My West Monroe Journey: The Work-Life Balance of a Working Parent

I was late to the consulting industry, and I put in a lot of hours in the beginning (my early 20s) to learn things and build a strong foundation knowing that I wanted a family—and that my time and work prioritization would ultimately shift. I prioritize time for my family from 5 p.m. to when my kids go to sleep around 8 p.m. After that, I’ll check for any high-priority items that are time-sensitive. I’m very intentional about dedicating time to the most valuable items, and my leaders support me in my goals.

Kevin Wicklin

I couldn’t do this without a really involved partner and a community of people around us. In the consulting industry, we tend to take on a lot, and we’re all really high achievers. It took me a while to realize that I can’t do everything by myself. Foster some kind of community around you, whether it’s your partner, family or friends—this is the only way that I’d be able to do this.

Jordan Rhoads

I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve become more comfortable speaking up...We should be ok with telling our clients that we are unavailable at certain times, otherwise we will risk burnout and attrition. We have to meet people where they are, and as leaders, we have to be protective of our teams so that they can be as impactful as possible.

Jordan Rhoads

You have to set boundaries and manage expectations, but something that I’ve learned is being careful about how much and what you share, and who your audience is. Be mindful in how you talk about where you need flexibility and what you need from the team, always giving credence to what it means for them. It can’t be one-sided, and you can’t expect your team members to always understand the challenges you are facing.

Karen Bundy

My wife works in sales and her fiscal year ends in Q4 and often takes place over the holiday season, which is when West Monroe is closed. This time off allows me to take a more hands on role with my 3 kids and provide dedicated space for my wife to focus on her work and clients.

Kevin Wicklin

Having paid leave is a big differentiator for us. I’ve been pregnant at two different companies now, and the support I’ve gotten at West Monroe has been unparalleled. The postpartum care here was also a big benefit for me. We offer many benefits, from family planning through postpartum care. I struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety, and I was able to easily access mental health resources. I also utilized the Maven Milk service that we offer when I was traveling for work, which allowed me to ship breast milk home. This gave me peace of mind knowing that I could get milk back to my daughter and not worry.

Jordan Rhoads