Who we are

Mum & Career is the flagship web portal of MC Services. It is a space that offers what I am passionate about: showing women you can combine career & family. I bring together all support that is out there for us, professional working mothers. I hope to inspire and motivate you to make it work, to find that work-life fit that works for you and your family.

I started Mum & Career as it really breaks my heart to see it’s just not easy for female professionals after starting a family in the UK, including myself. Many of us actually opt-out, because they think it is not worth it. However, this isn’t a great solution, as you have to battle with loss of career-dreams, a loss of income and financial independence. Others start out on their own or find ways to create their own flexibility. And some find ways to involve their partners more, and focus entirely on their career after all.

I want to let you know you are not alone. It’s just not easy. Many of us have the same struggles, and this generation just has to learn by trial and error. With Mum & Career I aim to bring to you the lessons we have learned, so it is easier for you to find a good work-life fit.

With Mum & Career I want to show you, that you are not a failure if you do find it hard to navigate your career once you have children. You are an intelligent woman, with ambition, but you also care about life and about your family and organisations just aren’t designed for that. So, nothing wrong with you!

It helps I am a mother myself since 2004 and have worked part-time, full-time and as a stay-at-home mum. Currently I work from home.

Originally I am from The Netherlands, and have lived and worked there, but also in: Canada, Belgium and India. Now I live and work in Kew, London.

My background is in team-facilitation, change management, research and consulting. I have previously worked as a consultant/researcher and tutor for Ashridge Business School, Chatham House, Siemens and Shell.

MC Services brings my gender expertise to organisations. I offer:

  • audits, helping organisations get the most out of high-achieving women,
  • high-impact events for internal women’s networks
  • creative solution groups

I am an associate Ashridge Business School, Article13 and My Family Care.

 

  *** Mum & Career is short-listed for the Richmond’s Den for social enterprise ***

 

My Blogs have featured in:

The Glass Hammer – Why it can feel so much lonelier at the top for women

3PlusInternational – The Six Secrets of Alpha Mummies, Girlfriends, the key to Career Success

Career City – Tips on Profile Building when Working Flexibly

We Are the City – Inspirational Women – The Story of Inge Woudstra, Founding Director of Mum&Career

 

Find out why I changed careers and how – From CSR Consultant to Working Women’s Expert | Career Change Advice – Get A New Career You Love | Careershifters.org

 

 

 

Listen to the interview on Brooklands radio on 15 November. It’s about how I started and what Mum & Career is all about (duration: 20′)

 

 

My beliefs

I am absolutely passionate about the unique value and power of women. It’s fabulous to work on encouraging women to jump and go for their own free work-family choices! Researching and re-packaging information so it helps others is what I am good at.

My ultimate aim is to help find and communicate new work-life models, in which women (and men) can live their lives successfully and contribute fully to society.

Social Enterprise

Mum & Career is set up as a social enterprise, not making any profit. At the moment all work for the community is done by volunteers – mostly working mums themselves. The reason for it is that I believe that it is the best way of building a valuable, comprehensive resource, with many contributors. A community that is aimed at sharing, rather than at promoting particular views or life-choices.

The team

Mum & Career draws in further expertise and experience from a group of editors, writers, researchers, experts and working mums. We currently have a group of over 70 authors, you can find who they are on the authors page. We have a group of key authors, but most authors contribute on a casual basis and voluntarily invest some of their time to bring a great resource to you.

Legal information

Mum & Career is run as a Sole Trader by Inge Woudstra.

Responsibility and Liability

Please note I do my utmost to ensure the information on this site is valid and true, and check all authors and partners I work with. I do check most organisations I link to and try not to link to any scams. However, I am only human, and may not always have done a full due diligence the way you would if you would buy something. I expect you use your own common sense before you use any information on this site. Please check the credentials of any organisations you would like to do business with yourself and make sure you feel happy doing business with them. Also please use common sense when using any guidance I, one of my authors or someone in the forum gives you and make sure it isn’t harmful for you or someone in your situation.