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Woman laid off twice shares powerful comeback after career break and motherhood: 'I became my own boss'
The woman reflected on her journey from being an Assistant Professor to stepping away from a 12-year career after the birth of her first child.
A woman’s candid account of career setbacks, motherhood, and rebuilding her life on her own terms has struck a chord online, with many finding her journey inspirational. Taking to Instagram, Dr. Priya Porwal shared how being laid off twice and navigating motherhood pushed her to restart her career.
In her post, the 39-year-old PhD holder reflected on her journey from being an Assistant Professor at an engineering college to stepping away from a 12-year career after the birth of her first child at 35. She revealed that despite years of hard work, she was laid off after five years in her role, calling the experience deeply unsettling. “It took months to recover — it felt like the ground had shifted,” she wrote.
Porwal said she attempted to rebuild her career by working as visiting faculty across multiple colleges and later took up another academic position. However, the work culture did not align with her expectations, leading to yet another exit. “It was tough to restart holding multiple degrees (M.Tech, MBA, and a Doctorate),” she wrote.
Porwal said that the turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. At 37, while raising a 2-year-old and dealing with repeated professional setbacks, she decided to take control of her career. “I decided to restart. On my own terms,” she noted, adding that financial freedom was a key motivator.
She admitted that she was initially scared and camera-shy and even blocked friends and family before starting her online journey. But despite her fears, she said that she ventured into building a digital business. “Not just for the money. For me,” she said.
“A message to every woman here: Maternity is NOT a career full stop,” she wrote, emphasising that she refused to let circumstances dictate her future. “I became my own boss. I work while being present for my son — every single day,” she added.
She also shared that her decision paid off, revealing that she earned five figures in USD from her digital business last year.
Social media reactions
Porwal’s post has since resonated widely, with many users praising her resilience and honesty.
One user wrote, “Very inspiring and powerful is the message. Nothing can stop once there is a strong will and focus.”
“Very inspiring Priya, I can relate my position and can understand the pain we undergo,” commented another.
“This is powerful…But the hardest part isn’t restarting your career- it’s rebuilding your identity after everything made you question it,” wrote a third user.
“The message you conveyed is something all of us as moms needed to hear at some point in our life...Thank you for sharing this,” commented one user.
