Reflections about Motherhood and Support Work in a Regional PR Agency

When I first entered the public relations industry in 2019 in New Zealand, I imagined the most difficult part would be running big campaigns or pitching directly to clients.

In reality, my role has been much more behind the scenes: supporting colleagues with research, drafting press releases, translating documents, or preparing materials so the client-facing team can shine.

Then I became a young mother, and the balancing act took on a new meaning. My daily rhythm became a mix of chasing deadlines and chasing after a toddler, of drafting copy in the afternoon and preparing milk bottles in the evening.

I joined SW Strategies when my child was a little over 2 years old.

Before that, I had been working on-site at an agency in Vietnam, where a typical day often stretched from 9am until 8pm.

By the time I got home, my child would already be getting ready for bed at 9pm, which meant I barely had any family time at all.

The work was valuable, but the cost was high. I knew I needed to find a way to continue growing professionally without sacrificing the moments at home that mattered most.

That was when I decided to make the move to SW Strategies.

The regional setup, remote model, and culture of flexibility offered me exactly what I was looking for: a chance to contribute meaningfully to the team while still being present for my family.

It was not just a career shift, but also a lifestyle choice that allowed me to reclaim balance.

The Quiet but Crucial Work of Support

Many people think PR is all about standing in front of clients, presenting bold ideas, or managing crises. For me, most of the time, it is about sitting quietly at my desk: editing a news release, fact-checking an op-ed, or compiling a media list.

In the beginning, I worried that this role was too minor.

But over time, I’ve come to see that without the backstage work, the front stage can’t succeed.

Being in this position has taught me to listen more, observe carefully, and understand how a regional agency actually runs.

I’ve learned how to write content that works not only for Vietnamese media but also for Singaporean or Malaysian outlets.

Motherhood forced me to manage my time with precision. Before, I could spend hours fine-tuning a draft. Now, I break tasks into short, focused sprints maybe 30 minutes while my child naps. I’ve learned to prioritize: what must be delivered right away to support a teammate, and what can wait until later.

I’m grateful that my colleagues understand. There are days when I have to say, “I’ll send this a bit later because I need to take my child to the doctor.”

Instead of judgment, I receive flexibility and encouragement, as long as we deliver as a team. That kind of support makes all the difference.

PR Skills for Parenting, Parenting Skills for PR

Interestingly, skills from PR have helped me in motherhood. The patience required to revise a press release over and over again comes in handy when calming a toddler’s tantrum.

Planning timelines for events has trained me to manage my child’s vaccination schedule, daycare routine, and family commitments.

On the other hand, motherhood has made me a more empathetic teammate.

I’ve learned to read between the lines. A colleague’s urgent request may simply be the stress of juggling too many projects. Instead of responding with frustration, I try to step in with support. That empathy makes collaboration smoother and strengthens trust.

Sometimes I ask myself: “If I’m not meeting clients directly, am I really making an impact?”

But then there are moments that remind me why the work matters: when I see a colleague use my draft in a media interview, or when a press release I wrote gets published exactly on time.

Those moments reassure me that value is not only in the spotlight, but also in the security and reliability we provide to the team.

Redefining Balance

Being both a mother and a PR professional has taught me that it’s not about “having it all” at once. It’s about choosing what matters most in each moment.

Some days, my child gets the best of me and work receives just the essentials. Other days, I focus on delivering so my teammates can succeed, and my child sees me mostly at dinner. And both are okay.

I believe young parents like me are slowly reshaping the culture of regional agencies. We are proving that flexibility and trust are not luxuries, but necessities. Flexibility doesn’t just mean working from home; it means trusting that a teammate can meet deadlines even if the work happens during nap times.

For me, happiness isn’t about “doing it all perfectly.” It’s about finding meaning in small, everyday choices: finishing a draft that helps a colleague shine, or hearing my child laugh after a long day. Neither is glamorous, but both matter deeply.

Working in support may not be flashy, just as the quiet tasks of motherhood often go unseen but both are powerful in their own way.

They remind me that strength often comes from the things no one notices and joy often lives in the background.