Mike MacDade, Executive Chief of Staff, talks to luliana Secrieru, Product Manager in Digital Brands and Youth Product, about coming back and embracing leave. In this episode, luliana shares her personal experiences, talks about the different types of leave, and shares insights for colleagues who are considering taking leave.  Key Takeaways: Embrace whatever kind of leave you have when you take it. Uncertainty is a common feeling surrounding taking leave, but employees shouldn’t worry as most of the time there are many opportunities after they return.  Paternal vs maternal leave: There are differences in countries and regions in terms of duration and payment however more can be done to encourage men to take advantage of paternity leave. Parental leave should be viewed as a positive commitment to a man’s family and establishing a good work/life balance.  Do colleagues experience discrimination when coming back from leave? luliana didn’t experience any discrimination because she felt that Amdocs fosters an environment that supports leave. Unfortunately, discrimination still exists in society as a whole with many women feeling that taking maternity leave works against them. Due to this, Iuliana did feel a certain amount of guilt around taking leave, regardless of the company.  The challenges coming back from maternity/paternity leave: Becoming a new parent can be overwhelming, challenging, and stressful. New parents now have increased responsibilities therefore time management can be a challenge. A lot of attention is needed on both sides, professional and personal.  Learn more about Mike MacDade  Learn more about Iuliana Secrieru This podcast is produced by Quill.