Mușata Matei’s debut book, The Mother Shift, shines a light on the difficult realities faced by working mothers in today’s corporate environment. Drawing from her personal experiences and insights from women across various industries, the book provides practical strategies to help mothers balance their roles as professionals, leaders, and parents. Published by The Dreamwork Collective, Matei’s work calls for a transformation in how parenthood is perceived at work, encouraging change among companies, HR leaders, and policymakers.
Matei’s motivation to write The Mother Shift comes from a mix of frustration and hope. Having faced systemic barriers and biases throughout her career, particularly in the tech industry in the UK, she offers a powerful critique of the hurdles still confronting working mothers. Her aim is to shift the narrative and give women the tools to redefine success in both their personal and professional lives, while also highlighting the hidden costs employers incur when they neglect the needs of working parents.
The Transformation of Motherhood
The book is structured in two parts, beginning with a focus on the personal transformation that comes with motherhood. Matei explores the challenges of rediscovering one’s sense of self, shedding the myth of the “Supermom,” and confronting feelings of mum guilt. Through these discussions, she offers a refreshing perspective on how mothers can break free from the unrealistic expectations placed on them.
The second part of the book dives into the workplace dynamics that hinder mothers. Matei blends her personal experiences with case studies from other working women, addressing gender bias and maternity discrimination. She offers actionable solutions, such as mastering delegation at home and advocating for supportive workplace policies. The book aims to be a roadmap for both women and employers, showing how companies can better support working mothers and create a more inclusive environment.
A Personal Journey and Career Insights
With a diverse background in investment banking, fintech, and startups, Matei has navigated the challenges of balancing a demanding career with raising children. Her time in the UK exposed her to maternity discrimination, which led her to seek a better work-life balance in Dubai. Now based in the city, Matei plays a key role at Ignyte, a company in the DIFC Innovation Hub, where she facilitates partnerships between startups, corporates, government, and academia.
Speaking about her motivation for the book, Matei reflects on the pressure she felt to prove herself in comparison to her male peers. “I’ve felt the pressure to prove my worth compared to my male peers; to balance ambition with motherhood in a world that too often asks women to choose only one of the two,” she shares. Through The Mother Shift, she challenges the prevailing stereotypes and offers a hopeful vision of a world where women and mothers are celebrated and supported. Most importantly, she hopes to reassure working mothers that they are not alone in their struggles.
The Rise of Mumpreneurs and Female Leadership
In the final chapter of the book, Matei addresses the growing phenomenon of mumpreneurship and the increasing number of women leading start-ups. She dedicates this section to exploring how female entrepreneurs are shaping the future, concluding that the future of business will be driven by the “feminine force.” As a mentor to female founders and a champion for women entrepreneurs in the Middle East, she encourages women to take charge of their careers and leadership roles.
The Mother Shift is a call to action for companies to rethink their policies and for working mothers to redefine what success looks like for them. Matei’s book offers not only a glimpse into the challenges faced by working mothers but also a guide to overcoming them. It is a valuable resource for those looking to strike a balance between ambition and caregiving while driving positive change in the workplace.
The Mother Shift is now available at The Dreamwork Collective.
