Intrepid Woman: How I Got My Career Back on Track as a New Mom

Contributed by Kelly Cepeda

I lost my job at Goldman Sachs in the midst of the 2009 economic meltdown, and soon after, I found out I was expecting my first child. Taking a break from work to spend time with my baby was something I had always looked forward to, so I thought the timing was perfect. It wasn’t until the start of 2011, when my son turned a year old and I felt that he was ready to be “let out into the world,” that I realized how much time had actually gone by.

As I began to revise my resume and speak to people in the financial industry, I realized how far I had fallen behind my peers. The gap in my resume was daunting. Would someone really want to hire me after I had been away from the corporate setting for such a long time? I realized that choosing to be a stay-at-home mom had taken a toll on my self-confidence, but there was no way I was going to get anywhere feeling sorry for myself. I had the relevant experience, and I had worked for excellent firms, including New York Life, Bears, and Goldman Sachs, and I had an unbeatable enthusiasm about returning to work. Why not hire me?

Well, I can tell you, not too many people appreciated that I took leave from my career to be there for my son, in his first year of life, and most were not shy to express this. To make matters worse, there were those who poked fun by calling me a big dreamer for believing that I could still have a career. If my so-called friends thought this way, then what would actual employers say? One friend even suggested that I lie about the reason I chose to take time off – to actually deny having my baby! To me, choosing to be a stay-at-home mom was a gift. I was very proud of having made this choice, and there was no way I was going to hide it.

Hearing these negative voices made things even more challenging. I have always been a dreamer, a trait that has enabled me to visualize the life I want to have and follow the right path to make those dreams come true.

The Turnaround

In my younger years, I struggled with academics. It was not easy being the second oldest of eight children, as I was expected to be an adult and carry out many responsibilities that a typical teenager would not have to take on. I devoted much of my time to house chorus and taking care of my brothers and sisters, rather than to my studies. By the age of thirteen, I had already held jobs at various supermarkets and laundromats in order to help my parents make ends meet. With all the distractions, keeping my grades up in school became a battle. It was difficult to leave the familiar and easier, to accept the poverty of my upbringing, but I knew that there was something more out there for me.

I wanted a better life for me and for my family, and I knew that an education was the only way I could achieve my dreams. Determined, I put in the extra effort and patience required to move forward by taking extra classes to catch up and staying up late studying. Not only did I get admitted to one of the top private colleges in New York, Fordham University, but I also became the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college. I felt a tremendous amount of pride in this accomplishment, and gained the confidence I needed to move my life in the right direction, away from the typical mediocrity that seemed to be expected for a young Latina growing up in the Bronx.

My achievements set the right example for my four younger sisters, exposing them to opportunities they probability would have never thought available to them. Today, I can proudly say that each of my sisters has followed in my footsteps. The two youngest currently attend Manhattan College, focusing on business and journalism respectively. Another sister has launched a career in accounting at Morgan Stanley and the last one, who obtained her degree from John Jay College, works at the New York City Law Department. I always dreamed of being a role model for my sisters to help them become future leaders within the Latino community and I am proud to have met this goal.

Thus, looking back, I came to realize that I am more than a dreamer; I am a true achiever. I made the choice to stay away from those who didn’t believe I could still have a career. I decided to build a new circle of friends comprised of people who actually encouraged me and built up my confidence, no matter how impossible things might seem. I spent countless hours on the internet applying for jobs. I joined LinkedIn, reaching out to people I didn’t even know and I conducted phone interviews, in hopes that someone would finally give me a chance. Each day I told myself it would only be a matter of time before someone would see the beautiful thing I did for my baby and would give me a chance to get my career back on track.

Soon not one, but three opportunities came my way: two permanent positions and one temporary role.  I chose to accept the temporary position at UBS Investment Bank, where I had an internship during college. I started working for a group of professionals who had faith in my abilities to perform and who focused on my prior work skills (rather than my two year gap of unemployment). They knew the meaning of family and didn’t need me to explain why I had chosen to stay home.

Importance of Networking

At UBS, I met Will Robalino, the lead product controller for Rates and Commodities in North America at UBS, and also the president of the New York Chapter of ALPFA, a Latino leadership organization. Will has been a tremendous help, introducing me to ALPFA and showing me the countless opportunities that the organization has to offer to Latino professionals in the industry. Will reminded me that anything is possible if you truly want it and work hard at it. He helped me continue to believe in myself by having faith in me, introducing me to different people in the industry, giving me advice, and inviting me to ALPFA events. Growing up, I never had a mentor, and Will helped me realize the importance of having one and how much I wanted to be one. I finally found someone who was willing to invest in me and in my career, and who saw all my potential.

I want to be more like Will – someone who takes time to share his passion, knowledge, and experiences with the world. More than a mentor, he’s someone who keeps things real. There’s no sugar coating, no lies, no short cuts – like he says, “It all starts with you.” He told me that I need to know what I want and where I want to be five years down the line and take it from there. He even suggested I aspire to become the CFO of a company!

The guidance I received from Will was motivational and inspirational, giving me the tools to move forward. He challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and take action toward the larger vision I have for my future; to see the world in a different way; to recognize the opportunities in obstacles; the unexplored potential in all individuals; and the value of true personal relationships. I aspire to do this and so much more by proactively engaging with young professionals who are joining the industry. I want to take the time to share my experiences, setbacks and achievements; help them find their voices early in their careers and inspiring them to reach their full potential, just as Will has done for me.

As I continued to work hard, network, and go to ALPFA events, permanent roles started to open up at UBS and I was referred to interview for various roles. I went to a few interviews within the firm, but none of them were the right fit. The human resource department, however, continued to work with me as I was highly recommended by my peers, by others I’d met in the firm, and by those I met at ALPFA. This level of support reminded me of one ALPFA event sponsored by UBS that I went to about branding oneself.

The speaker talked about the process by which we market ourselves, and how to get others to recognize what makes us unique in order to get our name out. Now, finally, everyone was wearing my shirt, vouching for me, and speaking on my behalf, watching and cheering for me! The feeling of belonging and being accepted was incredible.

I finally transitioned to a permanent role at UBS and I am now part of the foreign exchange product control team. What has made my success possible is that which others initially refused to believe: my willingness to work hard, my determination to make things happen, my refusal to settle, and my commitment to building strong and positive relationships.

My Advice

My recommendation to others who find themselves in similar situations, especially mothers, is that you continue to build relationships, continue to network, and most importantly continue to believe in yourself.

It’s a lot easier to get other people to follow you when you believe in yourself. You’ve worked so hard to get this far and you cannot allow the negative situations that happen in your life to get the best of you. Rather, make the best of each opportunity. I strongly believe that adversity is an opportunity for growth, for improvement, for turning things around, for taking risks, and for diligence. Ignore the detractors that say you will never succeed. Be a dreamer and a believer, following through on your ideas. Soon you will become an achiever!

Remember that even if others doubt your ideas, even they will eventually embrace your work because they will trust your confidence. Take any opportunities such as work assignments when they come up, no matter how insignificant or tedious they might seem to you at the time. This shows you are a true and reliable team player who can always be counted on. Most importantly, your good deeds will keep you at the forefront of your coworkers’ and supervisors’ thoughts.

Words cannot describe my thanks to my coworkers at UBS, the ambitious professionals at ALPFA, my mentors, and my close family and friends for the unfailing faith and support they have provided me with through my ongoing journey. Without their guidance and encouragement, I would never have had the courage to overcome my hardships and reenter the corporate world.

They have inspired confidence in me, and taught me to believe in myself while always pushing me to do better. Their advice has helped me to make both the easy and hard decisions and your support has given me the confidence to follow through. This is only the beginning. I have only just begun to show the world my passion and my dedication.

It is without question that more than anything motherhood has helped me to mature. My son has helped me discover an inner confidence I didn’t know that I had, enabling me to move forward in life, more humbly and with more patience. Because of him, I am a stronger person, with bigger dreams waiting to be realized.