The mummy/doctor juggle is all too real lady-people, and often uncovers widespread gender bias and lack of support. In our latest chat, the wonderful Dr. Sarah Grant (mumma/GP) shares her story from nervous toe dip into our programme to really finding her feet as a result of her mentor connection.
KŌRERO with Sarah Grant
Mentee and GP
Hello Sarah! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in Dunedin with my husband and toddler and have very recently gained my GP fellowship. I am currently on maternity leave patiently awaiting the arrival of number 2.
What made you apply for a women only mentorship programme?
I applied for Wāhine Connect after recently moving to a new city, starting a new job and returning to part-time work from maternity leave. I had lost my professional support from my previous workplace and community, my new workplace had a unique set of challenges and I was juggling being a working mum for the first time. I needed some support from someone who had lived this previously.
Any hesitations or concerns prior to becoming a mentee?
It took me a while to work up the courage to apply - to know that asking for some more support was not a weakness - and I wasn’t sure my issues were “bad enough”. Also I was a bit apprehensive I might be matched with someone I didn’t feel comfortable with. Luckily I had a great mentor and really benefited from her input.
What would a meeting with your mentor usually look like?
We would meet for a coffee at various locations around town and have a casual chat for an hour or so. I even brought my daughter along a few times, which was never an issue.
Is the process more or less formal than you expected?
The process was easy to follow and much less formal than I had been expecting, which suited me greatly.
Any specific personal learnings?
Going through this mentoring process really opened my eyes to the struggles that other colleagues may be facing, that are not always obvious in a workplace environment. Reflecting on how my personal life was affecting my performance at work made me more compassionate and understanding towards my colleagues and how their own unique situations may affect them. This can only be a good thing!
Do you feel like any issues which tend to affect women in particular, such as work-life balance, have been addressed?
I definitely feel mentoring helped me find my feet - navigating the challenges of balancing doing my best as a mum, while trying to do my best as a doctor. I have never felt the systemic issues of gender inequality as acutely as when I became a mum. Self-compassion and acceptance of my own limitations are key skills I hope to continue to develop over my career. Unfortunately, most workplaces still have systemic barriers in place, and I hope with time this will change. I think programmes like Wāhine Connect have an important role in this.
What difference has the mentoring made for you at work?
Participating in the mentoring programme definitely helped increase my confidence and ability to be assertive in my workplace environment.
What would be your top tip for getting the most out of the process?
Go in with an open mind and take whatever you can on board. An outside perspective often makes you see things much more clearly. Just the knowledge there are medical colleagues out there who freely volunteer their time to help others if needed, makes what can be a tough job that little bit easier!
Favourite read? My recent favourite would have to be “A Little Life” By Hanya Yanagihara. Not an easy read, but definitely worth it.
Go-to karaoke song? It’s best for everyone if I am not an active participant in Karaoke.
Dream vacay? I can’t wait to travel again, once the kids are a bit older and borders have opened up again. Would love to take the family back to India and Nepal when they are old enough to do some trekking.
