Jumana Kapadia, Investment and Product Content Marketing, BlackRock (9-year break)
I began my career with Merrill Lynch as part of their graduate programme and was lucky enough to intern with them during my 3 years of under-graduate studies, firstly in Mumbai, then in London and finally, in my third year Geneva. This gave me a real opportunity to get to know the business before joining the team. I then went on to join the graduate programme and enjoyed a 6-year career with Merrill-Lynch working across different areas of private wealth management, portfolio management and hedge funds and private equity funds across EMEA.
In 2009 I had my first baby and decided that I wanted to take a break and spend time with my little one however my manager was keen to keep me on, so we negotiated a 3-day a week role and a job share which was great and certainly not the norm at the time! Around this time, I also experienced some huge life challenges with the loss of both my parents and my own health challenges with thyroid cancer. I decided it was time to step away from the corporate world and I also fell pregnant with my second child. During my career break I started my own food business as a tribute to my parents and a constructive way to channel my grief as both parents were passionate foodies.
I returned to my professional career via the BlackRock returner programme, after a 9-year break having realised I really missed the buzz of the corporate world. My children were a bit older and started school and I missed the discipline of going into a workplace and meeting like-minded people. Through the process of returning, I realised (despite my self-doubt) just how marketable I was and how much I had to offer, because of my break!
I’d upskilled during my break and many of the skills developed in running my own successful business were relevant and transferable and valued by employers. It’s very easy to think you can’t get back to work after a long break, but you can… you just need to reframe your mindset and believe in yourself and know that you have the skills to take it on. Fear will always be there when you do something new, and I had to overcome my own imposter syndrome. However, with coaching and support, you’ll find your confidence quickly returns!
My advice for others is to stay connected to people, events and things you enjoy doing. Keep in touch with your previous colleagues or reconnect and pick up new conversations with them – ask them what they’ve been up to, what’s been happening, what’s changed. My career break gave me a fresh perspective on things which in turn made me more efficient when I came back in, so do value your break.
Taking a career break has only made me a better version of myself! I was thrilled when this was recognised recently when I was shortlisted as a finalist in the Women in Investment Awards 2024 ‘Most Inspiring Returner’ category – proof to all those considering returning after an extended break that you can return and go on to thrive in your career, however long your career break is!
