Why a Career Will Make You a Better Mother
Becoming a mother is a life changing experience. It is a time when nesting and maternal instincts kick in instantly and drive a new mother to embrace and value another life, even more than their own. You will make a determined decision to do anything to ensure that your child is nurtured in a safe, loving and engaging environment. However, in the modern context of society, this usually means that many mothers tend to give into their own doubts and social pressures; choosing to give up their careers and working lives as they opt to stay at home to raise a family.
At MAS, we believe that this should not be the case because a rewarding career and meaningful work can contribute towards making an emotionally healthy and responsive mother. Therefore, as an organization with over 80% female employees, we have taken necessary steps to enable mothers to continue pursuing their careers while they succeed as mothers too. This is the underlying theme of MAS’s Social Sustainability Strategy for 2025, under which “empowering women” is a core standalone pillar, driven by our Women Go Beyond (WGB) initiative.
In this article, we look at some of the major benefits a rewarding career can provide you with, as a mother. Then, we will look at some of the initiatives MAS has in place to help mothers balance their roles as nurturers and independent working women with dreams and aspirations of their own.
Career Mum = Better Mum
Financial Independence — This one is really obvious. Continuing with your career through motherhood will ensure that you have the resources to be financially independent while you provide the best for your children. Life is never certain, therefore continuing to work will ensure that your whole family has a reliable safety net.
Strong, Well-Balanced Kids — Pursuing your career will make your kids (and your spouse) value your time more. Your absence from time to time will also inspire them to learn to think for themselves, gain more independence and grow individually. You will also lower your risk of over-parenting, which comes with its own set of problems.
Role Model — By continuing to build your career, you will be an excellent role model for your children and others in your community. The next generation of working women will do even better than us if mothers are able to support, inspire and provide mentorship. For both male and female children, a working mother is an excellent role model and helps to create a balanced view of the world.
Personal Fulfilment & Happiness — Do not let your children be your sole source of satisfaction in life. Your work can provide personal fulfilment outside of home, which means you are more centred and happier. Also, studies show that working mothers have significantly lower rates of depression than stay-at-home mothers, and a mother with good mental health means children with good mental health.
Happier Married Life — Your marriage too can benefit from your drive to build a career of your own. Your spouse will appreciate you more and respect your contribution towards household finances, therefore see you as your ‘own’ person, in your home, in your marriage as well as in your social circle.
How MAS Supports Working Mothers
Through the WGB initiative, we have hundreds of ongoing programmes that address various areas such as career advancement, women’s health and reproductive rights, gender-based violence, supporting and advocating for women in management, mentoring and sponsorship opportunities. However, the most important areas that benefit working mothers are flexible working hours and access to childcare.
In terms of flexible work arrangements, MAS maintains a board-approved group policy which allows employees to choose from remote-work, flexible work location (where employees can opt to work at a more convenient MAS location on stipulated days), flexible hours, shift-swapping and other arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This is crucial for mothers who need to balance their work and home lives, delicately.
We also provide unrestricted access to onsite and offsite childcare and creche facilities across the group at 11 locations. Each facility is operated in collaboration with authorised, trained and experienced institutions and staff.
Through these efforts, MAS is creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive and achieve their fullest potential, particularly working mothers who may otherwise be neglected. Providing working mothers with the flexibility and facilities to ensure that their children are safe and well-looked after is both practical and an excellent incentive to inspire mothers to continue their working lives, pursue their passions and maintain their independence.
