Sophie McComas on rebuilding confidence, rewriting plans and returning to work as the boss

When Sophie McComas became pregnant with her second baby, she wasn't the only expecting mother within her business. Her co-director and a senior staffer were both due within the same month, too. It's a situation that many female-dominated businesses have faced and along with the excitement, came shock, as the pregnant bosses navigated how to keep their business and team thriving while not one, but three, leaders went on parental leave.

But, as we're about to learn, there's always a way. And if there's one thing that small business owners and mothers learn fast, it's that you have to be willing to pivot at any given moment.

What I love about this conversation is that Sophie is honest about the emotional side of navigating leave and returning to work as the boss, but she's also really helpful in offering practical tips and reflections on what has worked and what hasn't so far.

Here, we talk about going from wondering how you'll ever return to paid work to feeling ready, what you do when your best laid plans don't exactly go to plan, and the never ending challenge of trying to stay present when you have a half finished project and emails that need responding to.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

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