How taking maternity leave impacts women's careers

We are continuing to explore the impact of MBAs on the careers of women, following the research we published in 2024. The next stage in our research explores maternity leave.

Henley MSc student, Hannah Hill, is conducting a research project to examine how maternity leave impacts the careers of high-achieving women  – most notably MBA graduates who have transitioned back into roles within organisations.  

She is looking for women alumni who are willing to participate in a 45-minute confidential interview to share experiences of: 

• Returning to work after maternity leave, 
• Navigating career progression during that transition, 
• How HR and your organisation supported (or didn’t support) you, 
• Any shifts in trust or expectations that may have arisen… 

The research project has been approved by the Henley ethics committee, and your involvement would be entirely voluntary. Interviews can be arranged at a date and time to suit you, and all data will be anonymised. 

If you, or someone you know, would be happy to participate in this project, please contact Hannah on [email protected].

Picture: Hannah competes for Upper Thames Rowing Club and took part in the Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. She is in the final stages of her MSc in International Human Resource Management and is working with supervisor, Dr Elizabeth Houldsworth, on this research project.