Early Motherhood: "I wish I had started working sooner"

Three mothers report in the FAZ on the consequences of early parenthood for their careers. While personal fulfillment is high, a lack of professional experience and lower pension entitlements make re-entry later on more difficult. This presents hurdles particularly for aspiring executives.

Early Motherhood: I Wish I Had Started Working Sooner

The debate surrounding the optimal timing for starting a family in the context of an academic career is gaining new momentum through recent reports. While the traditional model – education, university studies, career entry, and only having the first child after years of establishment – continues to be the social standard, focus is increasingly shifting toward life paths that deviate from this pattern. At the end of October 2026, three mothers shared insights into their individual paths, which were characterized by early parenthood. The results show an ambivalent balance: while personal fulfillment is highly valued, in retrospect, there is often a growing desire to have solidified the professional foundation earlier in order to minimize financial risks and facilitate re-entry at a higher level.

Challenges of Early Career Planning

The conflict between the biological clock and professional ambition represents a structural hurdle, particularly for aspiring executives. Women who decide to have children during their studies or at the very beginning of their careers face the task of managing skill development and networking during a phase when peers are usually fully available to the labor market. The reports illustrate that forgoing the first years of full employment can have long-term effects on salary structures and pension entitlements. Furthermore, a lack of professional experience complicates access to specialized continuing education programs, which often require several years of practice.

Academic Further Education as a Strategic Lever

For mothers who took parental leave early on, postgraduate degree programs such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) take on a special strategic significance. Such a course of study can serve as a bridge to reconnect with current market developments after a period of family work and to compactly catch up on missing management expertise. In the DACH region, universities have increasingly developed flexible formats in recent years, such as part-time MBAs or blended learning concepts, which cater to the needs of parents. These programs make it possible to reconcile theoretical education with family obligations, but they require high discipline and often secure financing.