I am better at my work because I am a mother: Lara Balsara Vajifdar

For Madison World’s Executive Director Lara Balsara Vajifdar, prioritizing what needs the most urgent attention at a point in time helps her balance between her work and mom duties.

Balsara Vajifdar credits her two children with her professional growth and believes there is no right way to maintain a work-life balance.  

“There is no one correct way of doing this. I think everyone must find what works for them. What works for me is having a schedule and sticking to it. I can’t function without my calendar and it is full of my work meetings, work engagements, school PTAs, kids’ birthday parties, doctor appointments, family commitments, social engagements, and what not. 

“Prioritizing what needs your urgent attention at a point in time and delegating, both at work and in my personal life, works for me. You can’t do without having a large support system at home and everyone in the family - grandparents, aunts, etc. always pitch in to help,” Balsara Vajifdar told exchange4media.

She said that her idea of success has not changed after becoming a mom and it has only helped her grow professionally and personally.

“I genuinely do believe that my kids are the best thing to have ever happened to me and have helped me grow personally and professionally. I do believe I am a better mother because I work and I am better at my work because I am a mother!

“I love everything about being a mother. The unconditional love, the curiosity, the innocence and most importantly the learning that comes with it, the need to become better at everything I do, and so many others,” she said.

Sharing an anecdote, the Madison World exec said, “A few years ago, I came across this book by Randi Zuckerberg, ‘Pick Three – You can have it all, just not every day!’ She says, every day when she wakes up, she picks 3 of the 5 things she is going to focus on.

“The 5 things are work, sleep, family, friends, and fitness. Choose only 3 of the 5 things, to live a happy life. You could choose all 5, but then you can do that for a day or 2 or if you do it continuously, you will burn out very quickly. This quite resonated with me, and on most days my 3 picks would be - Work, Kids and Fitness,” she said. 

Sharing her 19-year long journey with Madison World, Balsara Vajifdar said, “it has been amazing. I have had tremendous learning opportunities, and I am a different person today than what I was when I joined.” 

As advice to career-oriented mothers, she says moms should take each day as it comes.

“I would say, take each day as it comes. Plan your day, week, month well in advance, lean in and find your village to help you raise your child. And most importantly, stop overthinking it. Just do it!!” she said.

She also wishes there was more time at hand.

“I would say the biggest challenge is managing your time. I wish there were 30 hours in a day! But there are ways to work around the challenge,” she said.