Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson Girls Night #306: How to Prepare Your Career for Motherhood with Jena Dunay
What happens when two of the biggest parts of your life collide—your career and your desire to start a family?
That’s exactly what we’re talking about in today’s Girls Night episode. I’m joined by my dear friend Jena Dunay—a mom of two, business owner, and career strategist who has spent years helping women navigate big transitions in their work lives.
Jena knows firsthand what it looks like to juggle both career ambitions and motherhood dreams, and she’s here to share the wisdom she’s learned along the way.
In this conversation, we cover:
-
How to prepare your career for baby before you’re even pregnant
-
What to do if you love your job but also know you want to start a family soon
-
Whether you should “pull back” at work before baby—or lean in until it’s time to pivot
-
How to know if your workplace will really support you as a mom
-
The truth about maternity leave (paid vs. unpaid, how it works, what to ask your HR team)
-
When and how to tell your employer you’re pregnant
-
Practical ways to set boundaries and actually enjoy your maternity leave
-
How to define “success” in your career during different motherhood seasons
This episode is full of encouragement and practical advice for anyone who’s in what I call The Everything Era—that stretch of life when so many big decisions seem to come at once. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold space for both a career you love and a family you’re dreaming of, this conversation will be such a gift.
Resources & Links:
-
Listen to Jena’s past Girls Night episodes on dating, singleness, and career transitions.
-
More encouragement + resources for navigating The Everything Era: stephaniemaywilson.com
✨ If you loved this conversation, would you take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It means the world and helps more women find the show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices