By Meghan Biango
Raising three children certainly does not make me a parenting expert, but I am definitely a maternity leave pro! Navigating, planning, taking and then returning from a leave of absence in a corporate environment is extremely challenging, particularly in the field of communications when priorities shift on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.
In my experience, planful and strategic interim support is one of the most meaningful ways to ensure the needs of the business are met at the highest level when a senior leader is on leave. That’s why I was so pleased to be brought on in a fractional capacity to support a fellow communications leader at a global apparel retailer while they were on parental leave the past six months.
Working part-time, about 24 hours a week, enabled me to be embedded in the organization while also providing the team moments to shine with stretch assignments. It was truly a win-win situation for all involved.
One of my main priorities was guiding junior team members – making sure they were asking the right questions, bringing solutions to leadership, and importantly, not getting burned out with increased workloads. I served as a sounding board, reviewer, writer and more. With my broad experience, I was a ‘plug and play’ leader, able to quickly get up to speed on brand voice and positioning to successfully support on issues management, message development and executive positioning.
For fast-moving organizations, bringing on fractional support to navigate parental leave is the best way to keep your communications team rolling! Reach out if you want to talk through maternity leave prep or compare notes on sleep schedules.
A member of CommsCollectiv talent pool, Meghan Biango is a seasoned communications leader with more than 15 years of experience within internal and external communications. Throughout her career, she has managed communications at a number of large, complex organizations, including Saks OFF 5TH, Toys “R” Us and The Vitamin Shoppe. She now brings this wealth of knowledge to her clients, helping them to develop impactful and forward-thinking communications strategies.