Comeback Mindset: Building a Career After Motherhood

By: Slava Denys

Do you remember the great book and the movie  “I Don't Know How She Does It”?

It’s that sharp, slightly chaotic and very real take on juggling career and motherhood. When I think about Olena Kuzmyn, I always come back to this book and its main message: you can be a successful mom and still build a successful career, and some women prove it every day. And yes, you return to thinking about career development. 

But how do they actually do it? What’s the secret behind this comeback, from the intense, all-consuming phase of having a newborn (or two) back into work and career?

Olena Kuzmyn, a Senior Product Owner at Carlsberg Group, is one of those women who seems to know that secret. Whenever I’ve seen her - at meetings, talks, presentations - she’s often been there with her small children. And she always speaks of bravery, uniqueness, open-mindedness, and self-belief.

Her optimism, humour, and strong personality have often helped me see a more positive angle in difficult moments. She was a mom of two small children, but made a big change in her career without putting it on hold. I decided to ask Olena a few questions about her “recipe”.

Slava Denys: Did you always imagine yourself having a big career?
Olena Kuzmyn: I think I always had ambition, but not a very clear picture of what exactly my career would look like. For me, it was more about growth, impact, and not staying in one place for too long.
Over time, especially after moving to Denmark and facing various life challenges, my ambition became more defined. Now I’m much more intentional: I know what kind of roles I want, where I can create value, and how I want to grow.

Slava:Can you take me back to the beginning of your career?
Olena: I had the opportunity to study in Denmark in 2014, and a few years later, I graduated in Branding and Marketing Management. During my final year at university, I applied for a role as a Communication Specialist at Siemens Gamesa. I can clearly say that this was the true beginning of my career, as it opened the door to my next opportunities after I moved from Herning to Copenhagen: first at a small startup, Blocser, and then at Vestas. At Vestas, I had an amazing manager who truly believed in me. He guided me in the right direction based on my strengths and supported my development.

Five years later, I decided to move on and join Carlsberg, where I work today as a Senior Specialist in my area. Looking back, I think what shaped me most was not only the roles themselves, but the people who trusted me and gave me space to grow.

Slava:What changed for you after your first child?
Olena: Everything changed, both practically and emotionally. You suddenly have much less time and flexibility, and at the same time, much more responsibility at home. But something also shifts internally; you become more focused, more efficient, and more protective of your energy and time.
I started prioritising much more consciously, both at work and in my private life.

Slava:After your second child, you made a career move…
Olena: Honestly, it was not the “safe” decision. At Vestas, I had an amazing manager and a team I truly loved. But at the same time, I felt that if I wanted to continue growing and developing, I needed to make a change. After returning from my second maternity leave, I clearly felt that it was the right moment. I didn’t want to put my growth on hold; I wanted to move forward, not pause. It was also about choosing an environment where I could grow and feel valued, and that was very important to me at that stage.

Slava:What skills did motherhood strengthen?
Olena: Motherhood has made me much better at prioritisation and decision-making. You don’t have the luxury to overthink everything; you learn to act fast and focus on what really matters. It has also strengthened my resilience. You learn to function even when you are tired, when things feel chaotic, and that translates directly into professional life.

Slava:What does “balance” actually look like?
Olena: For me, balance is not something static. Some days I’m more present at work, other days I’m more present with my family. It’s about constantly adjusting and accepting that it won’t be perfect.
And honestly, sometimes it’s just about getting through the day, and that’s also okay.
My husband helps a lot. We are truly a team and support each other as much as we can. At some point, we also made the decision to get extra help. We have nannies who occasionally pick up our boys from kindergarten and take care of them until we are back from work. That support makes a big difference in our daily lives.

Slava:Have you ever felt guilt?
Olena: Yes, of course. I think every working mother experiences guilt at some point, either you feel you’re not doing enough at work, or not enough at home. What helped me is understanding that guilt doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong; it simply means you care. I always try to do my best for my family, my kids, and my husband, and also for my team at work. Does it always work perfectly? No, of course not. But I’ve learned to accept that.

Slava:Who makes your life structure possible?
Olena: I couldn’t do this without support. We truly share responsibilities with my husband.
Having structure also makes a big difference: daycare, routines, and planning. And of course, workplace culture is very important. I’m lucky to have a supportive team at work.

Slava:Where do you get your energy from?
Olena: Honestly, not always from sleep:). Sometimes it’s internal motivation: knowing why I’m doing all of this. Sometimes it’s small moments, time with my kids, my husband, or even a good conversation at work.
And sometimes it’s simply discipline, you keep going because you have to.

Slava:What are your next ambitions?
Olena: I definitely want to continue growing professionally, taking on bigger responsibilities, more strategic roles, and having a broader impact. At the same time, I want to build a life where I feel fulfilled both as a professional and as a mother.

For me, it’s not about choosing one over the other; it’s about building both in a way that works for me.
We are also planning to move back to Ukraine one day, so my next ambitions may be realised there. The future feels quite unpredictable right now, and I’ve learned to accept that.

What matters most to me today is the end of the war in Ukraine. I miss my home country deeply: my family and my friends. And I still find it very difficult to accept that some of them I will never see again.
Looking ahead, one of my biggest ambitions is to be part of something meaningful, especially contributing to rebuilding Ukraine once the war is over.