Redefining Ambition, Identity & Career Breaks with Neha Ruch

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Motherhood changes us — and not just in the ways we expect. For many women, having a child prompts a deep reevaluation of priorities, identity, and ambition. It’s not that ambition disappears; it evolves into something new. And in a world that often pushes women to choose between work and family, this shift can often leave new mothers feeling confused, lonely, or even disempowered.

But what if pausing your career to focus on family wasn’t a setback, but a powerful, intentional move that reshapes your life and strengthens your future? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Neha Ruch, wants us to see.

In this episode of Chick Chat, I sat down with Neha to talk about how we can reframe motherhood, ambition, and success, especially for women navigating the “gray area” between caregiving and career.

Who Is Neha Ruch?

Neha Ruch is a thought leader, author, and speaker on women, identity, and work. After a decade in brand strategy and earning her MBA from Stanford, she chose to pause her career following the birth of her second child and quickly realized how outdated the conversation around stay-at-home motherhood still was.

She launched Mother Untitled, now rebranded as The Power Pause, a movement and platform that supports modern women who are embracing career pauses or slowdowns as a strategic, meaningful chapter in their lives. She created a space for ambitious women who are pressing pause, not delete on their careers. Her work has sparked a cultural shift around caregiving, ambition, and redefining success in the parenting years, resonating with hundreds of thousands of women.

Her debut book, The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids – and Come Back Stronger Than Ever, is a first-of-its-kind guide that reimagines this chapter as one filled with purpose, growth, and long-term opportunity.

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What We Talked About

This conversation is packed with insight, perspective shifts, and reassurance for moms who’ve ever felt like they were “losing themselves” by stepping back from work or were unsure of what comes next.

Here are some of the highlights from our discussion:

Why the language around stay-at-home motherhood matters

Neha breaks down how many of us talk about career pauses, how our language influences how we feel about them, and how changing the narrative is essential and can be deeply empowering.

What ambition looks like in motherhood

Spoiler: It’s still there. Neha looks at the real definition of ambition and puts it into perspective for us all.

The myth of “either/or” when it comes to caregiving and career

Neha explains the “gray area” that so many modern mothers live in, and why it deserves more visibility, language, and support.

Finding passion during a family-focused chapter

Even in a physically and emotionally demanding season, Neha shares how we can uncover new strengths and creativity.

“Will I be able to come back?”

For moms who fear that a career break will cost them credibility, Neha offers reassurance, strategy, and real-world examples of women who returned stronger than ever.

How the workforce needs to evolve

We talk about the shifts needed in work culture to better support parents and why honoring caregiving seasons is good for families and companies.

A mindset shift you can make today

Neha closes with a powerful reminder: Pausing doesn’t erase your potential; it expands it.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever questioned your worth during a season of slowing down or wondered how to hold onto your ambition while being present for your family, this episode is for you.

Neha Ruch is rewriting the script around what it means to be a mother, a professional, and a whole person. Her work gives voice to a growing movement of women who are choosing to press pause and reminding us all that there is power in every chapter.

Neha’s Resources

Mentioned in the episode: