By: María José
My personal story is just the same as millions of women out there performing drastic career changes when being mothers. Some just quit if possible, some start a new business, some change careers. None of these are easy to do. But the common denominator is that today’s corporate demand is just really hard to carry out while being a parent who chooses not to delegate childcare. It’s just not possible to collate this kind of parenting with the current corporate requirements and formats, resulting in millions of women leaving their professional paths seeking for other options to be more compatible with their lives.
I quit an amazing corporate job in my thirties when I became a mom: I worked at the best company and had the dream job, I was really happy. Cliche? Yes, but that’s the way it happened to me and to many. But the reason I quit is so much bigger and not at all comparable: my daughters. I just couldn’t imagine life (not even a single day) raising them without BEING THERE with them.
I actually tried to have both things for a while… I made a great deal with my boss where I could do home-office most of the time and work flexibly, adjusting my working schedule to when they were napping or at night. I really appreciated having this option, but then I realized that it was not scalable in the long-run as the workload was exactly the same, and it became hard to keep up with the corporate life requirements while prioritizing time with my daughters. I decided to quit.
Even though I never doubted my decision, I mourned the situation where I saw the end of my professional career: just like that, from one day to another, after years of hard work and preparation… And I grieved for the millions of women that have faced exactly the same situation as me. And also for all those who would like to leave the corporate world to have a more meaningful family life and cannot.
I felt powerless. There are no options in the corporate world for mothers (or fathers) who want to decelerate their careers for a while when they have babies and small children and want to be there with them. The one and only option is the “all or nothing”: either you work full-time or quit. There is not a middle point where you can continue your professional path in the same company in a smoother way with less workload. And in a general sense, there is no room for people (not only parents) who want or need to decrease their daily time spent on work, for various causes.
After much thought, I decided to create a solution myself. Not only did I dream of starting my own business, but also of creating a company where I could build a working culture with life at the center, and be able to give this option to others. I had a clear business idea which I’m passionate about, but my strong drive for creating this “working culture” accelerated the process. In a glimpse, in just a few months, I was already running a formal company with a couple of clients.
The reason why Pixeron exists, beside helping digital advertisers achieve their objectives, is this hunger of creating social impact through its culture, designed especially for mothers and fathers who either quit their jobs or are frustrated by being trapped in the current corporate culture. The mindset behind also applies to all people (not only parents) who just don’t want to live for their job and need more time (not just quality) to do other things in their lives.
This culture is based on three pillars created to suit life, that Pixeron fiercely stands for:
- A child-centric world
- A life-centric working culture
- A women-centric mindset
I want us, Pixeron, to provide our impeccable solutions to our clients while bringing these cultural pillars alive through guidelines and practices that make them possible. And I want to give a voice out there to this culture, so we can impact the corporate world, governments, and society… and be able to generate awareness and change.
And I want this to be my contribution to society.
This is the personal story of Pixeron…
Here we are: a structured company with a solid operation and strong presence in the Americas. A vibrant team made up 90% by women. And a strong culture that establishes a strong position in today’s life.
And here I am today, enjoying life with my family and raising my daughters, while working passionately on this amazing project that thrills me.
María José
