In the words of Anna Mykoliuk: “I regained my self-respect and self-worth, which helped me quickly find a new job after returning from maternity leave”

Anna Mykoliuk is a 35-year-old Ukrainian woman from Kyiv who successfully returned to work after completing her parental leave, thanks to her participation in the mentoring program of the Women For The Future initiative. Photo: courtesy of Anna Mykoliuk

As Anna concluded her three-year maternity leave, she faced the challenge of re-entering the workforce in a new reality. Before her leave, she held a management position, led a team of eight specialists, and was responsible for delivering important results for the company. Anna loved her job, but during her three years of caring for her daughter, her priorities shifted. To reassess her professional development and find a job that aligned with her new life circumstances and personal ambitions, Anna decided to participate in the mentorship program offered by the Women For The Future initiative.

"It was important for me to return to work in a way that was smooth and comfortable to help reduce my internal stress levels. Alongside my work commitments, I now have significant responsibilities as a mother. Therefore, I sought stress-free working conditions that included clear responsibilities, a friendly team, and, most importantly, a flexible schedule. A key factor for me was the availability of a remote or hybrid work format—specifically, two days in the office and three days at home—to help me conserve my energy and make time for my child and family," said Anna.

Returning to work after parental leave came with several concerns. Anna explains, “After three years, you re-evaluate everything and, in a way, you start to lose confidence in yourself. Subconsciously, you begin to compare yourself to your colleagues who haven't experienced the same life changes. Will I be able to work at the same pace? Will I be able to deliver the same results? Additionally, there's the issue of the current war—it's uncertain what the business environment is like and how the morale of the people I’ll be working with will be.”

Anna joined the mentorship program of the Women For The Future initiative, where she received valuable support from her mentor. "My mentor helped me set clear goals and develop criteria for job searching. The most beneficial exercise was analyzing my experiences in all my roles—as a daughter, wife, mother, and professional. After reflecting on these experiences, I realized how amazing I am and the powerful skills I possess. This insight helped me stop undervaluing myself," Anna shares.

During the mentorship program, Anna established a strong professional positioning, identified the requirements for her future job, recognized her achievements and strengths, created a clear action plan for finding new employment, and considered various ways to balance her career with motherhood. “The mentor prompted me to pause and consider honestly: what would feel comfortable for me right now?”

During the program, Anna started searching for a new job based on the established criteria. There were many offers, but she did not want to betray herself and avoided vacancies that did not align with her values.

Ten days before the end of her maternity leave, Anna received a pleasant surprise. Her previous employer offered her a new position that was a perfect fit, as they wanted to retain such a valuable employee. Anna had been very successful in her previous role before going on leave. As a result, she completed her participation in the mentorship program while taking on her new position as a project manager.

"First of all, I felt reassured because I finally had a plan for the near future. I also gained self-respect, as I stood firm against uncomfortable conditions despite the time constraints. This reinforced my sense of self-worth and demonstrated that my efforts—attending sessions with my mentor, updating my resume, and practising self-presentation—had produced positive results," she concludes.

After a month in her new role, Anna shares her positive impressions: "It's interesting, there are a lot of new things, and you have to constantly learn. I have a great team that supports and inspires me–people close to me in spirit and values. I feel like an important social unit, and that's great. The most important thing is to plan and have the support of loved ones, because it would be difficult to combine everything on your own."

Now Anna has set clear goals for herself: to improve her English for business negotiations, update her knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint, better understand the basics of project management, and take a course on time management.

This publication has been created as part of the Women For The Future initiative, which is implemented by Happy Monday (NGO "Professionals of the Future") within the UN Women project titled "Transformational Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine." This project is funded by the Government of Sweden and is in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.