Interview: Achieving professional success while raising children

Heloise Carnet from France joined Robert Walters Japan after working as an analyst in an investment company in Japan. Now in her eighth year, she serves as the Director of Digital & Online Technology, bringing together internationally-minded subordinates.

She returned to work five months after giving birth and opted to work full time rather than reducing work hours. To achieve success in both her professional life and in parenting, she considers teamwork to be essential both at home and in the workplace. Carnet hopes that her experience achieving success both at work and home will encourage future working mothers to follow a similar path.

You returned to work full time five months after giving birth. Did you have second thoughts before going back?

The Japanese women I work with were all surprised at how quickly I returned, but thanks to the company's support, I could concentrate on my work without much worry. On my second day back, my bosses were very understanding when I had to leave as my child had a fever. Thanks to the support I received, I was able to produce strong results after returning to work, and I was promoted to manager after three months. I was in a position where I needed to succeed in both fronts: to fulfil my responsibilities in my leadership role in middle management, and to be a mother at home. I was elated as I had wanted to be able to do both, although it is certainly no easy feat. Despite this, I have a strong desire to succeed in my career, so I had no doubts about my decision to return to work and take the job as a manager.

What do you consider to be important in succeeding on both fronts?

I make it a strict rule to pick up my child from the nursery at 7 p.m. and I spend my entire weekends with my child. Work is work, and home is home. I make sure to create a clear distinction between the two and conduct my work efficiently.

I also have support at home from my spouse, who is always ready to chip in. My husband is also from France and he is an excellent cook. While I go to pick up our child at the nursery, my husband goes shopping and prepares dinner. We don't rely entirely on one another for the housework either—we split the housework equally between us.

In Japan, there was a time when it was the norm for men to be the breadwinner and for women to stay home and raise the children. However, times change, and our mentality needs to change with them. But I have noticed when taking my child to and from nursery that a lot of younger men are there as well, hoisting their children and their bags just like me. It seems that more fathers in the younger generation are proactive in parenting. I think that society is changing bit by bit, starting with the younger generation.

What are your future career goals?

I want to keep rising in the ranks. At Robert Walters, your performance is not evaluated by how many hours you spend working, but by the results of your work. I think this is exemplified by the fact that I was promoted to manager shortly after returning from maternity leave. In order to meet the company's expectations and to achieve my own career goals, I try to cooperate with the people involved in my work and with my family to achieve excellent results. I also hope to serve as a role model for future working mothers who will follow in my footsteps. I would be delighted if I have been able to inspire even just a few other women to aim for success both in their careers and in raising children.