behind Careers After Babies, a UK-based initiative dedicated to transforming workplace cultures to better support parents, particularly mothers, in maintaining their careers post-childbirth.

Check out the lastest survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L93M6V7

From Corporate Leadership to Advocacy

Before founding Careers After Babies, Heagren held senior roles in the financial services sector, including serving as a director at Direct Line Group. During her tenure, she established the company's first Diversity Committee and led the Gender & Working Families strand. Her personal experience with maternity leave highlighted the systemic challenges faced by working mothers. Despite negotiating a flexible return to work, Heagren found the demands incompatible with family life, leading her to leave her position—a decision that inspired her to seek broader change.

The Birth of Careers After Babies

In 2023, Heagren conducted a survey among working mothers, expecting modest participation. Instead, she received over 800 responses within two weeks, revealing widespread dissatisfaction with post-maternity workplace support.

The findings were stark:

98% of mothers wanted to return to work, but only 13% found it feasible; 85% left full-time work within three years of their first child, and 19% exited the workforce entirely.

These revelations led to the creation of the Careers After Babies accreditation scheme, launched in late 2023. The program offers a comprehensive framework for employers to assess and enhance their policies, processes, and practices concerning working parents. The goal is not mere compliance but genuine transformation, ensuring that workplaces are genuinely supportive of parents' needs.

A Personal Mission

Heagren's commitment to this cause is deeply personal. As a mother of four, she is determined to create a world where parents can thrive both at home and in their careers. Through Careers After Babies, she aims to build a community of employers who recognise the value of supporting working parents and are willing to make the necessary changes to retain their talent.


Please support Jessica in her latest survery -https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L93M6V7 helping her modernise the world of work for us all, retaining talent and building companies that people actually want to work for.

For more information on the accreditation process or to get involved, visit careersafterbabies.org.