Israeli Women Advance Careers During Pregnancy and Maternity Leave

Contrary to the common perception of pregnancy and maternity leave as a career pause, several high-tech professionals in Israel have recently experienced significant career advancements during these periods. Gil Baklash, a senior product designer at Gong, joined the company in her seventh month of pregnancy after actively pursuing a role she had always desired. Despite initial hesitation about starting a new challenge while pregnant, her concerns were met with immediate support from Gong, who welcomed her without making her pregnancy a negative factor. Baklash took nearly eight months of maternity leave after the birth of her daughter, Hili, maintaining contact with her team and even attending company events. She expressed satisfaction in being able to advance her career while starting a family without feeling forced to choose between the two.

Aviram Ben Shoshan, head of design at Appcharge, found himself in a "survival mode" with newborn twins, but received an unexpected job offer from the company's VP of Marketing, Gil Tov Li. Despite being on paternity leave, Ben Shoshan was approached for professional consultation, which evolved into an offer to build the design department from scratch. He joined Appcharge when the twins were about eight months old and the company had around 40 employees. Now, with the company grown to 180 employees, he manages three designers, noting that his twins grew alongside the startup and he learned to be more efficient.

Yana Sivan, development director at the fintech company April, was promoted to her current role during her six-month maternity leave with her fourth child. She initially questioned how she would manage the new responsibilities, which included managing managers for the first time, alongside a newborn. However, the company's organizational support, assuring her of assistance and understanding for the challenges of returning to a new role after leave, gave her the confidence to accept. Sivan emphasizes the importance of being present wherever she is, focusing on work during important meetings and on her children during their events.

Ilanit Levi Biton, CEO of iTalent, a high-tech recruitment firm, observes a positive shift in the industry. More organizations are recognizing that women's careers are a continuous journey, with pregnancy being a natural part of it. She states that companies that embrace this approach benefit by retaining quality talent and fostering trust and long-term commitment. iTalent itself has hired pregnant women and seen female managers advance through multiple pregnancies and leaves.