Motherhood hasn't changed my idea of success but expanded it: Manasi Narasimhan
Narasimhan, the VP & Head, Marketing and Communications, S Asia, Mastercard, shares what it means to be a mother and a committed professional
For Manasi Narasimhan, VP & Head, Marketing and Communications, S Asia, Mastercard, parenthood is all about the smallest yet invaluable joys and accepting that you cannot be a superwoman.
Sharing the challenges of being a mother and fulfilling professional responsibilities along with it, Narasimhan said, “Accept that you cannot be a superwoman. There will be dust at home, sometimes you will order in food and some mails will get missed.”
According to her, the biggest challenge of being a mom and a working woman is time.
“You have so little of it! And the only solution is to prioritise and stick to it. There will always be more demand on your time and energy than what you have,” she told exchange4media.
For Narasimhan, who is responsible for driving Mastercard’s Marketing & Communications strategy for South Asia, motherhood has not changed her idea of success but expanded it.
“I wouldn’t say my idea of success has changed, it has expanded . Success is not just about a great campaign or a great day at work, important though they are. I think parenthood teaches us about the smallest and yet invaluable joys – the moments when your child hugs you, shows you a drawing hes done or asks a question only a child can ask. To enjoy both these worlds is a privilege I am grateful for, and that is my expanded definition of successes,” she said.
Narasimhan, who loves the daily joys of being a mother, advises career-oriented mothers to take help at home and at work to make the journey smooth.
“I love the daily joys of being a mother – the bedtime stories, the hugs, the shared meals, the accounts of the days at school. I read this once and it has stayed with me – its not about the concerts, annual days or exam successes. It’s the days in between.
“For career-oriented mothers I would have three pieces of advice. One, accept that you cannot be a superwoman. There will be dust at home, sometimes you will order in food and some mails will get missed. I took my time to make peace with this.
“Two, it takes a village to raise a child. Take the help you need, most definitely from your partner. The fathers of today are equal parents and that’s something we all have to be thankful for. And Three, find mentors and sponsors at work . I have been very lucky to have some incredible people at work, and bosses who have become mentors. They keep you going and help you navigate the complexity that’s inevitable with motherhood,” she said.
