13 answers
Amily
Student
Ann Arbor, Michigan
1
Question
Updated
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Is it realistically possible to be a present and active parent while working as a full-time consultant? #Spring25
I’m a freshman and someone who’s always thinking 100 steps ahead. Two of my biggest goals in life are to be a great mom and a successful consultant. I know consulting can be demanding, so I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective or advice on whether it’s possible to balance both, and what that might look like from your experience.
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13 answers
Shelley Rodriguez, CPA
1
Answer
Updated
Shelley’s Answer
When balancing a full-time career with parenthood, time management is key. I did it...twice and it is possible to be an engaged parent and high performing team member. Here are some important points that helped me:
Prioritize tasks: Identify what's most important at work and home, and focus your energy on those tasks.
Set realistic goals: Understand that perfection isn’t always achievable. It’s okay to not get everything done perfectly—what matters is your effort and progress.
Use a schedule: Plan your days to structure time for work, family, and self-care. Setting boundaries around work and family time can help prevent burnout.
Delegate when possible: At work, ask for help when needed. At home, share responsibilities with your partner or older children to reduce your load.
Give yourself grace: It’s normal to have moments where things don’t go according to plan. Allow yourself to be imperfect and avoid self-criticism.
By balancing these elements, you’ll create a sustainable routine that helps you thrive in both areas without overwhelming yourself.
Prioritize tasks: Identify what's most important at work and home, and focus your energy on those tasks.
Set realistic goals: Understand that perfection isn’t always achievable. It’s okay to not get everything done perfectly—what matters is your effort and progress.
Use a schedule: Plan your days to structure time for work, family, and self-care. Setting boundaries around work and family time can help prevent burnout.
Delegate when possible: At work, ask for help when needed. At home, share responsibilities with your partner or older children to reduce your load.
Give yourself grace: It’s normal to have moments where things don’t go according to plan. Allow yourself to be imperfect and avoid self-criticism.
By balancing these elements, you’ll create a sustainable routine that helps you thrive in both areas without overwhelming yourself.
Emily Caudy
Project Manager
1
Answer
Cornwall, New York
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hi Amily!
First off, I love that you’re already thinking about how to balance big life goals—honestly, that’s half the battle! You’ve got some awesome answers and ideas from other folks already, so I’ll just add a few tips from my own adventure as a full-time mom and consultant.
Plan & Communicate: I swear by planning my week ahead of time, but the real magic happens when I actually share those plans with both my work team and my family. It keeps everyone on the same page and helps avoid last-minute surprises (or at least most of them!).
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No: This one took me a while to learn. It’s totally okay to set boundaries and let people know when your plate is full. That way, when you do say yes, everyone knows you mean it—and you can actually show up 100%.
Mini Meditation Breaks: Even just five minutes a day can make a huge difference. It helps me hit the reset button and be more present, whether I’m in a meeting or at home. Honestly, I wish I’d started this habit back in college—would’ve been a game-changer before big exams or presentations!
Bottom line: It’s definitely possible to juggle both, especially when you give yourself some grace and remember you don’t have to do it all perfectly. You’ve got this!
First off, I love that you’re already thinking about how to balance big life goals—honestly, that’s half the battle! You’ve got some awesome answers and ideas from other folks already, so I’ll just add a few tips from my own adventure as a full-time mom and consultant.
Plan & Communicate: I swear by planning my week ahead of time, but the real magic happens when I actually share those plans with both my work team and my family. It keeps everyone on the same page and helps avoid last-minute surprises (or at least most of them!).
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No: This one took me a while to learn. It’s totally okay to set boundaries and let people know when your plate is full. That way, when you do say yes, everyone knows you mean it—and you can actually show up 100%.
Mini Meditation Breaks: Even just five minutes a day can make a huge difference. It helps me hit the reset button and be more present, whether I’m in a meeting or at home. Honestly, I wish I’d started this habit back in college—would’ve been a game-changer before big exams or presentations!
Bottom line: It’s definitely possible to juggle both, especially when you give yourself some grace and remember you don’t have to do it all perfectly. You’ve got this!
Sarah (Delgross) Hill, PCC, ELI-MP, E-RYT
Human Capital Director
4
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
To manage both roles as a mom and consultant effectively, BE INTENTIONAL and always set (and hold) clear boundaries for each. Decide when you will focus on work and when you will focus on family. For example, avoid checking your work phone while spending time with your child to stay fully engaged. Coordinate childcare plans with your partner, clearly defining who handles specific responsibilities, especially during school closures or when a child is sick. This requires good communication with both your family and coworkers. Being intentional and organized will help you balance both roles.
Alvin Tsai
IT Consulting
7
Answers
Chino, California
Updated
Alvin’s Answer
While I am not a parent myself, I work closely with a manager who is the parent of five-year-old twins. Although I can't speak personally to the daily responsibilities of balancing work and parenthood, I can share my perspective as someone who works directly under a parent in a full-time consulting role.
My manager often praises our company’s support for work-life balance. She’s able to attend to her children’s needs—such as school drop-offs and pick-ups, extracurricular activities, and doctor’s appointments—without compromising her professional responsibilities. Despite her parental commitments, she remains consistently available and supportive, and I’ve never felt that her dual role as a parent and consultant has negatively impacted our team.
From my experience, being a full-time consultant and a parent is entirely possible. The key factor is the environment and culture of the workplace. When flexibility and trust are prioritized, it enables individuals to succeed both professionally and personally.
My manager often praises our company’s support for work-life balance. She’s able to attend to her children’s needs—such as school drop-offs and pick-ups, extracurricular activities, and doctor’s appointments—without compromising her professional responsibilities. Despite her parental commitments, she remains consistently available and supportive, and I’ve never felt that her dual role as a parent and consultant has negatively impacted our team.
From my experience, being a full-time consultant and a parent is entirely possible. The key factor is the environment and culture of the workplace. When flexibility and trust are prioritized, it enables individuals to succeed both professionally and personally.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2423
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to know that you would like to be a consultant and great mum.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Firstly, to be a consultant, there are many different types consultant, e.g. business, management, technology, security, etc. You may need to think about what types consultant you would like to be.
2. Choose the relevant subjects to study in colleges. Explore the entry criteria of colleges and work hard on your academic to meet the criteria
3. Explore any intern opportunities in large consultancy firms
4. Upon starting your careers in consultancy and marriage, you may need to agree a children plan with your partner
5. Do good time management to balance your family and careers. Some consultancy firms offer work from home arrangement. That gives your more flexibility on family.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Firstly, to be a consultant, there are many different types consultant, e.g. business, management, technology, security, etc. You may need to think about what types consultant you would like to be.
2. Choose the relevant subjects to study in colleges. Explore the entry criteria of colleges and work hard on your academic to meet the criteria
3. Explore any intern opportunities in large consultancy firms
4. Upon starting your careers in consultancy and marriage, you may need to agree a children plan with your partner
5. Do good time management to balance your family and careers. Some consultancy firms offer work from home arrangement. That gives your more flexibility on family.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
DeShawna Manley
Benefit Administration
4
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
DeShawna’s Answer
Hi Amily, you are definitely thinking about this the right way and life as a consultant can be demanding of your time. That said, don't let the desire to anticipate the future prevent you from embracing the opportunities of today. I will say that the further you advance in your career, the more control you have over how you prioritise your time. Even if you decide in the future that consulting is not for you, it is a great foundation you can build upon.
Stefan Knaack
Consultant
6
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Stefan’s Answer
Amily,
Finding a good work-life balance is really important, especially as I'm about to become a father of three. Being a consultant has made this easier compared to my time in the military. I now have the flexibility to work from home, depending on the project. The teams I work with are great at keeping communication open, which helps a lot. As long as you put in your hours, even if you have to adjust your schedule a bit, you can still get your work done and be there for your family. I hope this is helpful, as I truly enjoy being able to spend more time with my family now.
-Stefan
Finding a good work-life balance is really important, especially as I'm about to become a father of three. Being a consultant has made this easier compared to my time in the military. I now have the flexibility to work from home, depending on the project. The teams I work with are great at keeping communication open, which helps a lot. As long as you put in your hours, even if you have to adjust your schedule a bit, you can still get your work done and be there for your family. I hope this is helpful, as I truly enjoy being able to spend more time with my family now.
-Stefan
Shannon Zulauf
Risk & Independence
33
Answers
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
I love that you’re thinking ahead—it shows self-awareness and intention. As a single mom working in consulting, I can say it is absolutely possible to be both a present, active parent and a successful full-time consultant, but there are a few things that matter in keeping that balance.
1. It’s okay to say no. You don’t have to say yes to every opportunity, every project, or every late night for your career to move forward.
2. Communication is key. That’s true in parenting and in consulting. Being clear with your team about capacity, priorities, and boundaries goes a long way—and strong communication is already a core consulting skill.
3. Set clear boundaries and know your non-negotiables. For me, that means setting aside time in the evening for my daughter. In a client-facing role, the timing of those non-negotiables may shift, but the priority doesn’t. Try not to get bogged down in exact times—focus instead on making sure the time or activity happens at some point during the day.
4. Give yourself grace. Your career may look different pre-kids versus post-kids, and that’s okay. Travel, late nights, and availability may change, and learning to be okay with that can be hard—but it doesn’t mean you’re less committed or less successful.
5. Define what success looks like for you. Consulting offers many paths, and success doesn’t look the same for everyone or in every season of life. Re-evaluate this often.
I’d also encourage you not to get too far ahead of your skis. Thinking about the future is great, but not if it prevents you from enjoying the present. Much like raising kids, just when you get comfortable with one phase, it changes—and you adapt. The same is true in a career.
Good Luck with everything in your future!
1. It’s okay to say no. You don’t have to say yes to every opportunity, every project, or every late night for your career to move forward.
2. Communication is key. That’s true in parenting and in consulting. Being clear with your team about capacity, priorities, and boundaries goes a long way—and strong communication is already a core consulting skill.
3. Set clear boundaries and know your non-negotiables. For me, that means setting aside time in the evening for my daughter. In a client-facing role, the timing of those non-negotiables may shift, but the priority doesn’t. Try not to get bogged down in exact times—focus instead on making sure the time or activity happens at some point during the day.
4. Give yourself grace. Your career may look different pre-kids versus post-kids, and that’s okay. Travel, late nights, and availability may change, and learning to be okay with that can be hard—but it doesn’t mean you’re less committed or less successful.
5. Define what success looks like for you. Consulting offers many paths, and success doesn’t look the same for everyone or in every season of life. Re-evaluate this often.
I’d also encourage you not to get too far ahead of your skis. Thinking about the future is great, but not if it prevents you from enjoying the present. Much like raising kids, just when you get comfortable with one phase, it changes—and you adapt. The same is true in a career.
Good Luck with everything in your future!
Jessica Holland, CPA
Managing Director, CPA
3
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
Hi Amily!
This is a great question and definitely something to think about. Balancing a family and work is hard but it can be done. My biggest piece of advice is to stay flexible and to have realistic expectations. Nothing will ever be completely balanced day in and day out. Instead, I find it most helpful to view "balance" as a give and take. Some days you will give more to your family life than your work life, and others it will be the opposite. Staying flexible and going into life as a working parent understanding that up front will help get you through.
What helps me is to assess my commitments and schedule (both work related and family related) one week at a time. I look to see what is on the calendar that are "must dos" for both categories, as well as what are "nice to dos" and "can waits". This helps me to focus my energy towards the things that will have the biggest impact to both my family life and work life. If there is an imbalance in a week, I make sure to give more to the other side the next week.
Another thing that is helpful is to let go of the concept of perfection and to cut yourself some slack. You don't have to be super mom and super employee 100% of the time.
Lastly, set boundaries! If there are important appts or activities for your kids that you want to be at, block time in your calendar to attend.
Best of luck to you in your future career and family!
This is a great question and definitely something to think about. Balancing a family and work is hard but it can be done. My biggest piece of advice is to stay flexible and to have realistic expectations. Nothing will ever be completely balanced day in and day out. Instead, I find it most helpful to view "balance" as a give and take. Some days you will give more to your family life than your work life, and others it will be the opposite. Staying flexible and going into life as a working parent understanding that up front will help get you through.
What helps me is to assess my commitments and schedule (both work related and family related) one week at a time. I look to see what is on the calendar that are "must dos" for both categories, as well as what are "nice to dos" and "can waits". This helps me to focus my energy towards the things that will have the biggest impact to both my family life and work life. If there is an imbalance in a week, I make sure to give more to the other side the next week.
Another thing that is helpful is to let go of the concept of perfection and to cut yourself some slack. You don't have to be super mom and super employee 100% of the time.
Lastly, set boundaries! If there are important appts or activities for your kids that you want to be at, block time in your calendar to attend.
Best of luck to you in your future career and family!
Daniele Brown
Financials Crimes Associate
20
Answers
Hinesville, Georgia
Updated
Daniele’s Answer
Hi Amily!
This is a great inquiry! In Short, Yes!
You can be a great consultant, excel in your career while being a present and phenomenal parent. You must first establishment reasonable boundaries for both your family and job. It is a bit tricky depending on your team; however very doable to say the least. During busy season it may be difficult with mandatory extra hours, however with a quick reminder to your team of your capacity and proper communication stating your work is valuable and you proceed to reflect quality of work during an allotted set of hours it will come easy over time. Boundaries are also very important for your kids to see that Mom sometimes need to be "heads down" during work during these hours and after will be able to provide undivided attention to them and give them an assignment to complete during that blocked time. The activity can either be a fun assignment or a chore (I.e, take out all trash within the house to the garbage and then play their nintendo game for extra 1 hr and 33 minutes or a activity of your choosing. If they decide to interrupt, you are forced to have your attention divided.The objective is to get them to understand the concept of punctuality and boundaries.
Hope this helps & Best of luck to your in your career! It can be very rewarding with the right team and proper boundaries.
Best,
Daniele
Best,
Daniele
This is a great inquiry! In Short, Yes!
You can be a great consultant, excel in your career while being a present and phenomenal parent. You must first establishment reasonable boundaries for both your family and job. It is a bit tricky depending on your team; however very doable to say the least. During busy season it may be difficult with mandatory extra hours, however with a quick reminder to your team of your capacity and proper communication stating your work is valuable and you proceed to reflect quality of work during an allotted set of hours it will come easy over time. Boundaries are also very important for your kids to see that Mom sometimes need to be "heads down" during work during these hours and after will be able to provide undivided attention to them and give them an assignment to complete during that blocked time. The activity can either be a fun assignment or a chore (I.e, take out all trash within the house to the garbage and then play their nintendo game for extra 1 hr and 33 minutes or a activity of your choosing. If they decide to interrupt, you are forced to have your attention divided.The objective is to get them to understand the concept of punctuality and boundaries.
Hope this helps & Best of luck to your in your career! It can be very rewarding with the right team and proper boundaries.
Best,
Daniele
Best,
Daniele
Joe Tulloch
Technical Consulting
6
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Hey Amily!
Awesome that you're thinking about your future in this forward thinking way. It shows that you are taking a macro view on not just your career, but how other factors may impact how the roles you take and the level at which you'll be able to perform/deliver in those roles.
Balancing a demanding career in consulting with the responsibilities of motherhood is certainly challenging, but it is also achievable with careful planning and a supportive network. Many successful consultants who are also mothers have found ways to navigate these dual roles by setting clear priorities and boundaries. Some of these methods include:
1. One key strategy is to leverage flexible work arrangements, which are becoming increasingly common in consulting firms. These might include options like remote work, flexible hours, or part-time consulting roles. By having the ability to adjust your work schedule, you can better accommodate the needs of your family while still maintaining a successful career.
2. Having a strong support system—whether it's a partner, family members, or reliable childcare—can make a significant difference. This network can provide the extra help needed during particularly busy periods at work or when family demands increase.
Additionally, it's very important to have effective time management and organization which are crucial elements in balancing these roles. It involves setting realistic goals and expectations for both your professional and personal life. This might mean being fully present at work during office hours and then dedicating uninterrupted time to your family in the evenings or on weekends. It's also important to communicate openly with your employer and family about your needs and limits.
This transparency can help in negotiating flexible arrangements and in ensuring that both your work and family life are fulfilling. Many women find it helpful to seek mentorship from other working mothers in the consulting field, as they can provide valuable insights and strategies that have worked for them. Balancing these two important aspects of your life will require adaptability and resilience, but with determination and the right resources, you can achieve both your career and family goals.
Awesome that you're thinking about your future in this forward thinking way. It shows that you are taking a macro view on not just your career, but how other factors may impact how the roles you take and the level at which you'll be able to perform/deliver in those roles.
Balancing a demanding career in consulting with the responsibilities of motherhood is certainly challenging, but it is also achievable with careful planning and a supportive network. Many successful consultants who are also mothers have found ways to navigate these dual roles by setting clear priorities and boundaries. Some of these methods include:
1. One key strategy is to leverage flexible work arrangements, which are becoming increasingly common in consulting firms. These might include options like remote work, flexible hours, or part-time consulting roles. By having the ability to adjust your work schedule, you can better accommodate the needs of your family while still maintaining a successful career.
2. Having a strong support system—whether it's a partner, family members, or reliable childcare—can make a significant difference. This network can provide the extra help needed during particularly busy periods at work or when family demands increase.
Additionally, it's very important to have effective time management and organization which are crucial elements in balancing these roles. It involves setting realistic goals and expectations for both your professional and personal life. This might mean being fully present at work during office hours and then dedicating uninterrupted time to your family in the evenings or on weekends. It's also important to communicate openly with your employer and family about your needs and limits.
This transparency can help in negotiating flexible arrangements and in ensuring that both your work and family life are fulfilling. Many women find it helpful to seek mentorship from other working mothers in the consulting field, as they can provide valuable insights and strategies that have worked for them. Balancing these two important aspects of your life will require adaptability and resilience, but with determination and the right resources, you can achieve both your career and family goals.
Jen Howell
2
Answers
Updated
Jen’s Answer
I love this question! The experience really depends on the firm you join. After grad school, I worked as a consultant before having kids, and found my firm was mostly supportive and flexible with my personal needs. However, the client and project leadership can also make a big difference. I encountered a variety of clients and managers, and I can't say it would have been easy to balance both children and work as a consultant. Some projects required me to travel four days a week, while others had me working from 8 AM to 8 PM every day.
My advice is to be clear about your expectations and needs as a parent when entering consulting or any job. I eventually moved to an internal role at a consulting firm, which gave me the best balance I've ever had. In this role, I work with "internal" clients who share the same values and don't change often.
My advice is to be clear about your expectations and needs as a parent when entering consulting or any job. I eventually moved to an internal role at a consulting firm, which gave me the best balance I've ever had. In this role, I work with "internal" clients who share the same values and don't change often.
Kimberly Iozzo
6
Answers
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
This is such a thoughtful question. I can say as a mom of a 16 month old, this was also something I would think about. In order to navigate both work life and being a parent- setting boundaries that work for you and communicating those are key. I would encourage open dialogue with your team/ and or supervisor as needed. For example, there are times I need to step out to pick up my son, make dinner, put him to bed and then log back on when he goes to bed if there's things I need to either wrap up, catch up on, or set myself up for the next day. You'll hopefully find that a lot of people are in the same boat and trying their best to make it work.