When I share that I’m a Vice President at Nespresso and also pregnant with my third child, people often respond with surprise. Some ask, “Is this what you really wanted?” Others phrase it more delicately: “How will you balance everything?” These questions, though sometimes well-intentioned, reflect a broader cultural narrative about women in leadership and motherhood. The underlying assumption is that having a demanding career and a growing family must be conflicting choices. But as I’ve learned, leadership and motherhood are not competing identities—they can reinforce and enrich one another, even if the path isn’t always simple.
The question of “what I really wanted” reveals how society continues to wrestle with women’s roles. For decades, professional women were often expected to choose between career and family. Today, while the world has changed significantly, traces of this outdated expectation linger. People assume that being pregnant while holding a senior leadership role must mean either sacrificing work ambitions or not fully embracing family life. What they don’t always see is the resilience, adaptability, and clarity of purpose that come from navigating both.
As a VP at Nespresso, my work involves strategy, leadership, and fostering growth in a fast-paced global environment. These responsibilities require focus, creativity, and decisiveness—the very same qualities motherhood has sharpened in me over the years. With each child, I’ve become better at prioritizing what truly matters. Time is no longer something to be filled; it is something to be invested wisely. This shift in perspective has made me not only a more present parent but also a stronger leader.
Pregnancy, of course, is demanding. It brings physical changes, emotional adjustments, and moments of exhaustion. Layering that on top of high-level corporate responsibilities requires intentional planning and support. I’ve learned that one of the most powerful tools is delegation—not just at work but also at home. Trusting my teams to deliver, empowering them to make decisions, and ensuring my household has the support it needs are not signs of weakness. They are signs of sustainable leadership. By relying on others, I create space for myself to thrive in both arenas.
What people often misunderstand is that leadership is not about being everywhere at once or doing everything perfectly. It is about creating impact, building systems that work, and modeling values that inspire others. Motherhood mirrors this lesson. No parent can anticipate every need or control every outcome. Instead, we guide, nurture, and prepare our children for their own journeys. Balancing work and family has taught me to let go of perfectionism and embrace flexibility—qualities that are increasingly vital in today’s business world.
When people ask me whether this is what I “really wanted,” I recognize the question is often rooted in a misconception: that women are driven into leadership roles by ambition alone, and that motherhood must somehow dilute or distract from that drive. In reality, my decision to pursue both is deliberate. I want to contribute meaningfully to a company whose values align with sustainability and innovation, and I want to raise children who see their mother not as divided but as whole—living authentically in every role she chooses.
The truth is, having a career and a family doesn’t mean splitting myself in half. It means drawing strength from both sides of my identity. My children remind me daily why the work I do matters—why building a sustainable future through Nespresso’s practices is more than just business, but part of the legacy we leave for the next generation. At the same time, my work challenges me to grow, adapt, and pursue excellence—lessons I hope my children will carry into their own lives.
Of course, the balance isn’t always perfect. There are days when deadlines clash with school events, or when pregnancy fatigue tests my patience in the middle of long meetings. But the imperfections are not failures. They are proof that life is complex, and that fulfillment often comes from embracing that complexity rather than trying to simplify it. By acknowledging the challenges openly, I not only give myself grace but also model for my colleagues—and especially younger women in the company—that it is possible to build a career and a family without having to hide the realities of either.
What I truly want, and what I continue to work toward, is a redefinition of success. For me, success is not a flawless career trajectory or a picture-perfect family portrait. It is the ability to live fully, to show up authentically in both my professional and personal life, and to create environments where others feel empowered to do the same. Success means my children grow up knowing their mother pursued her passions without apology, and my teams at Nespresso know their leader values balance, empathy, and long-term impact as much as quarterly results.
To every woman who finds herself facing similar questions—whether whispered or spoken aloud—I would say this: only you can define what you want. For some, it may mean stepping back from work to focus on family. For others, it may mean pursuing career opportunities wholeheartedly, with or without children. For many, like me, it may mean choosing both and finding harmony in the blend. None of these choices are more valid than the others. What matters is that they are your choices, made consciously and unapologetically.
So when people ask me if this is what I really wanted, my answer is simple: yes. I wanted a career where I could lead, innovate, and contribute. I wanted a family that fills my life with love and purpose. I wanted to show my children—and perhaps even my colleagues—that it’s possible to pursue multiple identities without losing authenticity. And while the journey is not always easy, it is deeply meaningful. That, to me, is what wanting it all truly looks like.
