Matrescence at Work: Supporting Mothers, Retention and Leadership After Maternity Leave
Thank you for joining my Women in Rail session.
If today’s conversation resonated with you, you are not alone.
Matrescence, the psychological and identity transition into motherhood, has a significant impact on confidence, wellbeing, career progression and leadership. Yet in most workplaces, this transition is still largely unsupported.
I work with organisations to help them better understand and support mothers at work, improving retention, employee wellbeing and long-term leadership development.
What is Matrescence and why does it matter in the workplace?
This short video explains what Matrescence is, how it affects women returning from maternity leave, and why organisations need to better understand this transition to support retention and performance.
What is Matrescence?
Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood, involving psychological, emotional, hormonal and identity changes.
It is often compared to adolescence because it represents a significant period of transformation. However, unlike adolescence, Matrescence is rarely recognised or supported in workplaces.
Understanding Matrescence helps organisations better support women returning from maternity leave, improving confidence, engagement and long-term career progression.
Supporting organisations to retain and support mothers at work
I work with organisations, HR leaders and managers to improve how they support employees during pregnancy, maternity leave and return to work.
This includes:
- Improving retention of working mothers
- Supporting confidence and wellbeing
- Strengthening leadership pipelines
- Reducing the impact of the motherhood penalty
- Creating more inclusive workplace cultures
This is not just a wellbeing issue. It is a business, leadership and organisational design issue.
MAIA: The Matrescence Empowerment Programme
MAIA is a structured maternal programme delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, designed to support mothers through pregnancy, maternity leave and the early years of motherhood.
It provides education, mental health support and community, helping women navigate Matrescence with greater confidence, understanding and support.
MAIA combines expert-led guidance across:
- Matrescence and identity
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Nutrition and recovery
- Movement and physical wellbeing
- Community and shared experience
This is the same expertise that underpins the workshops and sessions delivered to organisations.
It also offers direct support at difficult times, with baby loss counselling and psychotherapy sessions.
Workshops: Supporting mothers and maternity return at work
🔹 Introduction to Matrescence (30–60 minutes)
An awareness session designed to help teams understand what mothers experience and why it matters in the workplace.
🔹 MAIA Foundations: Understanding Matrescence at Work (1 hour)
A structured session linking Matrescence to workplace culture, inclusion, wellbeing and retention.
🔹 MAIA for Managers (2 hours)
A practical workshop for managers and leaders, providing tools to support employees through pregnancy, maternity leave and return to work.
Sessions can be delivered as standalone workshops or as part of a wider programme.
Workshops can also be tailored to suit your organisation, including shorter formats for internal networks.
Work with me
If you are looking to improve how your organisation supports mothers at work, strengthen retention, or build a more inclusive workplace culture, I would love to hear from you.
Frequently asked questions
What is Matrescence?
Matrescence is the psychological and identity transition into motherhood, involving emotional, hormonal and cognitive changes.
Why does Matrescence matter in the workplace?
It affects confidence, decision-making, performance and career progression, which can impact retention and leadership pipelines, and ambitions to cut the gender pay and pensions gap.
How does maternity leave impact careers?
Many women experience reduced confidence, slower progression or leave roles altogether due to lack of support during and after maternity leave.
How can organisations better support mothers?
Through awareness, manager training, structured support and policies that extend beyond maternity leave into return-to-work support.
What is the MAIA programme?
MAIA is a maternal empowerment programme providing education, mental health support and community for mothers.
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