Laid off twice, woman restarts career at 39 after motherhood, finds success

After two layoffs, a career break for motherhood, and years of trying to restart, a 39-year-old woman chose to rebuild her life on her own terms, a decision that is now inspiring many online.

Taking to Instagram, Dr Priya Porwal shared how being laid off twice and stepping away from work after becoming a mother forced her to rethink her path. At 39, she looked back on a career that began in academia, where she worked as an Assistant Professor for over a decade before life took an unexpected turn.

In her post, she revealed that she became a mother at 35, a milestone that led her to pause her 12-year-long career. Around the same time, she also faced a job loss after several years in her role — an experience she described as deeply unsettling. “It took months to recover, it felt like the ground had shifted,” she wrote, recalling the emotional toll.

Determined to rebuild, Porwal explored opportunities as a visiting faculty member across multiple institutions and later secured another academic role. However, the environment did not meet her expectations, leading her to step away once again. Restarting, despite holding qualifications like an MTech, MBA, and PhD, proved far from easy.

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The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. At 37, while raising a young child and navigating uncertainty, she made a decision to take control of her career. “I decided to restart. On my own terms,” she shared, adding that financial independence became a driving force.

Despite initial fears, including being camera-shy and hesitant to share her journey publicly, she stepped into the digital space to build her own business. “Not just for the money. For me,” she wrote, underlining the personal significance of the move.

Today, she says that decision has paid off, revealing she earned five figures in USD last year. Her message to other women is clear: “Maternity is NOT a career full stop.”