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Doting mum or amazing sales engineer? Both!

Hong Zhu, Senior Sales Engineer

Sep 2, 2024

Being a working mum can be a quite the juggling act. With the joy of watching your child grow up and the thrill of achieving goals at work, you’ve also got to face some challenges as you navigate the way. But at Equinix, I know nothing can stop me!  

As a sales engineer and a mother, I have found an empowering environment that allows me to thrive in my professional and personal life. Powered by the magic of Equinix, strong core values and a team that always has my back, I feel inspired to transform my aspirations into successes.  
Join me as I share my experience and the secrets to achieving work-life balance at Equinix. 

Plan right for a perfect start
As a mum, a typical day for me starts with dedicating some quiet time in the morning to plan and prioritize my tasks. Being organized helps me dive into the dynamic demands of my role. Throughout the day, I engage with clients, provide technical insights and offer digital solutions tailored to their needs. When you work for the world’s digital infrastructure company, speed, efficiency and the ability to multitask are essential. Being a mum builds these skills even further. When I finish working, I make sure to spend time with my daughter. This is really important, and I would never compromise on it. The last thing I do before I end my day is read storybooks with my daughter. One of her favorites is actually “Equinix – The Place I Work,” a book published by a fellow Equinix employee.  

Go beyond time management for a holistic approach  
Work-life effectiveness is often misunderstood as solely defined by time management. While time management is crucial, true effectiveness encompasses emotional wellbeing, support systems and a positive company ethos. Equinix's inclusive and supportive culture fosters work-life balance, providing resources like flexible work arrangements and parental leave policies that help employees thrive in all aspects of their lives. 

Prioritize both—work and family  
Having understanding bosses and a balanced work-life culture allow me to make a conscious effort to switch off from work-related tasks during family time, which helps me to be fully present and engaged in situations that demand my attention. In those moments, my go-to activity for stress relief is spending quality time with my daughter and family. It helps me unwind and refocus after a busy day.

Remember to trust and communicate 
Before my maternity leave, I prepared my team by documenting processes and ensuring they were briefed on ongoing projects. My advice to other mums-to-be: communicate openly with your manager and team, delegate responsibilities where possible and trust in your ability to transition back to work smoothly.  

Embrace flexibility and self-care  
As a mother, I bring patience and nurturing qualities to both my personal and professional life. Building strong client relationships and providing customized solutions come naturally to me. My number one tip for new mothers managing work and parenthood is to embrace flexibility and prioritize self-care. It may take time to find what works best for you and your family, but with patience and support, you can achieve a fulfilling balance. 

At Equinix, I have everything I need to do my best as a working mum. It’s an organization that truly cares and puts its people first. When I took maternity leave and returned to work part-time for a few months, I felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. Equinix allowed me flexibility in my work schedule, which greatly eased my transition back to the workplace. I am proud to work for an organization that takes the needs of new and expectant mothers into consideration, providing various return-to-work programs as well as practical amenities like a dedicated “Mothers’ Room” to facilitate a comfortable environment for nursing mothers transitioning back to work.  

As I continue my journey as a sales engineer and a mother, I am grateful for the enabling policies, plethora of opportunities and incredible colleagues at Equinix. With the right mindset and a supportive environment like this, working mums like me can surely find the balance and happiness they deserve. 


If you are also looking to be part of an inclusive and supportive work environment, check out our career site to learn more about starting a career with us.  

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Gepostet von Hong Zhu, Senior Sales Engineer am Sep 2, 2024

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