New Yahoo CEO Says She’ll Work Through Her Maternity Leave (Which Will Only Be a Few Weeks) — Is She Inspiring or Crazy?
Photo: TwitterFormer Google executive Marissa Mayer made two very interesting announcements yesterday: 1) She’s been appointed as the new CEO of Yahoo and, 2) She’s pregnant.
Sure, other women have switched jobs during pregnancy, but it’s rare to hear of someone in such a prestigious position doing it. Marissa, who’s expecting a baby boy in early October, told Fortune that the Yahoo directors didn’t show any concern about hiring a pregnant CEO. “They showed their evolved thinking,” she said.
She also said her maternity leave would be limited (practically nonexistent, really.) “I like to stay in the rhythm of things,” she said. “My maternity leave will be a few weeks long and I’ll work throughout it.”
I commend her for being so committed to and involved with her work, but can’t help but wonder if she’s in for a rude awakening — many moms-to-be underestimate just how tough it is recovering from childbirth and caring for a newborn. Hey, I wrote articles during my newborn’s naps (I was a freelance writer at the time), but I wasn’t running a company. Of course, maybe that dedication and tirelessness is what makes Marissa CEO material.
What do you think — is Marissa inspiring for wanting to work during her (very short) maternity leave? Or crazy?
Plus, more from The Bump:
Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave
The Knot Blog
The Nest Blog
If anything as moms we should be jockeying for more flexibility and balance- whatever that means to individual moms and their families. She is in a position of leadership and influence, and I hope that her desire to keep working isn’t motivated by thoughts that people who take parental leaves are weak. To give appropriate focus to both shows strength (and “appropriate” is different for everyone.) I recently worked remotely from home on bed rest and occassionally remotely throughout my 3 1/2 month leave, but I did this for my own sanity, not for outside motivators. This was what was best for this mommy and baby. In the future, I hope that she does not put her own value system upon each person needing parental leave, rather I hope she leads her work units to think creatively and uniquely about solutions that are win-wins for all- the company along with the employee and family.
Also, she’ll surely be making a LOT more money than you or I do and can afford to hire the necessary help!
i admire her optimism, but i fear for her eventual slaying at the hands of a newborn. i have found the more “high-achieving” a new woman was pre-baby, the harder a time she has dealing with the fact there she no longer has any control over the situation brought about by that tiny little being screaming at you.
She’ll miss the bonding experience while others are caring for her baby.
Yes, let’s not be mistaken – I’m sure she will have a lot of assistance at home to make this possible.
Her situation is unique; if I were offered a CEO position of a huge company like Yahoo, I’m sure I would make lots of exceptions based on the future opportunity that having such a career would afford my children in the future.
My concern would be based on the message it sends to employers and co-workers everywhere: extremely short maternity leave can work, and is acceptable. The U.S. is way behind other countries in understanding that longer maternity leave is important for the mother, the baby, and everyone else in the immediate circle (employers included!).
I agree with the previous comments. What message is she sending to her employees regarding leave time. I hope her example doesnt define the climate for leave and have the expectation that shorter leaves is favored and longer leaves are frowned upon. Parents need their time with their children. With her position, much is expected from her….but babies are a corporation unto themselves and they have expectations and demands to.
This is interesting for me to see how other mother\’s feel about this topic.
I plan on taking 8 weeks of maternity week. Only 2 without working. I will work 15-20 hours per week from home for the last 6 weeks. I am lucky enough to be able to have the flexibility from work to do so, but unfortunate that there is no one else to do my job for 2 months. With my dedication to my job I could not imagine taking more time off. And with my love for my child I could not imagine leaving him with anyone else after 2 weeks. I ended up with the best of both worlds and it works for my family.
I wish her luck and hope that other mother\’s can support each other’s choices when it comes to raising their own families..
I started a company and started a pregnancy (IVF) at the same time. Was it tough? Well, its starting a company and being pregnant….at the same time. Of course it was tough. I will say that there is no motivation like having a baby, and my business is a success and my baby is the happiest, most well-adjusted little guy. I can completely understand taking an abbreviated maternity leave. I took 6 weeks (c-section) and worked while out. Of course, as professional women we understand there are things outside of our control…and our family comes first. But strong women know their own potential…so fortunately no one else’s opinion matters here. I think she’s brilliant!
This makes me furious! we have to fight these companies to get 12 weeks, much less paid and she is in a position to make a statement and is making a horrible one! She should at least keep it quiet, so she’s not working against us! It’s not like all of us can make 6 figures and pay a nanny. I’m guessing she’s not even considering breast feeding!! My company does NOT pay a dime towards maternity leave–I’m going broke taking valuable time off to spend with my daughter. They’ve already hinted how they want me to come back sooner than later. Luckily we have FMLA, but it’s certainly not long enough–I’m already going to miss a ton of baby’s firsts. This woman is NOT inspiring, she’s insulting!
Good luck with that Marissa, you’ll need it! I’m sure she’ll have more than one nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, and a personal trainer…but hopefully, she won’t take all the credit and make it look like she “can do it all” by herself while still looking nice and rested, b/c that is IMPOSSIBLE
I just realized how sexist it is to assume that it is a woman’s responsibility to stay home with her child. And how is a woman exercising her right as a working mother GOING AGAINST anyone? That’s just ridiculous…blaming a hard-working mother for your problems? My HUSBAND took paternity leave after I went back to work. it was not enough time for either of us, but by the same token, neither of us are cut out to be stay-at-homes. So now we have found balance with a top-notch daycare, work, baby, and each other. I love the example this woman is setting….and who am I to tell her what her role is, anyway?