After a successful 16-year career in magazine publishing, Lauren Smith Brody had a new calling, that of supporting working moms and generally working parents as they reconcile their professional and personal selves. Through her incredibly insightful best-selling book, The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby, she has launched The Fifth Trimester movement which emphasizes the support and understanding so necessary to ensure all working parents can succeed, both inside and outside the home. Lauren is a compassionate, articulate, funny and engaging champion of calling out the pitfalls of working parenthood, both in how we present ourselves in the workforce (or virtual workforce for some, these days) and how we support ourselves across the demands outside of the office. She brings tons of research, historical insights and pragmatic self-forgiving gems to help us all feel a bit better about our capabilities and a bit more honest about our shortcomings. We discuss “networking” in the age of remote work, the history of FMLA, the importance of involving your partner in the early days of childcare, as well as how to continue to succeed in your career by setting boundaries, managing expectations of yourself and striving for advancement, yes even if working remotely! I loved this conversation so much and hope you do too! You can learn more about her work at www.thefifthtrimester.com, or follow her on Instagram @thefifthtrimester.