As the year comes to end so does my maternity leave.

With my first baby I only got 3 months and I’m really grateful that with my second girl I got 2.5 months more thanks to ServiceNow’s global maternity leave policy and some accumulated PTO.

Many people think that maternity leave is free time to chill and relax.

This can’t be further from the truth. Rather your time is spent feeding, getting to sleep, changing diapers, washing clothes and cooking, and at the end of the day you wonder where your day really went.

For an overachiever like me who likes to be busy, it’s been tough not to be able to say read more books, brush up on knowledge for work, finish courses I’ve wanted to do and so much more…

But I’ve also learned that there is time for everything and that every moment with my little baby is way too precious.

To all the expectant moms, I would say:

The 5 Top Maternity Leave Tips for Expectant Moms

People who know me also know that I've always had a thing for fashion. Over the years, my style has evolved to be a lot less eclectic than what it used to be. I used to love putting bright colours on. I still do but in my thirties, with two kids and an advanced tech career, I find myself choosing more neutral pieces and focusing on elegance and comfort. 

The tech industry is generally very relaxed when it comes to clothes. You'll find lots of people in hoodies and trainers but in my opinion, the higher you climb the corporate ladder, the more you need to consider your looks and what you wear. There's nothing sexier and more powerful than a woman in a stylish suit and heels. 

So if you are thinking about revamping your work look and style to make you more professional, it won't be just a change in appearance but a powerful tool to enhance your confidence and take control of your professional image. Adapting your look to your career responsibilities can give you the upper hand and make you look and feel more confident about the working day and the achievements ahead of you, especially if you want to transition into a more executive role. 

Here are a few ideas of what you can do as a female:

6 Style Updates for a More Professional Image

Is there anyone who doesn't want to be a millionaire? I doubt it. We all want financial security but achieving financial freedom is far more desired by many because it provides the ultimate flexibility and peace of mind, allowing individuals to live life on their own terms without being constrained by financial limitations.

I stumbled across the book "Millionaire Success Habits" by Dean Graziosi and wanted to share today some of the key learnings and tips from it. The book is considered a transformative guide designed to help individuals break free from mediocrity and achieve extraordinary success. Graziosi shares his personal journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful entrepreneur and offers practical advice and habits that anyone can adopt to elevate their life and career. Ultimately, it all comes down to one thing - the power of your mind. 

Let's look at the key learnings and actionable tips from the book.

5 Key Learnings from Millionaire Success Habits

In today's fast-paced and interconnected business environment, technical skills alone are no longer sufficient for achieving success. The ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and effectively manage emotions has become more crucial than ever and I feel it every day in my work. This is where emotional and social intelligence come into play.

Understanding and leveraging these forms of intelligence can significantly enhance your ability to lead, collaborate, and drive business success.

Emotional intelligence (EI) and social intelligence (SI) are related concepts that both involve understanding and managing emotions but they focus on different aspects of interpersonal skills.

We delved into the power of social intelligence a few months back but today I want to go into the differences between emotional and social intelligence, and more importantly, provide actionable tips on how to leverage each in a business context.

By cultivating these skills, you can improve your interactions with colleagues and clients, foster a positive work environment, and ultimately, boost your career success. These skills can also help you in your personal life.

In recent years, the tech industry has made significant strides towards gender diversity, but the journey is far from complete. Despite increasing awareness and initiatives to bridge the gender gap, women in tech continue to face numerous challenges.

As a big supporter of women in tech, having had most of my career in the space, I wanted to dig into the latest statistics, trends, and thought-provoking insights about women in technology, highlighting both progress and persistent obstacles. 

Here we go. 

Current Statistics and Trends

The representation of women in tech remains disappointingly low, though some progress is evident according to a recent article in TechTarget. Women constitute around 28% of the tech workforce, a slight increase from previous years, but still a stark underrepresentation compared to men. More encouragingly, women's participation in tech roles has been growing annually, with a 3% increase in 2023 alone​.