Gitika Kaul: Mom of the Month [July 2022]

This may sound corny, but if you are thinking about a career change, the best thing you can do for yourself is BELIEVE you can do it! So much of making major changes in our lives is mindset and believing in your own capabilities. If you don’t believe you can do it, then who will?  Of course it is necessary to have a plan before you make the leap but don’t hesitate based on ability, because I know you can do it. So many women are pigeon-holed into believing they can only do certain things but the dirty little secret is that you can literally do whatever you set your mind to. (Isn’t this what we tell our children, after all?) We have to eliminate our own limit-setting beliefs and transform them into believing that the sky truly is the limit. I had two baby boys under the age of two and was about to turn 40 years old when I did my 180—and I have not looked back since!

One of my big fears about leaving my job as a journalist with ABC News was that I would not be contributing to my community in the same way. I considered journalism a public service and I was very proud of that but what I didn’t realize was that helping people buy and sell homes was service on a much more intimate scale. I got to touch and feel the people I was impacting, whereas in my last career my stories would be on television in front of millions of people but I didn’t get to engage with them on the same level.

In addition, I now have the flexibility (even though I am working more hours now than I was in news) to participate in service that truly matters to me. For example, I have served on the board of an after school learning program called Aspire! Afterschool Learning for the last 3 years, where I have been able to translate my TV skills into helping generate exposure for this amazing non-profit. I also volunteer at my boys’ school as a co-chair of the community service committee in an effort to instill the love of service in our children.  It definitely feels like I am having impact every day in ways that really matter, especially for our youth and future generations.

3. What advice do you have for women looking to grow either their own business or within the company they work for?

We all know that motherhood is transformative, but it also has a massive impact on our life choices and that includes our careers. It has become more challenging at many corporations to create a family friendly environment. Diversity initiatives need to include retaining moms as we bring a unique and valuable perspective to the table in a variety of industries. Moms are often the chief decision makers. But, motherhood also breeds an important decision: should I stay in the corporate world or should I start my own thing? It’s not a question that should be taken lightly and it requires deep thought, conversation with your partner if you have one, financial planning among many other questions. (In my case, my husband had to be ok with managing the kids on his own on the weekends while I am out on showings and other client appointments).

If you are thinking about making a switch, be very methodical about your decision and consider all the possibilities. Talk to others who have done it—either left altogether or stayed and worked their way up as a mom. For me, I looked at folks who were a few levels up at my company and knew I didn’t want to go there. I asked myself, a promotion is a means to what end? It’s something I still ask myself every day as I push myself: what am I trying to accomplish? Is it a goal for goal’s sake or is it something I genuinely want to pursue? We have to be self-aware so we can guide ourselves. Listen to that voice and don’t be afraid to push back against that little voice of doubt.

Do you know an amazing mom? Nominate a mom of the month here!