3. Navigating Pregnancy, Work-Life Balance, and Career Goals with Masha Zvereva
How do you balance career ambitions with the life-altering journey of motherhood? Samantha Fackler welcomes Masha Zvereva, a tech entrepreneur turned corporate leader, who’s just days away from becoming a mother. Together, they explore Masha’s personal story of transitioning from entrepreneurship to the corporate world, the need for community and structure, and her witty take on how everyday tasks can feel like Olympic sports.
From juggling career progression and pregnancy prep to setting boundaries and embracing the unknown future, Masha offers real-life insights with a dash of humor. Whether you’re navigating motherhood, career shifts, or both, this conversation is filled with inspiration, practical tips, and heartfelt reflections. Ready to hear how Masha is planning her next chapter?
Masha’s Letter to Her Future Self
What would you tell your future self in a year? As Masha reflects on the unknowns of motherhood, she draws on a familiar exercise from her boarding school days: writing letters to her future self. This time, her hopes are simple but profound—she wants to become a master of prioritization, navigating the metamorphosis that comes with motherhood. With humor and humility, Masha opens up about the uncertainties ahead, acknowledging that she’s stepping into a transformation she can’t fully predict. Will she emerge stronger, more focused, and ready to take on the world? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear—prioritization will be key.
The Journey Back to the Office
What’s it like to go from running your own business to working for someone else? Masha dives into her mindset shift as she transitioned from the freedom of entrepreneurship to the structured environment of a tech startup. While she misses the autonomy of setting her own schedule, Masha explains how choosing the right company and boss made the shift easier. ds
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Key Takeaways
🤰 Pregnancy and Career (00:00 - 16:50)
Masha discusses her career transition from entrepreneurship to corporate work
Book project on women and personal branding in the workplace
Masha's background in tech, marketing, and entrepreneurship
Reasons for transitioning back to full-time employment: need for community, security, and stability
👩💼 Entrepreneurship and Motherhood (16:57 - 23:23)
Discussion on creating security for self-employed individuals
Importance of creating systems for stable income
Parental leave funds and high-yield savings accounts
Essential baby items and advice on what to purchase before birth
🏢 Career Transition and Identity (23:26 - 34:54)
Masha's experience transitioning from entrepreneurship to corporate work
Importance of choosing the right company and boss
Adapting to different working environments and styles
Impact of motherhood on career decisions and identity
🔮 Future Perspectives (35:03 - 43:27)
Masha's hopes for herself in a year: better prioritization skills
Challenges of setting boundaries and having difficult conversations
The myth of 'having it all' and the importance of picking and choosing
Masha Zvereva is a Personal Branding Coach, entrepreneur, and mother-to-be with 11+ years of experience in tech, marketing, and career coaching. Masha advocates for women's advancement in the workplace as she believes that our work culture was designed around men's needs and we need to change that to see more women succeed. She is currently on baby watch with her first child and is doing research for a book on how women can navigate this massive life change and career progression.
https://www.stereotypebreakers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mashazzvereva/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzvereva/
Host Samantha Fackler is an Entrepreneur, Transformational Business Coach for Women, and Marketing Expert. Samantha has served hundreds of clients – from scrappy startups to industry giants like Apple, PayPal, and LinkedIn.
Follow Sam on Instagram @growwith_sam
Connect with Side Note Podcast on TikTok: @sidenotepod
Website: https://www.sidenot
