I went back to work 10 days after giving birth. Two decades later, I finally took a break.
A real estate executive shares her experience of returning to work shortly after childbirth and her decision two decades later to take a career break. She reflects on the importance of being present for her children as they transition to college.
Why it matters
It illustrates the evolving perspectives on work-life balance and the long-term trade-offs professionals make between career advancement and family involvement.
Real estate executive Leslie Cohen recently took a break from her career to be more present for her college-bound kids. Shep Cohen Real-estate executive Leslie Cohen went back to work 10 days after giving birth to her second son. Two decades later, she decided to pause her career to help her sons navigate college. Cohen said that being present for her children now is more important than when they were babies. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leslie Cohen, a 52-year-old real estate development and operations professional in the Boston area. Business Insider has verified her identity and background. This story has been edited for length and clarity. I started my career as a project manager in the commercial real estate industry and rose through the ranks to chief operating officer .
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