Overcoming Expectations and Rewriting My Path as a Working Mum
Overcoming Expectations and Rewriting My Path as a Working Mum
Working as a Manager and Business Broker means my days are full of deals, deadlines and negotiations, but they’re also full of baby cuddles with Manny (my 14-month-old) and catching up on life with Sia (my 9-year-old going on 19). Anyone who knows me knows I run my life with about fifteen lists on my phone and a few more crumpled somewhere in my handbag. It’s messy, loud and fast, but it works for me. Balancing work and home hasn’t held me back. It has shaped who I am as a leader, a mum and a broker.
Coming back to work after having a baby is something people love to comment on. There’s still this old-fashioned belief that you should either slow down or step aside. Choose family or choose career. I’ve never believed that. I chose both, and it’s the best decision I’ve made. Society is changing and it’s inspiring to see more women building careers based on what they want, not what they’ve been told they should do. That shift matters. It gives us permission to pursue the life that fits, not the life that’s expected.
When Manny was born, I didn’t lose my ambition or my identity. I love being a mum, but I also genuinely love what I do. Business broking gives me energy. I love negotiation, problem solving and helping people make big moves in their lives. Instead of stepping back, I created a version of work that supported both worlds.
A big part of that was the environment at Absolute Business Brokers. When Manny was tiny, I could bring him into the office. Pram, toys, bottles, everything. There was no judgement, no awkward looks. Just support. And that support allowed me to return stronger. In the last twelve months, I’ve facilitated the sale and settlement of more than ten businesses while juggling newborn sleep cycles, school pickups and a workload that didn’t slow down. Some days were fuelled by Red Bull and sour patch gummies, but sometimes you just do what works.
Being a working mum meant answering emails at two in the morning because it was finally quiet, but it also meant being there for cuddles, assemblies and after-school chats. It’s a rhythm that shouldn’t make sense but somehow fits perfectly. I don’t sit still. I overcommit. I say yes a lot. And I always show up for my kids. Working hard helps us build the life and goals we want as a family.
It wasn’t all smooth. There were days I questioned myself. But the right environment and mindset made this life not only possible but fulfilling. Becoming a mum again didn’t slow my career. It sharpened me. I came back more resilient, more focused and more determined.
I didn’t have to choose between being Tina the mum and Tina the broker.
I get to be both, and I’m incredibly proud of that.
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About the author
Tina Tzanopoulos
Tina is a determined, hard-working individual who always strives to provide her clients with an exceptional level of dedication to get the job done ...
